Is GT7 worth the money?

Gran Turismo 7 is the latest installment in Sony and Polyphony Digital‘s acclaimed racing simulation franchise for PlayStation. GT7 brings the series back to its roots after the esports-focused GT Sport, with over 420 cars, 90+ tracks, extensive car customization and tuning, and best-in-class driving physics. But is it worth the $69.99 price tag? Here‘s a comprehensive look.

Overview of Gran Turismo 7

GT7 offers a huge amount of content for racing enthusiasts. Key features include:

• 420+ cars – From vintage classics to modern supercars, with 30+ new models added since launch.

• 34 real-world tracks – Famous circuits like Nürburgring, Laguna Seca and Trial Mountain. 16 new tracks added post-launch.

• Livery Editor – Create your own custom paint jobs and vinyls. Share designs with the community.

• Scapes – Photorealistic photo mode locations from around the world.

• Tuning – Upgrade and tune parts like brakes, suspension, drivetrain, etc. Tweak settings for optimal performance.

• Campaign/Cafe Menus – 200+ events across multiple race types. Complete menus to acquire new cars.

• Multiplayer – Online sport mode, two-player split-screen, and local lobbies for up to 20 racers.

• VR Support – Fully playable in PSVR2 (PlayStation VR2 headset required, sold separately).

Is the single player campaign worth it?

The GT Cafe campaign is the core single player experience. Players are given used cars and tasked with completing race events to earn menu books. Each menu book rewards you with a new car upon completion.

The structure provides clear progression, guiding you through different race types and difficulty levels to master all aspects of racing step-by-step. Events include circuit races, rallies, time trials, drift trials, license tests and more.

The campaign takes around 24 hours to finish. The diverse events, challenges and sense of progression make it engaging and rewarding from start to finish. It‘s a comprehensive driving curriculum.

How is the multiplayer & online experience?

GT7‘s online multiplayer allows for:

• Sport mode – Ranked online races across daily races and championships. Matchmaking system pits you against similarly skilled drivers.

• Custom online lobbies – Create or join lobbies for casual races against friends. Support for up to 20 players.

• Two-player split screen – Local split screen racing on tracks of your choosing.

Since launch, connectivity and stability has improved significantly. Matchmaking is quicker and races are smoother. Optional microtransactions exist but provide no competitive advantage. They are completely optional.

The competitive and casual online options offer high replay value. There‘s always events to participate in and leaderboards to climb.

Is the gameplay & physics simulation realistic?

With best-in-class driving physics, GT7 lives up to its reputation for realistic simulation. Each car handles uniquely based on factors like weight distribution, suspension geometry and tire dynamics.

You can tune gear ratios, tires, brakes, suspension, drivetrain and more. Upgrades impact handling characteristics just as they would in real life. Sites like Team O‘Neil Rally School use Gran Turismo for their students.

Damage modeling is limited, but optional Mechanical Damage settings allow for realistic wear-and-tear on components. Visually, GT7 sets a new standard with ray tracing for photorealistic lighting and life-like materials. It‘s as close as you‘ll get to driving exotic supercars without buying them.

Does it have good content variety & progression?

With 90+ track variants across real and fictional circuits, 420 cars classes from compacts to hypercars, tuning options, and diverse race types, GT7 offers tremendous breadth and depth for gearheads.

The Café menus introduce concepts logically, with each new challenge building on the last. You‘re drip-fed new cars and customization parts as you progress, providing a compelling sense of advancement.

The game rewards not just driving talent but also car collection and customization. There‘s a satisfying gameplay loop that keeps you playing to build your dream garage.

Is it beginner friendly?

The license tests and driving missions ease newcomers into the experience. Lessons cover racing fundamentals like oversteer/understeer management, trail braking, apexes and more. The driving model is authentic but accessible for novices.

Assists like traction control, driving lines and braking assists are available to use as training wheels. You can lower AI difficulty as needed when starting out. There‘s enough tools for anyone to enjoy GT7 regardless of skill.

Verdict: Worth buying for driving fans

With its unmatched realism, customization depth and sheer wealth of content, Gran Turismo 7 delivers the most comprehensive driving package on the market today. Despite some online growing pains at launch, the game has proven itself with continued support and improvements from Polyphony Digital.

For anyone passionate about cars and racing, GT7 is absolutely worth the investment. Its gameplay, longevity and faithfulness to classic GT make it a must-have title for PS5/PS4 owners.