Game Review: Gran Turismo Sport Review - It feels like home

In the run-up to the release of Gran Turismo Sport, the focus of the marketing campaign was mainly on nostalgia. The series is twenty years old and it can be celebrated. The question is, however, now: how is Gran Turismo going to be in 2017, with the now-tough opposition of games like Forza and direct competitor Project CARS 2. I've felt Gran Turismo Sport firmly and look the best for you is like a racing fan.

A love for cars like Yamauchi only

The first time you start Gran Turismo Sport, it feels like home. A wonderful intro, like Yamauchi alone that could put together. Accompanied by subtle, yet powerful music and images that deliver chicken skin to everyone who calls car enthusiast. The atmosphere that is put down is that of a true Gran Turismo game and no mistakes are made. A well-behaved menu, subtle photo transitions, brand information, background history, and even a true photo mode mean that there are purists behind here. Of course, again accompanied by beautiful pieces of music, both between the races and during the navigation.

But then…

A quick look at the content, however, shows that Gran Turismo Sport has been taken a different direction. However, if it has been taken positive, it is doubtful. Away is the career mode, because it has taken place for a Driving School, Mission Challenges and Circuit Experience. This is described as the new campaign mode, in addition to an Arcade mode where you can find the well-known loose events, timescales, and good-bye thoughts split screen. The rest of Sport is in the online section, where the game also leans very strongly. In addition to Arcade mode, everything is shielded if you are not constantly online. In itself no point, it does not mean that the connection will disappear several times.

Everything in Gran Turismo Sport is focused on your current level and the amount of credits you deserve. Through virtually anything you do on four wheels in the game, you earn credits and experience points. With the credits you can of course buy cars and with an ever-increasing level, you can free more models, circuits and other fun extras. It does not matter if you are following a lesson at the Driving School or you win an online event, you always get a reward. The reward depends on the intensity, because a race of fifteen laps is of course heavier than class one of the school.

A lot of bite from the offer

Given that Gran Turismo is already a long-term series, looking forward to the evolution of the series. In the case of the offer of cars, that certainly is not a positive evolution. Polyphony Digital has created one hundred and sixty different cars, many of which are concept cars. Additionally, different versions of a model are included in this number. This is a lot less than Forza and also less than Project CARS 2. Also, even though the intro video suggests otherwise, there are no classic cars. Only the Audi Quattro S1 is an old one, because the 'oldest' car comes from 2009.

Also in the supply of asphalt and a bit of mud, the developer is quite crooked about: only nineteen jobs. Obviously in different layouts, but it does not solve the problem. As a result, after about twenty-one you are already through the dust. Almost any circuit and type of car have you had, for a racing simulator, this is not enough. It has already been announced that more cars and circuits will be added at a later stage, but first-hour buyers do not have anything to do with it.

Go for the gold discobal

There is enough foul with the single player's new design, but addictive is certainly. In the driving school you get started with different models and locations and learn the nice tricks of racing. How to take a curve according to the rules, what to do if you experience underwriting, what is the difference between a VW Golf Control and a Chervolet Corvette C7 Stingray, and so on. You can earn a bronze, silver or gold reward for each class. This gold discobal means you have put a peak time and you're the part of the game. It will not take long before this discobal wins to become addictive.

The same goes for the Mission Challenges, giving you a variety of different assignments to fulfill. This can range from a race by simply getting first to reach a certain top speed and completing a round in a ridiculous time. It's fun to do and varied enough to hold you. Although the poorest supply of circuits here is painful. For each phase you go through, for example, a driver in a driving school or a level in Mission Challenges, you get a car as a reward.

Unfortunately, there is a lack of this new set of games. For example, the game does not always take its own rules seriously. For example, you can get penalty points for opposing opponents. However, one time you stop immediately and the other time nothing happens. In fact, sometimes you are just touched by someone else and you are self-employed. A clear example that it has not been pulled tight yet. Furthermore, you sometimes have no choice but to drive with a Citroën concept car. I would like to ride myself from the point of view of the helmet, so you will see the hands on the steering wheel. However, this car has been developed so belatedly that you do not have a clear view of the road and blinds with strange displays, lights and meters.

Circuit experience a bit like mustard after the meal

Despite the defects, the above modes are fun and challenging. However, the Circuit Experience mode comes a bit as a mustard after the meal, perhaps not by accident at the bottom of the menu. Here you can get started with different circuits and chop them into pieces and then practice them. You've been in the driving school and the Mission Challenges have been busy with the circuits, so it seems a bit unnecessary. Of course it's a handy mode, but content is far from a worthwhile addition to the whole. A bit of a missed opportunity.

What it's all about

In the run-up to the release there was a bit of a hint for an online-oriented race title and that's also true. The Sport Mode is Gran Turismo's parade horse this time. Here you can participate in the official championships. For a while, new events are created and you can set qualifying times, race against other opponents and watch live reports from the absolute top. It is fully equipped for a serious e-sports competition and Gran Turismo does not do anything wrong here. Straight menus, clear instructions and you immediately feel the pressure of a real league. For the real big rewards you can do the best, but note that some experience is required.

Would you like to take something less serious, but nice? Then you can also go to the lobby. You can set up an online race yourself or join an existing one. Here is also the variation in "settings" as it were. Maybe you want to show your most beautiful cars or maybe you're looking for a racemate? Or just drive for fun? There is no leaping competition in your neck. Although it may seem a bit messy at the beginning, this is also a solid piece of content from Polyphony Digital. They make it look great to meet the changing online landscape in the game world.

