Polyphony Digital’s famed driving simulation series Gran Turismo returns five years after the release of the last entry, Gran Turismo Sport.
Celebrating its 25th anniversary, Gran Turismo 7 looks to return to the classic formula that put the series at the pinnacle of driving simulators.
Gran Turismo 7 is a visual triumph that’s one of the best looking games on the Playstation 5, each of the four hundred cars are a spitting image of their real-life counterparts and that stretches to the interior as well.
The weather effects are phenomenal, with accurate sunlight reflections beaming off cars to the water sprays on the tracks while it's raining.
Cars will also sustain real-time damage during crashes and you can even see chunks fly off the cars. This visual achievement extends to the ninety race tracks that are a combination of real locations and fantasy tracks
They not only look fantastic but they sustain real wear and tear from skid marks to weather effects.
The photorealistic graphics using Ray-Tracing has made Gran Turismo 7 one of the finest looking games on the Playstation 5, it's a pure masterpiece and driving enthusiasts will be left in awe by how stunning everything looks.
Gran Turismo 7 will feature two modes which are the World Map where players can access the game's campaign, alongside the new Music Rally mode which allows for more laid back races.
Music Rally is a new arcade-style mode that has an emphasis on enjoying music while driving.
Players will have to stay on the track for as long as the music keeps playing. There are several checkpoints scattered throughout the course for players to reach before the timer hits zero.
It is a charming mode for music fans and car lovers that’s a great parallel to the main campaign.
The World Map returns and like before it is basically the hub where players can choose all the different modes and activities to do. The birds-eye view UI is not only visually pleasing but it's so easy to navigate.
The World Circuit area is where players will do most of their racing, an orange arrow will indicate which races will unlock the cars from the Cafe missions.
There are thirty-four locations that are home to ninety tracks and Gran Turismo 7 lets you interact with them in a few different ways
The new Circuit Experience will let players get to grips with different parts of each track to master their features.
This is such an amazing addition as it lets players really perfect their skills on live circuits to improve their times and skills.
Championships will consist of two or more races and the final standings will be determined by points earned from each race.
Arcade mode lets players replay each track under certain conditions to really test themselves. Other modes such as Drift and Time trials also return.
The Custom race mode is really detailed, giving players full authority on how they want to race by dictating all kinds of conditions.
Gran Turismo 7 World Circuit mode is a glorious experience that features an abundance of customisations ensuring no race will be the same.
Replays are great as players can watch from multiple angles, also allowing players to witness their great moments from another car, which can range from hilarious to magical.
Replays also feature a new Music mode that will cut the replay to the beat of the track allowing players to watch different music videos of their best moments.
The Cafe mode is where the part barista part car expert Luca will give players objectives to complete to earn new cars and learn about the type of car they are collecting.
The majority of tasks will start off pretty simple from ranking in a precise place to winning championships using specific cars.
The Cafe mode is a car enthusiast's dream as it not only allows players to collect and use a wide range of cars but they will also be given an informative history lesson.
The Used Car area is where players can buy classic cars from the likes of a Eunos Roadster’89 or even a Mercedes SLR McLaren’09.
There is such a great choice to pick from and the prices are fair for the quality of the cars.
Brand Central is where you can buy various models and racing cars from 2001 and beyond.
This mode is fantastic as you can purchase new cars from the biggest brands and be further enlightened in automobile history.
If there was a downside it would be that your dream cars like an Aston Martin One-77 or a Bugatti Veyron will cost you an insane amount of credits which will have to be earned by winning races, but that’s also where the longevity in Gran Turismo 7 lies.
The Legendary Car area is where players can purchase famous cars that have played a big part in history such as the Mercedes-Benz 680 S Barker Tourer.
Mission races are stacked with unique challenges that will force players to think of clever ways to tune their cars to complete these tasks.
This inclusion of such diverse gameplay is fully welcomed and really elevates the overall experience by offering more than just racing.
The licence centre is back allowing players to take part in challenges or just improve your driving skills.
The tasks will vary depending on what level of licence you have. This mode is very accessible and essential for newcomers as it will drastically improve your skills.
Gran Turismo 7 features an incredible amount of car customisation during the campaign.
Each car will be scored with Performance Points which will determine how well they operate.
This can be upgraded by going to the tuning shop and purchasing various new parts with the in-game currency.
I’ve just touched on the tip of how your car can be customised, and it's simply astonishing how in-depth the process is without getting convoluted.
Another big feature is the Collector Points which are rewarded after receiving new cars. Gaining points will grant players access to new parts in the tuning shop amongst other features.
Racing is fantastic with Gran Turismo 7 offering several different types of controllers to use.
The Dual sense controller works like a charm with the adaptive triggers recreating the weight and sensitivity of the acceleration and brakes allowing for a life-like experience.
The haptic feedback lets players feel everything the tires feel from rough roads and subtle bumps.
Each track features amazing real weather conditions that really affect the way players will have to race.
The UI during racing is excellent, enabling players to stay one step ahead of the changing weather, keeping track of their best times and allowing players to view a more intimate track map.
Scapes will allow players to really take their photography skills to the next level, by placing any car in thousands of different scenic locations.
The level of photographic customisation is dreamlike and players will no doubt be spending endless hours in this mode.
Verdict
Gran Turismo 7 offers such a rich experience that will please car enthusiasts, it's the purest celebration of car culture that will far exceed expectations.
Polyphony Digital’s unreal attention to detail to constantly create the perfect driving experience remains unmatched.
They have crafted a game that surpasses all previous titles that fans will simply love, while still keeping it accessible for newcomers.
Gran Turismo 7 is out for the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 on 4 March
