Gran Turismo 7 is out now and it's just amazing. In my review, I say that the racing simulator is the best PS5 exclusive so far. It's beautiful, the cars are amazing to drive, and it's packed with content, including hundreds of cars and tons of tracks to race them on.(*7*)
But the ace up GT7's sleeve, as was the case with PS5 exclusives Returnal and Demon's Souls, is the haptic feedback and adaptive trigger functionality offered by the DualSense wireless controller. GT7 is arguably the best use of controller vibration, allowing you to feel every bump in the road, every gear change, even the wiper wipe.(*7*)
But Gran Turismo 7 further showcases the capabilities of the DualSense controller. Tucked away in the controller options menu is the option to use motion controls instead of the analog stick, mimicking the feel of turning a steering wheel. It might sound like a gimmick, and I thought it would be too, but when I tried out the DualSense's motion controls, I was amazed at how well they actually work.(*7*)
Makes DualSense Full
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What immediately struck me was the responsiveness of the DualSense's motion controls. They remind me of the Wii Motion Plus peripheral that Nintendo released for its Wii over a decade ago. Motion Plus has almost completely eliminated controller-to-screen lag and dramatically improved the accuracy of motion controls.(*7*)
The DualSense wireless controller is remarkably accurate when playing GT7. With the motion controls option enabled and holding the controller in front of you like a steering wheel, you can tilt the controller very slightly in any direction to make fine adjustments to your car's position on the track or to navigate more easily. corners(*7*)
Turning the controller 90 degrees or more will also help you make tighter turns, and the motion controls have no problem with advanced circuit sections like slaloms, chicanes, or hairpins.(*7*)
The DualSense's motion controls are incredibly fun to play with while racing on any of the GT7's off-road tracks. Oddly enough, I found it easier to drift this way than with the analog sticks, so much so that I'm tempted to complete at least some of the brutally difficult off-road challenges in License Center with motion controls enabled.(*7*)
wheels and deals
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Gran Turismo 7 supports a wide range of racing wheel configurations, but they can be very expensive, so they're not an option for everyone, especially if you've recently bought a PS5 and a GT7 copy.(*7*)
GT7's motion controls provide an experience close to that of a racing wheel. They may not be as precise or tactile as a racing wheel, but they're a solid alternative that's fun to use and free. (*7*)
I'm glad developer Polyphony Digital took the time to implement the control option in GT7. I really haven't had this much fun with motion controls since the inclusion of the Wii Wheel peripheral in 2008 with Mario Kart Wii, and if that's not high praise, I don't know what is.(*7*)
Today's best PlayStation Gran Turismo 7 deals(*7*)