With regards to graphics, GT7 looks good but not spectacular in our opinion. It’s about on par with Forza Motorsport 7, which released a while back. If you’re used to Forza titles, then you’ll quickly notice that cars in GT7 as per franchise rules show little to no physical damage no matter how badly you crash them into walls and other cars. We also have the overall impression that GT7 had to balance PS4 and PS5 versions without allowing the newer console to make full use of its much greater performance and power.
In terms of graphics modes, on PS5 you choose from prioritize frame rate and prioritize ray tracing. The ray tracing mode indeed looks very nice, with full 4K and intricate reflections as well as an overall bolder look, but it’s locked to 30Hz. The prioritize frame rate mode employs upscaled 4K and 60Hz. It continues to surprise us that machines as capable as the PS5 and Xbox Series X need compromises to reach 4K 60Hz in many titles, seeing as comparable PC hardware does so quite easily.
Still, GT7 looks very nice, and we recommend the frame rate mode, despite its lower detail settings. It’s a lot more responsive in this mode, and allows you to better enjoy the nice selection of tracks from around the world. Currently, there’s no 120Hz mode and it’s doubtful Polyphony Digital will add one in the near future.
As for cars, GT7 has a good roundup of over 400, which isn’t a lot next to the competition, but more than enough to get the job done very nicely. Also, GT7 retains the series’ close association with music, and the soundtrack is excellent. There’s the musical rally event to make sure you get the hint – it’s right at the beginning, in the tutorial. And as per usual, the soundtrack has classical music at its core, but includes entries from every musical genre imaginable.