Since debuting almost a quarter of a century ago, the Gran Turismo series has played a hugely important role in the development and evolution of the racing sim genre. It's given driving fans some of the very best racing games of all time, offering up one of the most realistic driving experiences around in the process. Unsurprisingly, perhaps, Gran Turismo 7 picks up right where its predecessors left off.
While Gran Turismo 7 undoubtedly has a lot going for it though, it's far from the perfect game. Some of the design choices, for example, are a little questionable, while not all of the development team's ideas landed quite as eloquently as they perhaps would have liked. When all's said and done, the good probably outweighs the bad, but it really is a mixed bag.
Love: The Huge Variety of Cars
With more than 400 different car types available, Gran Turismo 7 is easily the most content-rich entry in the series to date at launch. Better still, unlike certain other driving games that contain a lot of different vehicles, each of the cars in Gran Turismo 7 behaves differently while out on the track.
From vintage classics like the E-Type Jag to out-of-this-world concept cars like the SRT Tomahawk X VGT, Gran Turismo 7 really does have something for everyone. The game also does a pretty decent job of forcing players out of their comfort zones by making them use a wide array of these cars, ensuring that the driving experience remains fresher for longer.
Don't Like: The Unskippable Intro
Seven minutes and 47 seconds. That's how long Gran Turismo 7's unskippable introductory cutscene lasts. To be clear, it is beautifully presented, particularly the sizzle reel-like second half, which really shows what the game's engine is capable of producing. However, most players would probably prefer to find this out for themselves by actually playing the game rather than just watching it.
In an ideal world, every single person that works on a game would get the credit and recognition that they deserve. Unfortunately, however, most players just want to get on with playing the game that they've just spent seventy bucks on, and so forcing them to watch a ridiculously long intro with integrated credits is only going to frustrate them. It's pretty much the equivalent of Marvel putting the entire movie after the end credits, rather than just a short bonus post-credit scene.
Love: The Attention to Detail
To the developers' credit, once the introduction is finally out of the way, it quickly becomes clear how much care and attention has gone into making this game. Iconic tracks from all around the world have been lovingly recreated, and the amount of options when it comes to car customization is incredibly impressive too.
This high level of detail not only extends to how individual cars behave out on the track, but also how they respond to certain weather conditions. Players will often find themselves needing to change their tires to combat the effects of rain, while certain road surfaces can also cause problems if players aren't prepared. In that respect, at last, the game really is a wonderful ode to the love of driving.
Don't Like: The Lack of Realism in the Single-Player Campaign
For a game that prides itself on realism, the way that progression is handled in the single-player campaign is a bit of a joke. Players are regularly tasked with collecting sets of cars, all of which can be won by competing in certain races. "Win" probably isn't the right word, actually, as players will receive these gift cars simply by securing a podium finish.
That race organizers are giving away three cars worth tens of thousands of dollars for a couple of minutes' worth of entertainment is pretty laughable. Players will quickly amass a collection of vehicles worth millions this way and are able to store as many cars as they like in their garage. Granted, this system does encourage players to try out new rides, but there had to have been a better way of accomplishing this.
Love: The Music
By default, the music in Gran Turismo 7 is set at a fairly low level, allowing the roar of engines to quite rightly take center stage. In any other type of game this might be seen as a poor design choice, but, for a racing game, it works surprisingly well. The tracks are still recognizable in the background, but the focus remains squarely on the cars.
The person responsible for curating the soundtrack for Gran Turismo 7 deserves a lot of credit (though perhaps not an eight-minute unskippable cutscene), as each piece of music fits the driving experience remarkably well. Those who'd like to hear the songs a little better can tweak the audio settings in the menu, but most will probably be more than happy with the default levels.
Really Don't Like: The Aggressive Monetization
Microtransactions are a blight on the gaming industry designed to further line the pockets of soulless executives who already have far more money than they could ever possibly deserve. They're exploitative, potentially harmful, and seemingly impossible to get away from these days. Unfortunately, this is also the case in Gran Turismo 7, which is the first Gran Turismo game to feature microtransactions at launch. It also features gambling, but that's a story for another day.
In the event that players do not have enough Credits to buy something, they'll be presented with a screen that offers them the chance to purchase more Credits with just a couple of button clicks. This is made all the worse by the repetitive gameplay loop, with players having to complete endless races to win new cars for their collections and make progress. As most of these cars can be bought using credits instead, it quickly starts to feel like the developers intentionally made the game more grindy just so that they could sell these "time-saving" microtransactions. This may not have been their intention, but that's certainly what it feels like at times.
To make matters worse, the "value" for money offered by these microtransactions is horrendously bad. Two million credits will set players back $19.99, meaning that to buy the ten fastest cars in Gran Turismo 7, players would need to shell out over $120 of real-world cash. Of course, they could choose to grind for these credits instead, but for those who value their time and dignity, this prospect probably won't be too appealing. Just for good measure, microtransactions weren't unlocked in review copies of the game, preventing reviewers from warning potential buyers about the aggressive monetization tactics that are now in play.
Love: The Focus on History
Though the collectathon elements of Gran Turismo 7's single-player campaign can get a little repetitive, the rewards are arguably well worth the effort. After completing a collection-oriented Menu Book, players will be treated to a short, but beautifully presented cutscene with information about the three cars. Better still, unlike the intro cut-scene, viewing them is entirely optional.
These heavily-stylized mini-vignettes typically delve into the history of the vehicles that players have just collected, as well as the manufacturers behind them. For fans of motoring history, these will likely be one of the brightest highlights that the game has to offer, and for very good reason. They're interesting, they look great, and, perhaps most importantly, they make the task of collecting new cars actually feel worthwhile.
Don't Like: The Inability to Sell Cars
Either through gifts or through purchases, players will quickly amass a ridiculous number of vehicles as they play through the single-player campaign. Unfortunately, however, they won't be able to sell any of them, meaning that most will just sit around in the garage collecting dust. Players can discard vehicles if they want to, but only if they have more than one of them already in their garage.
Presumably, the reason that players are unable to sell cars is to ensure that they're always able to complete the next objective. Certain races require players to use very specific cars and the current system ensures that they always have at least one car that's eligible in their garage. After completing those races though, there's no reason why these cars couldn't become sellable and there's even a used car dealership already built into the game.
Love: The Accessibility Options
Whether players are new to the series or are seasoned GT veterans, Gran Turismo 7's wide array of difficulty settings and options will ensure that the game remains accessible yet challenging to just about everyone who plays it. This could mean having the game handle braking when going into sharp corners, or making the AI for computer-controlled racers a little less aggressive.
The plethora of different views and camera angles also deserves a mention, as switching between them can completely change up the experience. There are two that are particularly enjoyable: a third-person behind-the-car view that makes the game feel more like a classic arcade game and a first-person cockpit view that really cranks up the immersion. For fans of the latter, it's possible to make things even more realistic by tweaking the HUD.
Don't Like: The Need to 'Unlock' Multiplayer
Racing games have always been great for local couch co-op, with split-screen quickly becoming a defining staple of the genre. Since the rise of online gaming, being able to race online with friends has also become a big part of the genre's appeal, and for very good reason. Unfortunately, however, players will need to wait quite a while before they'll be able to experience either in Gran Turismo 7.
Forcing players to unlock multiplayer mode is a brave decision, to say the least. Some might argue that it was also a foolish one though, particularly as it will take most players around two and a half hours to reach the point in the main story where multiplayer finally becomes available. As such, those looking for a game that they can jump right into and play with friends may want to give Gran Turismo 7 a miss.
Gran Turismo 7 is available now on PS4 and PS5.
