Naturally, Gran Turismo 7 performs best on the PS5, where it stays true to the series’ long-standing tradition of showcasing the console’s full potential. Although the photorealistic graphics was always a given, it appears that critics did not expect the level of detail that Polyphony put into rendering each car. But, that’s not all, even the environments feel real too, stepping up the immersion factor to the point that it becomes easy to forget that this is all just a game. The all-new DualSense controller continues to be a revelation as well. Nearly a year after Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart surprised gamers by how integrated the adaptive triggers and haptic feedback feels when playing, Gran Turismo 7 does the same thing. Although Gran Turismo 7 is also available on the PS4, it is on the PS5 where the game truly shines with the help of the DualSense controller making sure that drivers don’t just see how awesome the game looks but also feel how it’s like to drive beastly machines. TheGamer, which gave Gran Turismo 7 a 5/5, had this to say about the game: “The racing is thrilling, the cars are a joy to drive, the tracks are magnificent, and the career is well structured,” adding that the reviewer “can’t imagine wanting to play another racing sim any time soon.” Polygon echoed the same thoughts, describing Gran Turismo as a franchise as a “glorious anomaly” that adheres to “different standards than any other,” and “a game that’s all science and engineering on the outside, and all history and heart within.” Unfortunately, as IGN points out, Gran Turismo 7’s always-online single-player campaign does detract from the experience albeit only by a smidge. The same review explains that all of the negatives “are on the periphery of GT7’s outstanding driving experiences, which are enhanced by the PS5’s gorgeous graphics and intense and flavourful haptic feedback via the DualSense controller.” It also appears that Sony didn’t give out review copies to those who wanted to see what GT7 would feel like on the PS4. This makes sense as it’s always best to aim for the ideal representation of your product, which the PS4 is not. This isn’t to say that Gran Turismo 7 wouldn’t play well on the PS4 and PS4 Pro, but it’s obvious that Polyphony built GT7 with the PS5 in mind. Of course, with Horizon Forbidden West proving how capable the PS4 consoles remain, PS4 owners interested to pick up Gran Turismo 7 have little cause for concern if they can’t enjoy the wonders of the DualSense and the glorious graphics of the PS5. Here’s a quick round-up of all the other notable reviews for Gran Turismo 7:
GameSpot - 8/10 GamesRadar - 4.5/5 Screen Rant - 4/5 VGC - 3/5 Destructoid
While Gran Turismo 7 doesn’t quite measure up to the first three Gran Turismo games, it does try its best and for the most part, it sticks the landing. GT7 learns from the multiplayer-focused mistakes of Gran Turismo Sport and improves on Gran Turismo 4, all without alienating both the franchise’s hardcore and casual fanbase. We’ll find out more about how the public sees Gran Turismo 7 once it launches for the PS4 and PS5 on March 3.
