For The Love Of Cars, A Gran Turismo 7 Review

What’s Gran Turismo 7 really like? Shit. Nah, not really. Is it worth the full asking price? No. None of these digital games are worth £70, but an end-of-year sale warrants a purchase. It’s Sony’s flagship driving simulator and arguably the best driving experience on the PS5, depending on what one looks for in a racing game. 

Gran Turismo is like the FIFA series: it’s the same tried and tested formula (if it ain’t broke…), adding more bells and whistles based on the current tech, with a few updated features not available on the original PS One, such as more online options and integrated video clips and trivia. 

But the real question, as with most driving games: how long is it until I can get a Skyline GTR? Forza Horizon 4’s immediate downfall was a handful of races until it was earned, but Gran Turismo 7 toyed with the racing carrot for a reasonable amount of time, encouraging a few repeat races to purchase a Nismo-tuned GTR that annihilates the competition (Mazda Demios). The same vehicle can’t be used for everything, so expect a BIG car collection. It’s like guitars: you can never have enough. It doesn’t matter if you don’t use them.

Gran Turismo 7 PS5 Review

But we’re here to get off on our favourite sports cars, following those sexy curves, drooling as the trees reflect off the custom paint job, and seeing how a Ferrari compares to a Fiesta ST. There’s no comparison, fools. The engine sounds are there, too, and there will be some rip-roaring V8s to make you moist, or perhaps a Tesla’s whisper is more to your liking? They all sound great. Music also makes a Gran Turismo game – from the menus to licensed tracks like the classic Feeder song Buck Rogers. Nothing beats:

He’s got a brand new car
Looks like a jaguar
It’s got leather seats
It’s got a CD player

Sadly, there haven’t been any standouts this time around. Instead, it’s a coffee shop, jazz-induced wankfest for car hipsters. Head to the cafe to get challenges from Luca to collect Japanese compacts, through to hypercars, then have some apple crisp macchiato-drinking ponce tell you the history of your car. While it was nice to have some comments on my Audi TT or kids asking whether I could drift my BMW E90 IRL, having a stranger waffle about cars encouraged a skip through the dialogue. If you aren’t a car lover, you’re in the wrong place, but Gran Turismo 7 is a love letter not only to the models on display but to the industry as a whole – embedding YouTube videos and the like, making it more than just a game.

For The Assist!

Those looking for something a step up from Mario Kart may be in for a mild shock, but don’t be deterred, as Gran Turismo 7 comes equipped with stabilisers. Assistance stems from racing lines through to automatic braking, so the game accommodates most abilities, including options to make the overall difficulty easier (or harder). Though getting comfortable in a Mini Cooper S is easy, stepping into a McLaren P1 should be your goal, but be prepared to work for it. Earning driving licences remains, so completing these is paramount to success, as is the array of challenges – with a literal challenge option ranked on your collector status that puts you in scenarios to earn more credits and reputation.

A world map showcases the many available options, unlocked steadily through progression. These include tuning shops, dealerships, a sport mode for online play, a car wash, and even a photoshoot session, a feature in itself. Position your cars in various poses and adjust the shutter speed, aperture and filter effects to your heart’s content. If only there were some bikini-clad babes (or men – whatever takes your fancy) to make it all 80s/90s car mag pin-up worthy. Gran Turismo 7 is a homage to the car industry, and if it weren’t for seeing a screensaver shot of Nigel Farage while typing this paragraph, I’d say it was damn sexy, too.

The Verdict

Gran Turismo 7 is as expected: a stunning, feature-packed driving experience. The only reservation is a restriction on purchasing dealership cars from 2001 upwards – the classics are only available through defined challenges and the random marketplace. Also, visual customisations are limited due to the sheer volume on display. For custom options and an arcade style of play, visit the Need For Speed series or the cheaper simulation option, Project Cars 3; otherwise, Gran Turismo 7 is an essential purchase (when on sale) for your PS5.