And then there was one… there has always been one, for the console generation at least and the King of driving games/simulations for the console era has always been Gran Turismo. Gran Turismo 6 was a massive game designed for the backend of the PS3,  graphically and in terms of game mechanics, it felt like a PS3 era title, kind of like a stocking filler. Is Gran Turismo Sport, for the PS4, any better? There are more detailed reviews from GameSpot, Eurogamer and IGN, Autoblog.com give a really good snapshot of GT Sport via Twitter. I had early review copy over the weekend, and this is what I thought. The scale of Gran Turismo Sport, compared to 6, is smaller in terms of the number of cars available, but the technological leap is bigger, the graphics are far superior and as a result, for once, Gran Turismo really can call itself the “real driving simulator”. When I watched the opening title sequence I was already won over, the intro included a full orchestral score that could have been written by Aaron Copeland. And in many ways, Gran Turismo has always been a fanfare for the common console man because it has always been accessible for all gaming/driving skill levels.

Everything you need to know about #GTSport: https://t.co/wlSTTUV7Tr pic.twitter.com/hZFsSpAEXX

— Autoblog (@therealautoblog) October 17, 2017

Everything that you know about the previous Gran Turismo’s has been carried over to GT Sport, so, a few more menus here and there, typically you make your way through the ranks by entering driving events and earning money by completing driving tasks/tests, earning an FIA approved license etc and leveling up as a result. Doing so unlocks prizes and money which allows you to collect/buy cars and also allows you to enter other driving events. Some reviews of GT Sport have said that there isn’t enough depth, this is nonsense as you can spend all day just going through the menu system, choosing colours for your car, adding decals etc, entering events and competing against live online opponents. Initially, it was a little frustrating to be unable to access online mode because the servers were on a weekend break. But I did manage to download the game and had access to Arcade mode, a McLaren 650S GT3 was the most appealing of cars to choose from a limited menu. Once out on track it soon became apparent that the graphics really were mindblowing, the near photo-realism is beyond engaging for a console, which is typically less powerful than a PC. On a sunny track day, from within the cockpit, you see reflections of the dashboard in the windscreen, realism re-created, little details like that make a big difference to being fully immersed into this digital, virtual world. Online mode, or Sport mode as it appears on the menu, is where you are skill-matched to opponents. Predictably, and I am not talking myself up (ahem!) I set some fast times and won a race. Be warned the competition online is close it is real, fast, frenetic but fair. Just how it should be. Indeed the level of detail, the attention to detail paid to recreating cars in a digital form, the lighting effects, refractions everything has been honed to near perfection. Even the AI, an achilles heal of many driving games, is almost spot on. The game mechanics, while never being able to replicate the true interpretation of driving on a track, is nevertheless as near as you can get to feeling real. The latter is true for every other driving game/sim. For the console, GT Sport gets the closest. It’s quite playable with the PS4 controller but a steering wheel will most probably come in useful for those who seek to get as close to reality as possible… without ever getting to reality. And of course, GT Sport supports VR headsets. The genius of Polyphony Digital, the makers of Gran Turismo Sport, is that they have always made the series accessible to all levels of gamers. Crucially Gran Turismo Sport can also do pure, hardcore sim you just have to turn off all of the driver aids and it’s there. No other driving game or simulator on the market offers this versatility, not Forza 7, not Project Cars and no other game can match the sheer quality and depth of the production/presentation that has gone into the making of this masterpiece, this triumphant return to form. If you are into cars your life will be taken over by GT Sport. We never recommend buying anything (we like to remain impartial) … buy it… buy GT Sport now!