Other than gameplay what matters most to you in a game?

[Sean0925]

When playing a game what feature other than gameplay really makes you enjoy a game (i.e music, graphics, storyline) or is gameplay all that matters to you? Personally for me I find that good music in a game can really make me enjoy a game much more, the epic feeling you get when you start a boss fight or the emotional feeling during an important scene can really be made with good music behind it

 

[Sniper Team 4]

Storyline trumps all, even gameplay, in my book. This is my justification for buying Dirge of Cerberus, Suikoden IV, Xenosaga II, F.E.A.R 2 and a few other games that had many issues, but continued the storyline of previous games that I loved. So, storyline all the way.

 

[zfactor]

Story mostly, and the characters. If they are likeable or have good chemistry, I like the game more. Music and graphics set the tone for the story or follow what is happening in the story, and I like it when the kick ass too.

 

[RatRace123]

Story: Plot structure, character arcs, pacing, motivation.
In order for me to get hooked about a game, I need to know why I should care about my objective.
And music, music is a huge factor in setting emotion in games.

 

[Jack Cheal]

a mix of story or graphics, as they are both stupidly useful.

 

[Jim Grim]

Immersion. Everything that's wrong with a game is so easy to ignore if you feel like an integral part of the experience.

 

[King Kupofried]

Characters, always characters. If I can't get behind the characters the story holds me meaning to me.
They don't need to be incredibly deep, but they need to have personality, they need to be fun to watch and listen to. The story can be absolutely 100% generic but I'll love it to pieces if the characters are varied and interesting.
Of course, good story does generally come hand in hand with good characters, I just tend to focus on the characters themselves more.

 

[Omikron009]

Atmosphere and immersion. It frequently matters to me more than gameplay.

 

[Squidden]

Music, Characters and storyline.

Red Dead Redemption had all of this along with great gameplay.

 

[Pielikey]

Immersion. Which is why I have twenty seven hours in the Mafia II demo and counting. [http://steamcommunity.com/id/pielikey/games]

 

[HontooNoNeko]

Character design is by far the most important to me. If the character is bland and uninteresting I haved nothing to relate too. Without that factor any story or gameplay style seems like a chore more than an experience.

 

[TerranReaper]

Depends on the type of game. If we're talking single-player oriented games, then either storyline or the atmosphere of the game is very important. Storyline isn't a necessity if you can have a good world going and good use of atmosphere to convey what you want to the player. If we're talking multiplayer, balancing is a must while still compensating for player skill. Everyone should have equal footing with their skills being the only thing that offsets it. Music is also important for both SP and MP as well as visuals.

 

[Arkvoodle]

Control is probably the biggest factor for me.

 

[default]

Aesthetics. I always want whatever I'm playing to look and feel appealing. In some cases aesthetics even trumps gameplay for me.

 

[cricketlenny]

Presentation/story. If bioshock didnt have an amazing story and soundtrack, i wouldnt have liked it as much

 

[Reaper195]

Story and characters. If here is next to no characterisation, or all characters are incredibly generic (Halo Reach, Gears,), and the story is about as interesting as a plate of rotten fish (Pretty much almost every FPS, and a fair few RTS's), then no matter how the gameplay is, a game is not worth playing.

I would rather play something like Kane & Lynch, which I find a hell of a lot more entertaining than Halo: Reach, on the grounds that the characters are different and realistic, as well as the story being more realistic/interesting than generic and world saving (Or in the case of Reach, in which we all knew the ending anyway, not saving).

 

[Archangel768]

Story to me is the most important. If i get hooked then even below average gameplay isn't enough to stop me. Unless the gameplay is in such a way that I can't even progress, like if I suck at it or if it's the gameplay itself that sucks and not my skill.

 

[Sarah Kerrigan]

story or characters. I like good voice acting too as well.