you know what?...fuck it....graphics ARE important

[electronicgoat]

Yeah I'm having a problem trudging through Deus Ex since everyone looks the same and kind of more enthralled to play something like Dark Souls.
Basically, graphics are the most important thing in video games ever and anyone who disagrees is a commie.

 

[Frankster]

Can't you just dl some high graphic mods for Deus Ex?

Anyways, esthetics and graphic horsepower can be a good thing that helps you immerse yourself in the game, you mentioned mass effect series and I 100% agree with that, I was litterally blown away when playing me2 because I did not expect the game to appear so good on my laptop. It was like playing a movie and I wouldn't have gotten so sucked into the game if it was say...kotor graphics.
Your other example, deus ex human revolution is also a good looking game where the visuals hook you in and even the choice of gold and black filter helps reinforce the game esthetic.

So yeh, nice graphics can help. And it's true that playing early 3d games now can be painful for some people not raised on the ps1 generation (il maintain that 2d games age better regardless though, in the same way a classic hand drawn cartoon ages better then early 3d graphic cartoons like euh...reboot? xD).
But I won't go all out and say it's important, only a nice bonus.

 

[bafrali]

And how dare you pitiful human being dare insult the brilliance that is Deus EX? I demand blood...in pixels

noooooo....don't send JC denton after me!

Sorry but his vengeance is augmented so i can't do anything anymore

What a shame...

 

[Vault101]

Sorry but his vengeance is augmented so i can't do anything anymore

What a shame...

nooooo....he's after my high resoltutionas polygons!..he'll suck them right out....what a rotten way to die!

 

[lapan]

I'm fine with old graphics as long as they are not absolutely hideous to look at. Gameplay and story will always take priority over graphics for me.

When it comes to 2d games handdrawn graphics are often more beatiful than cellshaded anyways.

 

[Alhazred]

Yeah, graphics do matter. For me, its all about the design of the world of the game.

One of the reasons why I like Fallout 3 just as much as New Vegas despite the writing, combat and quests being inferior is that The Capital Wasteland is just so much more aesthetically pleasing than the drab Mojave wasteland.

Another example: Xenoblade Chronicles. One of the most imaginative worlds I've ever seen in a game; the draw distance is staggering. You'd never think the Wii was capable of these kinds of graphics.

 

[Weresquirrel]

Graphics are definitely important, but it should only count against a game when they become a hinderence. Admittedly, immersion is an important part, and bad/outdated graphics can deal a heavy blow to that. It's already been said many times, both in this topic and in other sources like Extra Credits and the Jimquisition, that this is more of a problem with games that try to ape realism.

I've recently been on a bit of a bender of replaying my older games, but only a few have caused me to pause and say "Ooh, crikey that's not aged well". Goldeneye for example is one that hasn't aged well at all. The characters all have weird looks on their faces and move in a really stiff and unreal way, and that brings me right out of the game. Contrasted with another game for the N64 I played again recently; Banjo Kazooie. Game looks fine. A little jaggedy here and there, but it never tried to be realistic, so the graphical inconsistancies get ignored or tuned out.

I also picked up Okami again after a long period of abscense. I bought it around release for the PS2, but I only actually got around to playing it properly in the last month or so. I think the game looks gorgeous, even now 6 years later. Okay, sometimes the deep shadows got in the way, but the game still looks visually stunning.

 

[gideonkain]

Seriously,
Graphics are important, but story is important too.
Half Life 2 is simultaneously the worst and best game ever.
Women shouldn't be subjected to sexism.
I am now my avatar.
CoD is brown.
and Mass Effect 3 destroyed your faith in God.

We get it.

 

[dimensional]

I would say good graphics are important but they only need to be up to a standard that allows the gameplay to function and the art direction to attain its goal. So obviously if you are going for photo realism graphics need to be very high if you are going for a very abstract concept involving black and white blocks they dont need to be very high at all.

Graphics are a tool and are important for creation of other things but not actually terribly important on their own sometimes they are hardly needed at all, also good graphics without good art direction will still look terrible.

 

[TwiZtah]

I love sprites, I absolutely hate those first 3D years where everyone looked like origami done with papier maché with a bit of polio sprinkled on. I can't pretty much stand any N64 game or Playstation game because of this.

