After 25 years, Gran Turismo is all about exquisite detail

THE one game synonymous with the world of driving simulators must be the Gran Turismo franchise.

 After 25 years of success, Polyphony Digital is confident it can reignite the scene with Gran Turismo 7.

Kazunori Yamauchi, the main driving force behind GT, has created a game that celebrates car culture and blurs the realm between what is real and what isn’t.

The visuals are achingly stunning, as are the small details of simulated vehicle dynamics and environmental effects.

Yamauchi’s team has reinvigorated the game with a reimagined central hub called Gran Turismo World. From here, players of all ages can compete in various racing missions, browse new and used vehicle showrooms, tackle car customisation, explore different circuits, content-sharing, and much more.

There will be 34 locations (97 layouts) across the globe to test your driving skills, some fictional, many real-world. So, along with the original Gran Turismo’s Trial Mountain there’s Germany’s Nurburgring and Australian and Kiwi favourite, Mt Panorama.

Car collectors will rejoice; whether it be brand new, used, or legendary past exotics – Grand Turismo 7 has a virtual dealership just for you. In fact, the game will launch with more than 400 impeccably detailed cars from the get-go, with many more yet to come via downloadable add-ons.

Adjustable vehicle settings will enable racers to finetune everything from brake bias to downforce - the amount of component tweaking is colossal. The same applies to upgradable parts like engines, wheels, and body styling elements …it’s a rabbit hole that will have you occupied for days. 

Audiophiles will appreciate the employment of 3D spatial audio, enabling vehicle sounds to reflect off different materials, walls, and structures. Racers will also notice differences in vibration haptics, from hitting a chicane to variations in brake pedal feel and when tyres lose grip.

A dynamic weather system that changes from circuit to circuit adds a sense of realism. It’s so realistic that it can be raining on one side of the track yet be dry on the other. Racing lines will dry out after heavy rain - so watch out if you drift wide and misjudge those turns.

For those wanting a more leisurely experience, Gran Turismo Café is a tremendous audiovisual portal to sit back and learn more about the game’s different vehicles.

 So-called ‘Menu books’ require players to complete a series of driving challenges. Once completed, they can listen to in-depth knowledge about the cars used and watch designers, like Mazda’s Tom Matano - the man behind the original Mazda MX 5 - talk about the vehicles they’ve created.

An innovative new replay system continuously syncs music with different camera shots, making every scene appear like a well-choreographed movie or car advert. In a unique twist, Music Rally mode encourages players to drive to the beat of a soundtrack – not necessarily fast but to enjoy the scenery like you would on a relaxing weekend drive.

The Showcase section allows users to share everything from replays, screenshots, and liveries with users from all over the globe. Budding photographers are well catered for, too, with over 1000 stunning ‘Scapes’ available to photograph your digital pride and joy creatively.

 Gran Turismo 7 arrives on March 4. It’s for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5.