What might be more about it

Of course, the most important thing of a game that calls itself the real driving simulator is that it also drives a sun. Of course, Sport is born of a franchise, which nobody knows how to drive a car. Although Sport feels a bit more arcade than its predecessors, the cars are still enjoying themselves. Sometimes frustratingly frightening, because the car has a completely different road position than the car you just used. This, however, has to do with your own ability, and although you sometimes crash the game - if you do not take that challenge for half an hour for the fortieth time, it will be correct. The only points of criticism are the concept cars, which sometimes make little sense of realism and driving rally sometimes seems to be skating.

Although it may not be a surprise, Gran Turismo Sport lacks a bad injury model. The annoying occurrence of this is that people are just getting bogged down too often, by bouncing off the road. Additionally, when racing against the computer you notice that the botscar behavior is just too much in the game. The whole simulator section is a bit in the way. With one hundred and sixty cars it should be possible, a damage model? To get it a little bit, let the developer give you an instructional video on a tight drive, and the game will judge you online. It feels a bit like an emergency solution and it certainly does not always work.

Also in the sense of adjustments to your car you do not have to expect too much at Gran Turismo Sport. You can customize your lacquer, stickers and wheels, but you have had it. In addition to a fairly simple tune option. It's a lot less deep than, for example, Project CARS 2 and the game also gives you almost no help. Only the people who really know some of the cars will be in a hurry. Certainly in the later Mission Challenges, however, it is necessary factors, such as which tires you should use. A technician assistant, like the aforementioned rival, was also very welcome here.

Audiovisually thick in order

In presentation, Gran Turismo Sport has become a very well-behaved game. The models look tight and obviously presented delusively. The so-called vacuum cleaner syndrome where Gran Turismo is known has been largely solved. Most cars have now got a much nicer, deeper sound. Sometimes you still spot such a vacuum cleaner, but it is negligible. As mentioned earlier, the audio is further from the top shelf. A nice soundtrack, the well-known menu sounds of the series... it's all there. There is little to be said about this, but it is not a pioneering step towards competition, and we might have hoped for it.

Unfortunately, there are no dynamic weather effects. There are moments in the Mission Challenges that suddenly you'll see some rain, but why it's not in the game is a mystery. Certainly if you see what other racing games show today. For example, a long time ago, Driveclub already showed how to do that well. Project CARS 2 also lets you tear in the rain. Unfortunately, Gran Turismo Sport does not work with it. What a beautiful detail, which is often overlooked, is a real pit stop. Complete with team and equipment.

Finally split screen and VR mode

A very big plus to Gran Turismo Sport is the split-screen mode. Although, unfortunately, you can only ride one-on-one, it's a pleasure to be able to race again on the couch. Although the game is just as hard at doing everything online, they do not forget about the old stamp gamers. It should therefore be specifically mentioned that Gran Turismo Sport finally gives that opportunity. The only strange thing here is that the developer has chosen to display all the car information in a black part of the screen, which makes your actual image of the car itself quite limited. Even though we played the game on a large screen, it was sometimes difficult to see.

Gran Turismo Sport continues to play you mainly in the traditional way, but if you have a PlayStation VR headset, you can use it too. They are in very limited form. Gran Turismo Sport's VR mode offers two options. For example, in VR you can walk around the cars that you have gathered so that you can watch them closely. Nice to do a second, especially if you have some crazy bolides in your garage. It's a pity that you can only view the cars from the outside and therefore can not get in. Something that could, for example, be in Drive Club VR.

Interestingly, of course, is the actual racing in virtual reality. However, this is also so limited that these are only loose races on the jobs you have released, and those with the cars you can find in your garage. So the further you are in the regular game, the more VR content you have at your disposal. Riding yourself in VR is a pretty fat experience because this game does not show anybody how it is to ride a real racer with all the visual details. In that respect, it's definitely worth it, though it's not that you're looking forward to racing in VR.

Do not get me wrong, it's a wonderful experience. But the point is that racing is not so exciting because you drive against only one opponent, just like in split-screen mode. Now it's fun to fight with the other, but soon you miss the many cars that usually ride in an ordinary race. It is super limited, while there is a lot of potential here. This makes Gran Turismo Sport's VR mode very much a missed opportunity. It's too limited and although the experience is impressive, you've seen it after an hour or two and that's a shame.

Conclusion

For every plus point i pick up, there seems to be a "but" stick to Gran Turismo Sport. The game has a solid foundation, but it does not really matter in terms of content, design and overall experience. Nevertheless, it is striking to see how terribly addictive Gran Turismo is still working. Gaining golden prizes, earning credits and throwing up your level will keep you doing. For fans of the series it is recommended, because driving is still like a house, the online section is ok and especially the Mission Challenges are very fun to do. Keep in mind that you count on more (free) DLC. Do you want a true, comprehensive and quarantined simulator? Then you have to go for Project CARS 2, the obvious winner in this titan battle.

➕ Control is like a house
➕ Online mode in order for all audiences
➕ Audiovisually neat and cared for
➕ Mission Challenges are very addictive
➕ Races in virtual reality are impressive ...

➖ ...but in terms of options very limited
➖ Freely crazy offer of content
➖ Not every new design choice works well
➖ No proper damage model
➖ Inconsistency in its own regulations

Thanks for reading.

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