Graphics vs Story

[unacomn]

To settle the matter, I encourage everyone to play Gemini Rue. The graphics are from the '80s, the story is timeless.

The End.

 

[Esotera]

Good story is preferable over good graphics, but neither are necessary to make a good game. Just look at minecraft.

 

[orangeban]

Story every time, there is a reason I play early 2000 RPG's rather than modern FPS or whatever.

 

[Griffolion]

Would you rather play a game with awesome graphics but a crap story, or bad graphics but a great story?

Well since some of the greatest classics in gaming were born out of eras when graphics were far from any semblance of realism, I'd say story. Because what graphical fidelity won't do, your imagination will make up for. Who was it on this site that was talking about the original Silent Hill fog effect actually being there to reduce polygon count so the PS1 could handle it? There you go.

 

[Smooth Operator]

Story.
I got amazing graphics outside, nothing any game will have for 50 years, but the story fucking sucks.

 

[SoopaSte123]

Good graphics are never necessary. They help, but they aren't needed. A good story isn't always needed, but it really helps. Having good gameplay and an awful story is painful... stupid Valkyria Chronicles II.

 

[Cenequus]

I really think this question is obsolete today since the unreal 3 engine is so cheap to get and makes for more than optimal graphics in a game where story matters like adventure or rpg gams.

If you'd have asked me this 10-15 years ago though I would have said story.

 

[Zhukov]

My first instinct is to yell, "Story, duh!" and leave it at that.

However, I think graphics are important too, and not only because I appreciate the occasional dollop of well placed eye-candy.

For example, I find it easier to get invested in a story when it is populated by well-animated characters.

 

[putowtin]

story
there are too many games that look pretty (or are aiming for gritty realism)
but seen as they all have the same story it dos'nt matter a jot to me!

 

[stabnex]

Story. But I require a fully rendered 3d engine with somewhat realistic graphics. However, right now I am playing Call of C'Thulu: Dark Corners of the Earth; the graphics are crap, the voice acting is atrocious, and the controls are agressive toward the player at best, but the story and insanity effects are amazing. So I can forgive some bad gameplay decisions for excellent story.

 

[Zakarath]

Story. (Just replayed KOTOR and Jade Empire)

 

[theSHAH]

Well they kind of go hand in hand. If a game has an amazing story but crap graphics I can't really take it seriously. I played wings of liberty campaign before setting all the graphics on high and it just seemed corny and stupid. Optimized my graphics and suddenly I was captivated.