Poll: Which is more important to a good game? Music or Graphics?

[Icecoldcynic]

It's something I've noticed for a while now, but never thought of properly until recently. For me, music is a very important factor in my enjoyment of games. I would much rather play the original Megaman in all its 8-bit glory with the bitchin' music than play a modern day graphical masterpiece with the sound turned off.

It's well known that music can have a profound effect on your mood and attitude in certain situations, and in my opinion, a game that uses music well will always have an advantage over a game that has the same, forgettable 1 minute loops.

So what do my fellow escapees think? Would you rather play a beautiful game with an uninspired soundtrack, or an average looking game with an intense and fitting musical score?

 

[A random person]

I personally find music more important; graphics may look nice, but the music is what truly affects the atmosphere and my memories of the game.

Besides [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ClcxFiW3Yrs], can [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZqazbULRRA] graphics [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaHl725hKZ4] truly [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVnEvc8ZilY] create [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vgXZddWKaao] the [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Cr86uK4FXY] beauty [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbbUv1hz6mE], splendor [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oNXBpzDp1K8], and [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EjazC45Qkww] awesome [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcFdB1lTIRA] that [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HFKtYCcMWT4] video [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6kiNz3abGc8] game [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7VVSJynYjM] music [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCk8ByyCsks] can [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_80PQ543rM], does [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ft7458wmD6k], and [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M0mQk7JEVq4] (yes, I just linked to the Halo theme) has [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zecf3oXr9qo]? [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0g9h0xf5FxU]

Oh [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3mqmN6mw4R8], and [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4L4TSrDB4M] for [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ai4y6qrIQc8] NeutralDrow's [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ma5BpLXQ318] sake [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4lJW6RCmWiw], here's [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUs8FEsDUZ4] three [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FNvsGRzw-ys] more [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Q2uVK28QY4]. Also [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NqCsqSqr1Jg] remixes [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=huUiTYcWwYY].

 

[MentalBakura]

Music is much more important in my opinion. Music sets the atmosphere so easily.

 

[wooty]

I'd go with music, sets the mood and makes scenes far more memorable with a good track over it

 

[Onyx Oblivion]

Music.

Best example: MORROWIND

 

[john_alexander]

For me, it's not music (I usually turn it off), but SOUND. I'm a huge audiophile, and good sound makes good games great. If the sound is bad, I can usually ignore it.

As for graphics, I like 'em, and they do add to the enjoyment, but no where near as much as sound for me. I can play low-graphics games no problem, as long as they aren't messy (and by messy, I do not mean cluttered, but poorly-thought-out). That's not low graphics, that's BAD graphics, and there is a difference. Plenty of modern games are messy, while still being powerful.

EDIT: But if the music is good, I'll turn it above the rest of the sound, because I love good music.

 

[AndyFromMonday]

Graphics.

I usually turn off the music when I play a game and either put on my own or just not listen to music whilst playing.

 

[Avaholic03]

Based on what can let a game down more, I'd say music. Especially these days, "bad" graphics are still decent. However, bad music can totally ruin a game.

Also, there are some games that are devoted to the music (GH, RB, DJH) but no games are all about the graphics. Basically what I mean by that is that music can carry a game, while graphics is just a pleasant addition.

 

[WestMountain]

The reason I love Crysis Warhead is probably the music and not the graphics

 

[the protaginist]

Music, easily. My best example is Half-Life 2. Remember that bit in Highway 17, when you climbed underneath the huge bridge and had to slowly walk your way across? I still remember that bit so vividly because of the music that was playing at the time. It made the whole thing feel surreal, and did way for me then graphics did and ever wil.

 

[More Fun To Compute]

Music can add a bigger emotional effect but graphics are essential. Graphics that do the job and no music is better than graphics that don't do the job and great music.

 

[GodsAndFishes]

Graphics, I'm usually listening to my music when I play.

 

[The Anhk24]

Definitely the music, espically since the graphics are at the point where they can't get much better.

 

[The Skip Master]

Music, because it sets the mood and pulls you into the game. Graphics don't do that!

 

[Gildan Bladeborn]

Music, but in a negative sense - bad music is a far more irritating thing for me than mere bad graphics. If it's good, all the better, but the odds of me continuing to play a game with annoying music are pretty slim.

 

[War Chief Will]

Graphics just plain suck. If a game is fun then why do the graphics matter. Besides do you think having a realistic shaped ass is going to help boost morale?

http://roosterteeth.com/comics/strip.php?id=1508

 

[Supreme Unleaded]

I personally find music more important; graphics may look nice, but the music is what truly affects the atmosphere and my memories of the game.

Pretty much this, graphics are nice but they arent a necesity, music is.

Even before there was moving picture there was music to set the mood.

 

[SirDoom]

This is not an easy choice. Music does seem to have a huge effect, but it is often turned off in favor of the player's own music. Graphics, on the other hand, don't make or break a game, but they can't exactly be turned off.

Really good music in a game can do wonders. If it is merely good or mediocre though, then it really isn't useful. Graphics are the same way. They don't really matter, but if you get Crysis quality or close to it, they can do a great job to compliment good gameplay. (If you don't have good gameplay, the music and graphics don't really matter at all...)

They're about equal, in my opinion, really.

(If someone released a game with really good gameplay and music for the current gen systems, and it had the graphics of Goldeneye N64, then I highly doubt that a lot of people would buy it. Why? They want the most out of their system, and don't want to pay that full $60 for something that could run on their 10+ year old console that's just collecting dust at the moment.)

 

[Daze]

I think music's a more important attribute in good games. For one thing, while both music and graphics can be used to set a tone or atmosphere, I think music has a more direct effect on the player. Music also ages a lot better than graphics do, in addition to there being less of a limit on what we can do with music.

Still, I do think that the best use of music and graphics should be a good relation between the two. They should compliment each other well. That kind of internal consistency can improve the quality of a game by quite a bit, I think.

 

[Cosmic Humor]

I can deal with bad graphics. I feel anyone can. It's just a case of them having lower polygons, and as long as it doesn't prevent playability.

Bad music though... can make the entire game a chore to sit through while violin shrieks that are supposed to be exciting.

Music also makes the experience better because music is timeless. Ocarina of Time's graphics might have aged, but Zelda's Lullaby is still an epic song.