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GT Sport review roundup | What the critics are saying

GT Sport
GT Sport

The release date for GT Sport differs from region to region, those in North America getting it a day earlier than those in Europe, and Japan getting it a day after that. It's out now around the world though, so reviews are coming in for the latest competitor for the racing crown in 2017. Some outlets are still going through the game, with many websites publishing their review-in-progresses, but there's enough criticism going around to get a feel for what to expect when GT Sport releases in the UK tomorrow.

One of the first reviews came from Eurogamer, written by Martin Robinson. Coming with a Eurogamer recommendation (the site's alternative to review scores), Robinson definitely enjoyed the game, but recognises that it's lost something from previous installments to the franchise. GT Sport is a much smaller game than the last entry to the series Gran Turismo 6, with the 162 cars available being "a mere fraction" of what was previously available. To compare GT Sport to Gran Turismo 6, purely on quantity, GT Sport "falls miserably flat."

Quality, not quantity, though, as Robinson quickly explains. Gran Turismo 6 had some older car models that just looked worse, degrading the experience, while GT Sport "feels premium throughout." It's this change from Gran Turismo having just an impossibly large number of cars to drive to a more focused experience that's the primary talking point of Robinson's review.

Gamesradar+'s review, from Justin Towell, focuses on a slightly different perspective. Rather than looking at the game's history within the Gran Turismo series, it more directly references the game's competition in Forza Motorsport 7, Project Cars 2, and others. Both Towell and Robinson praise the game's handling, with Towell viewing it as more punishing than Forza Motorsport 7, but easier and more "playable" than other driving sims.

"The cars are sure-footed and weighty, and feel like they have more grip than those of Forza 7. Indeed, the game is slightly easier to drive than all-out sims like Project Cars, Assetto Corsa, or Dirt Rally, but it will punish you much sooner than Forza 7 will. The way the vehicles react to kerbs is exemplary: you can ride them if you’re brave, but they’ll bite you hard if you misplace a wheel."

GT Sport
GT Sport

Both reviews make note of how the single-player campaign is limited, with the focus firmly on online, competitive racing, and both see it as being done well. The online multiplayer is a success, when it works, although Robinson does note there are some issues, primarily with how not everything is available yet, and it is just the bare bones for whatever comes next.

"The foundation is there for something special - though we'll have to wait until early next month, when online championships that join the daily races currently available go live, to see where exactly this is headed."

One aspect to GT Sport that Towell took more issue with is the game's reliability on online play, as "the game is essentially off-limits" when you're not connected to the game's servers. This is just one of a few issues that come together to make up the main gripes with the game, where it can "come across as po-faced" and sometimes lacks the reliablity in fps and fidelity for a convincing world.

GT Sport
GT Sport

Over on CAR Magazine's site, there's more praise to be had, as Jake Groves praised how it's a "return to form" for the series after its break. Much of the review is spent praising how everything feels like an upgrade, from the visuals to its sound design. 

"The cars and tracks all look astounding, the sound improvements are a huge leap forward and the play style is both accessible to beginners yet more than intricate enough for hardcore racing fans. The handling system splits the balance between F7’s slightly more accessible system and PC2’s more simulation-based experience, and is almost infinitely adjustable to suit. "

Like Robinson and Towell, though, Groves has the same criticisms. The roster of cars and tracks just can't compete with other racing games from this past year, and the incredibly limited offline capabilities hold the game back. If you've got a stable connection, and prefer focusing on perfecting your skills in one vehicle, those criticisms may not apply, but they're definitely something to think about when deciding on your racing game of choice.

Gran Turismo Sport Where to buy
Gran Turismo Sport Where to buy

All the reviews are, in the end, positive. Towell awarded GT Sport an 8/10, Robinson gave it the Eurogamer Recommendation, and Groves concluded with a reiteration on how stunning the game can be. In the areas where it wants to be successful, GT Sport seems to have won over critics. There's not a huge number of reviews out yet, but Metacritic has the game down at a strong 74, while OpenCritic puts it just slightly above, at 76.