Story vs. Graphics vs. Gameplay

This is actually the most 'discussed about' topic around the web as far as I've seen without actually being the core topic of the argument/discussion, and has been discussed very 'negatively so'.

A lot of people game for different reasons, and I think it comes down to Story and Gameplay- but Graphics is also involved as well. Some people play for the gameplay and doesn't give a 'crap' about the story or graphics, and feels like it is an unnecessarily component to gaming. Others care mildly about the gameplay and focus more on the story. Others prefer Great Story and Good Gameplay (along with acceptable/satisfying graphics). Perhaps, someone else likes Great Graphics, Poor Story and Solid Gameplay.

Which category do you fit in?

When it comes to full enjoyment I really prefer awesome gameplay solid story and pretty good graphics. :)

I prefer all 3 and add great voice acting as well and we have a winner;) The Last Of Us

I play for gameplay and story equally. Graphics don't always matter.

story is most important for me. and i seem to get a lot of shit for that...

@MuD3: Don't worry too much about it. A lot of people value gameplay over story around here almost militantly. But story is just as good a reason to play a game. I just prefer it when there's an even balance of story and gameplay. If I feel I'm watching a movie more than I'm playing a game, it's doing something wrong *cough* MGS4 *cough*

The whole is greater than the sum of it part. I hold all three to a level. One can hurt the game. I find games play to me the one that ass the greatest affect.

100% Story.

Don´t know if its age or that i have more limited time to play games, but gameplay just isent important. Graphics can be kinda important but doesnt matter if the story is good.

All three can each give me a good enough reason to play a game.

Gameplay is the only feature I really concern myself with on most releases. The others fall somewhere way behind gameplay. If the gameplay just isn't fun then it's simply not worth my money, I can tolerate bad graphics and story much easier.

*tumbleweed* So original.

Not this thread again...

Story & gameplay are equally important to me... good graphics are just a bonus.

Gameplay over story, graphics never matter

For me, it's absolutely the story. Graphics don't really matter to me much and I just expect decent gameplay.

I think I've gotten to the point in gaming that I've fatigued of purely gameplay focused experiences. Perhaps TLoU showed me how effective a story can be when executed properly, but now I desire that type of game more. I want games that go farther than just a fun experience, I want games that delve deeper into issues that I find more relevant in life. Unfortunately 99% of the writing in gaming is atrocious so as it stands I suppose I still prefer gameplay, but if many more games were as well done as TLoU was, I would prefer narrative over it.

That was a game that left an impact. I love it, and want more of it.

It would be pretty neat it we all just fit into little categories.

"Graphics" is such a over used term I think. To me it's all about the art style of a game. I honestly think a game like mario kart 8 is better looking then a game like crysis, or I feel red orchestra 2's visuals are better then the new call of duty.

No matter how good you try to make a game look, the art style needs to go hand in hand with the game.

To answer the question, it's all about gameplay for me, no matter how good a game looks I need the game play to pull me in.

If you polish a piece of shit, it's still a piece of shit.

I absolutely hate it when developers prioritize story over gameplay. For me, it's the gameplay that towers over the story or the graphics.

For me it generally goes

Gameplay> Graphics> story

Gameplay is what separates this medium from the others and it's the element that takes up the vast majority of the players time. This aspect better be on point

Graphics go hand in hand with gameplay IMHO. Your input has to be met satisfactorily by a visual response. Fluid and pleasing animation/response is essential for a game to feel good.

Story isn't very essential for a good game the way the above two aspects are. The game shouldn't have to tell me why I'm doing something or tell me my motivation. The gameplay itself should be all the motivation I need. That's the mark of a truly great game.

Game play and story are the most essential ones. A game can function very well without having amazing graphics, as long as the graphics are cohesive. The human mind is capable of some great imagination, so this can be used instead of graphics. Some games have been great just by using text as graphics, the human imagination takes care of the rest. The same works with books.

But a game can't be saved with great graphics if the story and game play is lacking.

Gameplay, that's it. I don't care about story, and graphics can only be considered top of the line for so long. I'd put art design and music over those two.

I'm far more forgiving of game play than I am of story, if the story is not interesting I'm unlikely to keep playing, if the game play Is a little frustrating but story really grabbed me ill play on.

Assuming i'm playing a game that can offer all three simultaneously, which is rare.

My thought is this: It doesnt matter how shiny a game looks, how good the tech/engine is and how many fps it runs in, if it feels like shit to play and i'm not invested in the story or characters, it'll be a crappy game.

I'm surprised you enjoyed TLoU.

@MirkoS77: I didn't think I'd enjoy it either, but the gameplay was really interesting and intense. There was a gritty realism to it that felt unique. I ccould approach things dynamically and as if I was dealling with these encounters in a realistic fashion which really immersed me into the world, characters, and story. I've always found that story driven game generally fail at that. Their gameplay is just ripped from another game and shoe horned into the experience which causes a huge disconnect between the story/characters and what you're actually playing. The Last of Us made everything click.

Also that section in Winter is just exceptional. You probably know the one I'm talking about.

Great gameplay, great audio, and great art design.

Story

Gameplay

Graphics

I play for gameplay and story equally. Vote for game 7 point, and you ???

It all really depends on the game. For example if I'm playing and RPG or an adventure game, then the story is really important here, and a bad story in genres like that just ruins the whole game. But if it's a platformer, a good story is a nice bonus, but even a complete lack of it is still ok.

It depends on the game. For an RPG I can forgive average graphics if the story and gameplay hold up. For an adventure game the story needs to be king or why the hell am I playing it? I can get into action games with weak stories because they're just fun to mess around with.

Graphics are less of an issue these days because most games just look great. Gameplay has been dumbed down massively so the casuals can complete games in between watching soap operas on TV and knitting a cardigan for some poor sod (I really hate how this sub section of gamers with no passion at all for games are pandered to all the time because they whine the loudest).

In an ideal world a game would stand up on all three categories and there are many that do but if push comes to shove story would be most important for me if the graphics were at least acceptable i.e. not some crappy indie game with Sinclair Spectrum graphics been there done that 20 years ago.

Gameplay is always first and story always last. There is a bit of a technicality though with graphics as certain graphics are required for good gameplay such as a smooth frame rate and understandable graphics.

I put gameplay as the most important. It's a GAME. Then story, then Graphics. All 3 need to be at least decent, but if gameplay is only so-so, the whole thing is ruined. Awesome graphics or an awesome story are not good enough, but awesome gameplay at least can make a cheap game. An example is Xbox360 indie games. I buy games on there for $1, and they have no story, and the graphics are so so, but the gameplay better be awesome if I'm going to buy the game.

Gameplay, Graphi (csart style) and then story

Was that intentional (underlined)?

Yep, I most surely do. I'm playing Remastered now and am looking forward to getting to Winter again for some good hunting photos. It's good to hear that you can see the potential of experiences like TLoU, it shows you have an open mind. I think the reason so many feel the way they do about cinematic themed games is that, up to TLoU, it's been fairly poorly done. I can understand your sentiments towards UC2, I feel the largely the same way. TLoU was a huge improvement in many areas. Perhaps it was part of the formula that also held appeal (survival and scarce resources necessitated considerations on every action) but it really connected.

I see enormous potential for these types of games and I can only hope TLoU helps go to show that they can be improved upon and can also retain that unique element that differentiates this medium from all others; gameplay.

same here