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Do you have a PS4 and in the market for a racing game that you’ll spend hours on while also focusing on the art of pure driving? Then Gran Turismo Sport is a must-have.
The Playstation-only franchise made its debut in 1997 and has gone on to become a classic among gamers and petrol heads alike. The latest iteration incorporates full online racing and FIA-Certified Online Championships.
If you don’t have access to a consistent internet connection, you are deprived of 95% of the game’s features. Only Arcade mode with a limited number of cars and tracks are available offline. Basically, the game just wants to see an internet connection, no matter the speed.
In online mode, you are rewarded with points for clean and safe driving while testing your skills against some of the best gamers around the world. If you really want to see how good you are, then the Lewis Hamilton challenge, which you, unfortunately, have to purchase on the Playstation Network, is an accurate barometer.
Some of the new features include Brand Central, Livery Customisation, and Photo Mode. With these functions you can take a look at auto manufacturer timelines, personalise your car with stickers and logos, and place your car in awesome real-world images that can be shared on social media.
So is it worth the money?
If you can get past the online functionality, then a resounding yes is the answer. GTS is a good game and irons out most of the creases of previous instalments. Earlier versions had people complaining that all cars sounded the same, but that is not the case at all here. From exhaust downshifts to unpredictable torque steer, developers really did the business in perfecting the experience of real driving.
Driving dynamics has seen a major improvement as well, while the addition of in-game functions like fuel conservation and lap by lap telemetries can be toggled during the race.
World circuits like Spa-Francorchamps, Willow Springs, and Suzuka with the inclusion of a few new ones, are brilliantly replicated often leaving you staring at its beautiful backdrops instead of keeping your eyes on the road.
The downside
Whereas you could fit everything from uprated clutches to engine management systems with game credits previously, that type of freedom is no longer there. Instead, you now tune and lighten your car with mileage points in the garage.
You also don’t hear an audible difference, disappointingly, as the cars sound the same as stock, but you can feel the difference in speed when driving. Creators took the gentleman route here in keeping the aesthetics stock bar a few tweaks like sticker decals and aftermarket rims that can be applied. Furthermore, driver apparel and colour palettes can also be purchased.
Passing various licenses to compete in different races has always been an ever-present in the GT series and it doesn’t change. In Sport, however, passing the various licenses is not compulsory, merely serving as a contribution to the game’s overall completion and obtaining numerous gift cars at the end. Also, it is very easy to win gold as the step by step instructions are lenient so you can basically get gold every time.
In a nutshell, this game sucks you in and tempts you to play more because it is so much more intense. You can’t solely rely on speed, because each car has its own driving characteristic. Whether you’re new to the game or you’ve played earlier versions, this one so far take the cake and a big slice of it.
