It is known that the situation in the market of racing simulators has changed a lot in 20 years. Once upon a time, Gran Turismo was the undoubted leader – the game that everyone had. But gradually players’ interests began to change, and Polyphony faced the challenges of transitioning into the HD era. It has taken them a long time, but now they have finally managed to release a worthy sequel to the cult series.
The road to Gran Turismo 7 was a long one. Although Gran Turismo came out on PS4, it was more of a spin-off with an emphasis on the online component than a full-fledged sequel. It was a long wait, but it was worth it.
I could spend a long time spelling out why Gran Turismo 6 and Sport didn’t become iconic, but to simplify, it boils down to the content that was always lacking and the cut features without which it was hard to even imagine the series. This time there is no such thing: several times postponed Gran Turismo 7 is packed to the brim and represents a complete product.
Let’s start with the fact that Gran Turismo 7 boasts perhaps the most elaborate controls of any modern simulator, cleverly utilizing both the DualSense controller capabilities (even the ability to play with a gyroscope) and supporting all sorts of steering wheels.
Not only do the cars look authentic, but they also behave in an age- and class-appropriate manner. I can’t comment on how realistic the Mustang is, but you will definitely distinguish it from hundreds of other cars. The sense of realism is reinforced by the controller’s advanced vibration feedback system, as well as adaptive triggers that simulate the car’s behavior in challenging conditions. You can say that these are gimmicks that make no difference, but they are still features that no other publisher can offer. They’re easy to get used to, but take them away and it immediately seems like something is broken. It’s nice to see how much attention the developers are paying to all of the PS5’s gimmicks.
When we reviewed GT Sport, we praised the game for its beautiful visuals (a hallmark of the series) and realism, but lamented the lack of modes and the absence of a career, a crucial element of the franchise. Everything is back, and there are many new modes. All your favorite tracks are back, from real to fictional.
The main advantage of the game is the ability to motivate the player. Someone is chasing gold medals, someone wants to gather a complete collection of cars, and someone just breaks records. Everyone will find something for themselves. Even beginners, who traditionally find it hard to get used to simulators. Here helps “Cafe”, where different lessons and cool characters – yes, characters! – with whom you can talk about the history of cars and the intricacies of management.
Read also: Forza Horizon 5 review – Still the best in the genre, but isn’t it time to change something?
Gran Turismo 7 differs from most other games by its mentality. While others flirt with NFT, monetization and plenty of DLC, GT7 is a complete product from start to finish. No service model, no major bugs. Yes, the game will be more expensive than others, but it’s easier to pay when you know you’ll get a quality product.
Speaking of bugs, Gran Turismo 7 is almost technically perfect. The iron frame rate (60 fps), the best visuals among modern games, the incredible realism (from the interiors to the stars in the sky) and even the ray tracing in some places (on replays) gives it away as a modern game. Special mention should also be made of the weather conditions and the change of the time of day during the race. The rain, finally, not only for beauty, but also to greatly change the conditions of the race (although to the level of Driveclub could not reach – it was a unique game). At the same time, the track gets wet dynamically, as in real life, that is, some sectors can stay wet and others – dry.
This is another layer of realism that others cannot boast. And it’s not even just the budget – it’s all the result of the incredible meticulousness of the developers, who were given exactly the time they needed to create something special. Love PlayStation or not, there are few others that are so liberal with their studios.
Verdict
We have before us the best game in a series that has already been quite a few masterpieces. Gran Turismo 7 combines all the best of today’s chips without any of the service crap. Everyone will find something for himself here – both fans of online-racing, and those who prefer to fight with the AI. And most importantly, the novelty will suit not only veterans, but also those who are just starting out.