The Gran Turismo series has always been inexorably linked to real-world car culture, rising and falling in popularity along with global car trends. The series’ next installment, Gran Turismo 7, further blurs the line between reality and video game with a new mode that might just create some new car enthusiasts: GT Cafe.
Gran Turismo games have always appealed to motorheads, but creator Kazunori Yamauchi wants to bring new fans into the series by helping them appreciate the long, complicated history of car culture. GT Cafe is Yamauchi’s attempt at bringing a new generation of car enthusiasts up to speed with automobile history. It isn’t a mode just for would-be car nuts, though, with enough content to make seasoned motorheads happy for hours.
GT Cafe sits in the middle of GT7‘s world map, acting as the main source of driving challenges outside of the campaign. Inside the Cafe are “menu books,” each showcasing different cars from different eras. If players complete the challenges associated with each car, they will unlock a cutscene that acts as a mini-documentary about the car in question, going over its history from design to production to modern day.
Most of these are narrated by the Cafe’s owner, but the game has some Easter eggs for serious car enthusiasts. For example, if players beat the Mazda MX 5 challenge, they’ll be rewarded with a cutscene featuring the voice of the actual Mazda MX 5 designer Tom Mattano as he reminisces over the car’s legacy. Fans of Audi and Volkswagon will find some of their designers narrating, as well.
For gamers who care little about what kind of vehicle they choose in a racing game and only pay attention to its speed and performance, GT Cafe may not hold much appeal for them — and perhaps the GT series, in general, may not be a good fit. With over 400 cars to choose from at launch, and more legendary cars to purchase down the road, GT7 would likely give those kinds of gamers a headache as they search for the best-performing car. Instead, GT7 appeals to those who care about how a car feels to drive, its aesthetic and its history.
GT Cafe is far from the only new mode players can look for in Gran Turismo 7. Since it’s the series’ 25 anniversary, the developers have pulled out all the stops to bring the celebration to the players. With head-to-head challenges in Sport Mode and the addition of Music Rally, a mode for players who just want to take a relaxing drive with some chill tunes, GT7 has plenty of new features the series hasn’t attempted before. Plus, the return of the world map, performance tuning, classic tracks and even those annoying oil changes means the game will include the kinds of features that made it what it is today.
About The Author