Sprite games are some of the best games ever, and most beutifull.

 

[marurder]

I agree that graphics are important - to a point. A lot of the argument against graphics is that there are no real improvements to be made with them now. We are at the point where things look real. That's nice, but we are getting a lot of games that don't really *improve* themselves (ref COD franchise) which are very much about the eye candy.

These franchises are not about improving themselves or the quality of gaming, rather than cashing in on one aspect of gaming (that being the visuals).

Whereas other games (RPG's) focus on the storyline/plot/relationships which *can* require more thought (if done well - there is no question these things can be handled poorly - just as graphics can be). Or WOW - which wasn't made for it's graphics or story (who reads all the quests now?) but it's playability.

A balance is needed for all programs, it depends on what you want out of it. I don't care much for the new Escapist layout - for example. Because it makes some aspects of the site less accessible or appear cumbersome. It LOOKS nicer. But I think that's at the sacrifice of substance (which various graphics orientated games are lacking).

 

[WitchD0ctor]

Nah, I still play Doom 2

Zdaemon ftw.

 

[getoffmycloud]

Graphics can make a good game great but that cannot make a bad game good so yes they are important but story and gameplay should come first.

 

[WitchD0ctor]

You can have your indie title and decent grpahics. No excuse not to. Not today anymore - there are enough engines and tools affordable and ready to use.

engines and tools true enough, but not art skill!

 

[Starik20X6]

A game can stand on shitty graphics if it has good gameplay. Even the prettiest game fails as a game if it plays like a bucket of poop.

Graphics are important, sure, but they aren't, by definition, what a game is about. I feel graphics are only important to a certain degree, usually the point where you can tell what everything is. After that, they become a luxury.

Either way:

 

[CrazyCapnMorgan]

Tis a sad day indeed .

I personally disagree about graphics being important , but then again , i play mostly rpgs , and i play for story more than anythig else . That might be the reason i think this way . I could play a txt based game , or a nes rpg ( i played final fantasy earlier this year) even a ps1 rpg ( suikoden ) and still love them . Because of the story . Not to say i can't appreciate a current gen game rpg like Lost oddesy . But EVERYTHING takes a back seat to story , for me . I guess that's why i care little for graphics .

Now i do agree we as gamers have been spoiled to death with pretty visuals and good voice acting and stuff which makes it really hard to go backwards. Past games are ugly compared to new ones . But there is more to games that how it looks . Looks shouldn't be the defining aspect of a game in my opinion . That would make video games a very superficial and shallow medium .

Maybe i am old fashioned , but i really feel that a game first and foremost , regardless of genre , should be enjoyable to play. And more time should be spent making a game fun than making a game pretty . A game could be ugly and fun , pretty and boring , or pretty and fun . Ideally , every game should be pretty and fun , but it is rarely the case ( again this is my personal opinion ). The games with the "BEST" graphics , are usually not fun due to the enormous amount time it takes to make the game pretty.

It's kind of disheartening to hear that people can't play older classics because of something like graphics . It's almost like spitting in the faces of those who worked so hard to build the foundation of gaming. Forgetting our roots, forgetting the games , and more importantly , the people that made gaming what it is today.

This so much. At least for me, anyways - also an RPGer here.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again here: Ever notice that the closer to life-like the games get, the shittier they turn out to be? I don't just mean in graphics, but in all aspects. I've enjoyed MUCH more out of games such as Wild ARMs, Grandia, Breath of Fire 3 & 4, Chrono Trigger, Legend of Mana, Megaman Legends and LoZ: Link to the Past. Graphics are a part of a game and should be given some attention...but NOT something to base your entire game upon. IMO anyways.

 

[TheCommanders]

I'll be happier about graphics once we get past the uncanny valley. But yeah, they are very important, at least to some people (like me for example!). Ya know what annoys me more than repeated threads about the same topic (which to be fair could be because the search function on these forums is a little iffy) it's the "Oh look this thread again people". Seriously, if you don't want to talk about it, why the hell are you even posting in the thread? To increase your post count? To increase your ponce elitist status? Just leave people who want to talk about something alone. Jesus.