I would have to say the graphics and storyline. No matter how horrible the music or battle system maybe as long as it has a great graphic and a not so boring storyline.
Well, I don't think graphics and storyline should serve the same vote, but never the less, I chose it. Storyline is in my mind the most important thing in an RPG or FF. I mean, it could have the best graphics of any game ever made, but with a bad storyline, I'm not going to play it for very long. Only to be expected really :P. However, graphics need to be decent just so it is easy on the eyes. Then again, those two elements, while important, don't truly make a great RPG. Characters is also a neccesity. So, basically, a good RPG relies on a bunch of different elements to actually make it good and there is no "1" all important element.
Well I wouldn't say graphics, but I chose it and storyline. In and of itself the storyline isn't enough. Which is why I would say Storyline/Battle System. Because without a good battle system, you wouldn't have a very good game. Because battling is one of the main parts of a Final Fantasy.
I agree that graphics and storyline are on two different levels, all I need is a great storyline and i dont mind music either im kinda a music lover, gameplay counts too
I Agree with M_O Graphics and the Story are two diffirent elements to a game. But since there sogether I'll pic graphics/storyline.
The reason why (Not so much for the graphics) is because no matter how good the Gameplay is, if it doesnt have a compelling story, it will quickly lose the intrest of its players. I wouldnt even waste my time on an RPG or FF that didnt have a good story, no matter how great the gameplay was (Final Fantasy X-2). Now as for the graphics, I dont care so much about graphics. In fact I think that Great graphics are bad. Because they draw you in and make you think, "this game is sweet" when in fact your playing a horrible game. (Not true in all cases, but it is in some). But the graphics and story are together on this, so I've got no choice :P
The answer to this question depends on the type of RPG we are talking about here. If it is an action RPG, the answer is gameplay. If it is turn based, the answer is story. IF it is a combo of both (I.E. KOTOR) then I like to have both
i dnt think graphics are important really, they have to be decent, but a game having better graphics than another will never be what decides which i buy...same with music too really... i think the storyline is the most important part by far, the battle system has to be fairly good too (well more so the gameplay, but that is part of the gameplay really..), but the storyline is still more important than that in a RPG really...
I'm the type who loves good graphics--that's why I spent so many years on FPS games. However, I agree with pretty much everyone else that a good RPG must first have a good story. And fs_metal makes an excellent point about different types of RPGs. KOTOR knocked my socks off both in graphics and story (not so much in gameplay, but that was still okay too). KOTOR2 bit hard because the graphics and story, in my opinion, were worse than KOTOR 1. Even though the gameplay was slightly improved, I still enjoyed that game less than the the first one.
 I feel that the villain is the most important element.. The more evil and maniacal he is, the more he is despised by the civillians and protagonists, the more you want to see him be squashed, the better quality of a villain he is.  I've played FFVI three times and I still get angry at what kefka does. His constant back stabbing and thirst for ultimate power. I just want to stop him and so I play the game. I get stronger by training for hours, I've wasted ten days of my life,  just to see him be vanquished over and over again.  I guess I'm a little crazy too.
I guess story is the most important element but really since this is ff we are talking about SE really can't afford to not make everything about the game be good if they want the game to reach greatest hits.
Why do graphics matter? What? Suddenly FFIV isn't amazing anymore just because it's old? That's like saying Empire Strikes Back is bad science fiction because it's an old movie
I'd go with the storyline and the characters. What's the point in playing a game with a bad storyline? and how the characters react to the story makes a difference too, right?
I wouldn't say graphics are really important, but the story most definitely is. I would have said story/character go together better. A game could have low quality graphics but if the story and character development is amazing you wouldn't even notice. For example, I played Growlanser Generations over the summer, when compared to the graphics of games nowadays, Growlanser is crap. But the story and the characters are very very good and you pretty much forget about the dated sprites. Although the hand drawn art is beautiful:D
Graphics are important, though. Square Enix has always pushed the envelope on graphics, even with FFIV and VI. We play those games because we love them and because they are excellent games. But if FFXII looked the same as FFIV, I doubt many people would buy it, no matter how great the gameplay and/or story.
^that's because alot of ppl nowadays take the graphics as their 1st impression on a game, which imo is a really bad way to choose whether or not to buy a game...graphics seem to be the most important thing to the more casual gamers now, which i guess is why the next gen consoles seem to focussing mainly on graphics...(except the Wii :P)
What is most important to me is reverting back to the old techniques, without adding new things. For intance, I love Final Fantasy when it's just bare bones ATB, or something very subtle. One of the reasons why Dragon Quest VIII was so appealing to me.
Log in to comment