Around about a year ago, we hopped inside Gran Turismo Sport’s cockpit with a PlayStation VR headset on and walked away somewhat unimpressed. We felt that the game looked fine in virtual reality – better than DriveClub VR, we commented at the time – but we weren’t exactly blown away, especially after seeing the title running in HDR on a gigantic 4K display.
Some 12 months later, we’ve finally got to try out the final product with PlayStation VR, and it’s excellent – but totally underutilised. Firstly, the presentation: it’s definitely a step down in terms of image quality purely because of the resolution inside the headset and the technical limitations of the PlayStation 4 – but it’s much better than its immediate peers.
While environments can look a little “cardboard”, the lighting – as is also the case on a standard display – is extremely impressive, and Polyphony Digital’s meticulously detailed cockpits really come to life in virtual reality. Being able to physically sit inside an array of obsessively accurate vehicle interiors is an incredible experience, and PlayStation VR enhances gameplay, too.
It’s the simple things that stand out, like being able to physically glance at your rear and side mirrors to get a view of the field behind you – or the way you can “look” into corners and judge the position of your car. Virtual reality seems like an ideal fit for driving games, and while DriveClub VR hinted at what the technology can offer, Gran Turismo Sport realises the vision.
Which brings us to the elephant in the room: you can’t actually use PlayStation VR for most of the game’s modes. Virtual reality is restricted to one-versus-one races across all of the title’s tracks, and a showroom type feature. The latter is fluff all things told, while the former is a lot of fun but severely limited.
It makes sense that the PS4 isn’t powerful enough to render full grids in virtual reality – though there have been builds that have apparently offered this – but to restrict you from setting, for example, the number of laps is bizarre. And the fact that there’s no Time Trial option is beyond baffling; we’d quite like to battle the clock with PlayStation VR.
Ultimately, it’s all a bit disappointing. The presentation is sublime in virtual reality, and the technology actually enhances the experience – but Polyphony Digital has failed to add any real meat to the feature. We’re sure future patches will expand the scope of the functionality, but for now this feels like a bit of a missed opportunity.
Have you tried Gran Turismo Sport with PlayStation VR yet? Do you agree that it’s an impressive implementation that’s severely lacking options? Look behind you in the comments section below.
[source bit.ly]
Comments 13
It's obvious that PD wanted to do more with VR but weren't prepared to sacrifice graphical fidelity in order to do so. I think that's why Kaz was a bit critical of the tech because I think he thought or hoped that it'll be more advanced then it actually is. I mean at how much of Driveclub was scaled back in order to reach 60fps.
I wouldn't worry about vr functionality. The servers gone down, I can't save and the games just crashed losing my progress. Marvellous.
Are there improvements between the base PS4 and Pro?
@adf86 What vr do to driveclub graphics is borderline criminal, one of the most beautifull game this generation is degraded to ps2 level graphics to make it working for vr.
That's when I know this generation console is not powerfull enough for vr, and forget about pc vr since it's console that drive the vr market because psvr sold by a wide margin comparet to pc vr.
Really, it is the utmost letdown of a tacked-on VR implementation. Utter, nonsensical crap.
Why is it that you can not drive freely for as many rounds as you like?
Why isnt there a timetrial and a leaderboard?
Why did a thirdparty studio like Codemasters managed to put out the fantastic Dirt Rally VR and a huge, Sony sponsored developer like PD only has this p!sspoor implementation?
It is utter poo, thats what it is.
@Furtin
While I don't quite feel as strongly as you, I do think it's a bizarre choice to not let you race around as many laps as you want and not to include Time Trials.
Still, I'm glad that they still managed to get a mode in there, we can only hope they add to it in the future.
Just as shame after the reveal made it sound like the whole game would be playable in VR.
@Furtin I agree with you, but you’re a bit strong I think. The actual implementation is good, it’s the lack of options that’s the problem.
@get2sammyb you guys are right - It was a bit harsh.
But its just a serious problem, if a first party developer doesn't "get" VR properly....
Is it only me, but playing VR doesnt help level me up, i get miles but no XP. Am i doing something wrong??
@AuScott No, that's correct. Again, strange decision.
@get2sammyb thanks for getting back, been searching everywhere to see if its just me. Stupid decision, fingers crossed they add more as i love it.
Also computer controlled cars need to be a higher difficulty, way to easy.
The developer mislead consumers with regards to the VR part. Look how they pulled the trailers that they were using to promote the Vr part of the game.
no GT Sport review yet, any reason why?
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