So the “big don” of console SIM racing has finally been released.
Gran Turismo 7 is a 2022 sim racing video game developed by Polyphony Digital and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment. The game is the eighth mainline installment in the Gran Turismo series. Wikipedia
Initial release date: 4 March 2022
Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment
Platforms: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5
Genres: Sim racing, Sports Video Game, Vehicle simulation game
For those who think that you are going to download the game and get straight into racing like the previous version of GT Sport, just like me, you have a very frustrating and long slog to get your licenses before you are allowed to start competing and getting anywhere within the game itself.
Although I am not a “gamer” I have been completely hooked by the previous version of the game. I am told this 25th-anniversary edition offers much the same as the original game did way back in 1997. Back in those days I would not have thought there were many rigs ( a car cockpit frame with a seat and designed shelving to put your steering wheel and pedals). Those who were playing the game back then, they would have been using a controller… not something I am very good at using to be fair.
Now my experience with this game comes on the back of playing GT sport for the past year. The game play has been on PS4 and when the time is right I will go forward and upgrade to a PS5.
With the limitations of the PS4 compared to the PS5, and although this is a new game with so many new features, it does feel like quite an expensive update when playing on the PS4. I am sure when I move over to PS5 the whole beauty of the game will be realised. The much anticipated car-collecting campaign mode returns after its absence in Gran Turismo Sport, this is likely to frustrate early adopters of the previous games as it’s surprisingly different this time around. Instead of in the previous titles where more freedom vehicle-purchasing was granted, your route through the early part of GT7 is tightly controlled and punctuated with educational mini-lectures on significant or enduring aspects of car culture.
Earning money within GT7 is quite arduous through the gift roulettes. It’s quite ironic that the most desirable cars are extremely expensive and often only fleetingly available as the in-game markets shift.
Despite my annoyance with the above statement, the actual gameplay is very rewarding. Once you start on your journey time passes by very quickly. On the day of release, I spent 6 hours in my rig trying to achieve my licenses and unlocking layers to allow me to get to the much sort after multiplayer option.
The Cafe is the central point where you visit and meet Luca. Luca is the character who will give you your mission via a “menu book’. The menu book can ask you to collect a group of three cars or ask you to participate in a race or several. Once you have completed these tasks within the GT7 world, you come back and present your completed task to Luca and you are then given rewards or another part of the game is unlocked.
Once you return with collections of cars a very fluffy history lesson is given regarding the cars that you collect. For the most part keep pressing the next button and you can then move through the game a little quicker. GT7 is looking to be a game with a huge amount of longevity for those wanting to put in the time and effort. Fair warning to say that this will consume huge amounts of your time, so plan your time well, you may have to give your better half your credit card to get her or him out of the way while you continue your passage through the GT7 world.
It will be interesting to see if GT7 will have the cult following that GT sport managed to achieve with its lobbies and teams of online racers enjoying the spirit of all things motorsport.
Here are a couple of links to some of the best on Youtube
TIDGNEY
THE KIE 25
SUPER GT
BOOSTED MEDIA
gameplay from GT7 by me (morganvw1)
Thank you for coming to visit my blog regarding GT7.
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Scott