I will start with the positives.
As a fan of Gran Turismo since the PlayStation 1 era, I have been disappointed and will disappoint the series' enthusiasts.
The graphics are based on the GT Sport engine of the PS4 with the simple addition of ray tracing (only in replays, scapes, and photo mode) and simply running at 60fps. Yes, it looks very nice, but that is not enough.
The sound is the same as GT Sport for those who do not have Sony's Pulse 3D. But even then, the difference is not that big. Anyone who has experienced high-quality 3D sound understands.
The handling has not undergone any drastic changes. The change has been made thanks to the controller, which you can tell in the DS4 where you essentially do not see a difference.
The way penalties are managed in online races has not changed. It has the same flawed system as GT Sport.
It is the familiar Gran Turismo, for better or worse.
In other words, the changes between GT Sport and GT 7 are simply superficial on the PS4 and simply expected on the PS5.
Beyond that, if you value your money, read about what to expect as an experience.
THE FOLLOWING APPLIED AT THE RELEASE DATE
Finally, they returned to the old style with missions to progress in the game instead of playing the game modes just to grind credits to buy cars. Here we encounter one of the game's major obstacles. Sony, in its attempt to squeeze every penny, because I cannot describe it any other way, forced the game developers, whom you just paid €70 or €80 to buy the game, to include microtransactions. This means that the game is designed to force you to spend real money to buy in-game credits in order to buy some of the ridiculously expensive cars.
Racing and earning money has always been part of Gran Turismo. This time, however, the game gives you credits in small amounts. Let me explain. Almost throughout the entire campaign, the car you need to use to complete the Coffee Menus (a new mode, like a quest) has lower PP than the event's minimum requirement. So you have to tune it up, which costs between 100,000cr and 200,000+cr. You have to spend this amount for each car you want to have the option to modify. As if that's not enough, you have to spend money on almost everything (body parts, oils, lights, paint, etc.). The coupons you earn after reaching certain milestones or Coffee Menus give you a small relief, which 90% of the time is 5,000cr to 10,000cr. They also give other rewards, but good luck winning something substantial. Until GT Sport, all cars were purchased from the Brand Central. In GT 7, they have removed the classic/collectible cars and placed them in the Legend Cars building, where they are priced based on real appraisal estimates. This would be fair if you could sell the cars you have duplicates of or simply don't want, just like in reality. But reality only applies when it comes to the cost of cars. It is clear that the game has been designed to put all the content you would want behind a paywall, meaning pay to have access, otherwise, grind in the game to maybe save up enough money to buy the car you like. With many models costing from 2,000,000+cr to 20,000,000+cr (€200 if you buy credits), it will take you a cruelly long time to collect them. Otherwise, buy credits with real money. Simply unacceptable.
UPDATE 25/03/2022
Following the general outcry of the players, Polyphony Digital, to its credit, is changing the game's economy with an update that will be released in early April.
- Increase in rewards in the second half of the World Circuits by an average of 100%.
- Addition of high-value rewards for completing the Circuit Experience with all Gold/Silver awards.
- Increase in rewards in Online Races.
- Eight new one-hour endurance race events will be added to Missions. These will also have higher reward settings.
- Increase in the maximum amount in players' wallets from 20 million Cr. to 100 million Cr.
- Increase in the quantity of used and Legend cars offered at any given time.
- In addition to this, more World Circuit events will be added, full endurance races, including 24-hour races, online time trials with appropriate payments, and - most importantly - players will be able to sell cars in their virtual garages for credits.
------|------
Another unacceptable element of the game is the always online feature. If your connection drops, you cannot play the game you paid for. Not even the single-player parts.
Artificial Intelligence or A.I. In their words and presentations, they presented the game's A.I. as something groundbreaking. From my experience so far, I have to say that the opponents have an obsession with sticking to their line, ignoring whether you have taken their inside or not. They come and crash into you because they have to follow their predetermined path. At first, I thought it was just a mistake of the A.I. to make it more realistic. When I started testing it, I saw it happening many times, and many times it ignores whether you are next to them or not.
Coffee Menus, Missions, and general handling. The fact that such an expensive production does not use voice overs for the car dedications after missions, or for the instructions given in licenses and races, is simply outdated in 2022.
Online. The multiplayer part of the game has many connectivity issues. Many times it does not connect at all or throws errors, and even if you connect, it does not mean you will have the best experience, even if your connection has good latency.
As for the menu handling, they managed to make it worse than GT Sports. You don't have easy access to your garage. If you enter a menu and need to change something, a car or a part, you have to press the button 3-4 times to go back to the main map or go to the menu on the top left and return from there to the main map. It could have been done with a simple long press of the button to exit there. In races, there is no longer a way to see the opponents' PP before the race. Also, you cannot see the weather. Many times on the initial screen it was raining, what could be more logical than putting wet tires for a wet track, but when you entered the race, it was just cloudy or the opposite. Overall, poorly designed navigation in the game's menus and strange choices for a simulator.
Overall, the game is disappointing. It could have been more fair to its fans, especially on its 25th anniversary. Many words and promises in the videos for changes that are not actually implemented in the game. Many shortcomings, the same vehicles as GT Sports with a few additions. Things that were functional in GT Sports have disappeared and we are left with poor navigation in the menus. Finally, the always online (in other words DRM) is simply unacceptable, especially for single player parts, on a platform that does not face piracy. After the update in early April, the unacceptable design of the game that encouraged players to spend real money will change, and it will become more generous with the credits it gives you. A good sign for the future of the game. If you are on PS5 and can digest the above, you will have a great time, as the game is a visual delight, otherwise wait for the discounts.
With the changes that will come with the update in early April, it becomes more attractive as a purchase on PS4. However, I would recommend finding it on sale or used and continue playing GT Sports.
If there are any other significant changes, I will update the review.