Great graphics=great game?

Everybody these days seems to care only about graphics- or this is the impression I get from this and other forums. I am not blaming anyone for it since the devs and the publishers are the first ones to stress the "our game will be graphic king" point.

But is graphic all that matters in a game? I'd say no. Now I will support my position with examples:

I just finished playing Killzone 2 (and thanks to my friend Dan who let me use his ps3) It is a great game, worth every 9 it got on reviews but in my opinion it could have been a 10 if it was supported by a more epic story and well drawn characters. I mean, the battle for the survival of a species offers plenty of drama and epic moments (something along the lines of Starship troopers. sci-fi speaking) but I just didn't manage to get into the story. To me Sev appeared cliched, shallow and unappealing. This game could have been so much better.

Take for example the Call of duty series: I think that conveyed the horror of war in a better way. An example: In Call of Duty World at war, when I played as the russian soldier in the first mission of the western campaign and I woke up among the corpses of my fellow soldiers, silent witness to the cruelty of the enemy I actually felt the sense of despair and the chaotic horror of the situation. And disgust for what men can do to each other.

Note I said "I" and "me" because in that case I was really captivated by the game.

That happens when a story is well crafted and well told. Other examples?

Mass effect conveys the sense of impeding disaster and urges the player to battle against time as well as against an enemy that seems always a step ahead.

Uncharted made me feel like a child hunting treasures and always wanting more.

Metal gear solid made me "understand" that age changes even the strongest of heroes.

Gears of War 2 made me feel the desperation of a soldier that sees a never ending battle in his future.

Dead space just scared the hell out of me.

All these games without a great story would have been just like diamonds: great to look at, expensive to get but cold at the touch. Giants with clay feet.

Your opinion?

The only peopl ewho care about graphics are PS3 fanboys.

Of course they will all say its the hermits, yet all we see these days are threads about the Cell's untapped power, X game looks better than crysis etc etc.

Most real gamers care about gameplay 1st, graphics just go a long way to really making a game special.

The only peopl ewho care about graphics are PS3 fanboys.

Of course they will all say its the hermits, yet all we see these days are threads about the Cell's untapped power, X game looks better than crysis etc etc.

Most real gamers care about gameplay 1st, graphics just go a long way to really making a game special.

Frozzik

Lots of kids in this forum. That is all.

[QUOTE="Frozzik"]

The only peopl ewho care about graphics are PS3 fanboys.

Of course they will all say its the hermits, yet all we see these days are threads about the Cell's untapped power, X game looks better than crysis etc etc.

Most real gamers care about gameplay 1st, graphics just go a long way to really making a game special.

surrealnumber5

I wasn't expecting story to be the main argument, thought it would be another Wii = Innovative, forget graphics kind of topic. Anyway, I agree, some of those games may not have made me feel quite the same way, but the substance of the experiance a game provides is very important, I think putting more into story and characters would benefit some games greatly, not to say that the best looking games don't also have great stories, but Killzone 2 is a good example, I've played it, but I found no reason to continue, I play every FPS for the story, so therefore I don't actually end up playing that many, and its why Half Life 2 was my favorite by far, I wish more would spend that amount of time building a world and characters, before guns and enemies.110million

I played it all since I don't have a ps3 but a 360. I was curious about it so I asked my friend to let me play. Also considering that both Valve and Guerrilla took a long time to develope their titles more care on the plot could have been expected to be provided by the latter.

I disagree a game has to be fun to play and have some cool ideas to make it a great game. I mean an example of a game with good graphics is a Sonic game. Looks nice but plays horribly.

I completely agree with the title but your post somewhat disturbs me... Oh and it should have ended with an exclamation mark not a question mark.No_Quoter

Why do you find it disturbing? Explain your opinion if you have a different one.

I disagree a game has to be fun to play and have some cool ideas to make it a great game. I mean an example of a game with good graphics is a Sonic game. Looks nice but plays horribly.

chocolate1325

But that is what I am trying to say! My point is that graphics are not everything- I just focused on story but it could have been gameplay or innovation...

[QUOTE="No_Quoter"]I completely agree with the title but your post somewhat disturbs me... Oh and it should have ended with an exclamation mark not a question mark.kendrene

Why do you find it disturbing? Explain your opinion if you have a different one.

Everybody these days seems to care only about graphics-

kendrene

Why do people keep saying this? Cast your mind back fifteen years ago... gamers, gaming publications and advertisers were OBSESSED with graphics. There was no end to the boasts that Sega, Sony and Nintendo made about the specs of their respective consoles. You never see that these days. If anything, consumers are now far less preoccupied with graphics now... hence the success of the DS and Wii.

Actually, if I think about it... when I had an Atari 2600 and I went round my friends house after he just got a NES... that made me obsessed with graphics. I mean, Super Mario Bros just looked amazing compared to anything I was used to. And boy was I jealous.

[QUOTE="kendrene"]

Everybody these days seems to care only about graphics-

Menalque2

Why do people keep saying this? Cast your mind back fifteen years ago... gamers, gaming publications and advertisers were OBSESSED with graphics. There was no end to the boasts that Sega, Sony and Nintendo made about the specs of their respective consoles. You never see that these days. If anything, consumers are now far less preoccupied with graphics now... hence the success of the DS and Wii.

It makes it even more sad then. 15 years have passed and nothing has changed- also if people care less bout graphics then why all those "graphic kings" posts?

Very sad.

Great graphics contribute to a great game, but are not the sole reason for it being great.

Great Graphics do help to make a great game, however, it's also to do with art direction as well.

Check out SFIV

or A Boy and his Blob

or Muramasa.

All should be geat games, all have great art deisgn but it's not your standard overhyped 3d of KZ2, Dead Space, GeoW/2.

It makes it even more sad then. 15 years have passed and nothing has changed- also if people care less bout graphics then why all those "graphic kings" posts?

Very sad.

kendrene

Graphics alone don't make a game good. Shinobi for the PS2 would be one example of a game with average graphics, but outstanding gameplay where Too Human is great-looking game with rather ho-hum gameplay. Thankfully, good graphics are normally a sign that a game is in the hands of talented programmers who aren't likely to put out a dud. Still, I can't see myself ever buying the likes of Killzone 2 or Gears of War 2 as those sorts of games do nothing for me.

Everybody these days seems to care only about graphics- or this is the impression I get from this and other forums. I am not blaming anyone for it since the devs and the publishers are the first ones to stress the "our game will be graphic king" point.

But is graphic all that matters in a game? I'd say no. Now I will support my position with examples:

I just finished playing Killzone 2 (and thanks to my friend Dan who let me use his ps3) It is a great game, worth every 9 it got on reviews but in my opinion it could have been a 10 if it was supported by a more epic story and well drawn characters. I mean, the battle for the survival of a species offers plenty of drama and epic moments (something along the lines of Starship troopers. sci-fi speaking) but I just didn't manage to get into the story. To me Sev appeared cliched, shallow and unappealing. This game could have been so much better.

Take for example the Call of duty series: I think that conveyed the horror of war in a better way. An example: In Call of Duty World at war, when I played as the russian soldier in the first mission of the western campaign and I woke up among the corpses of my fellow soldiers, silent witness to the cruelty of the enemy I actually felt the sense of despair and the chaotic horror of the situation. And disgust for what men can do to each other.

Note I said "I" and "me" because in that case I was really captivated by the game.

That happens when a story is well crafted and well told. Other examples?

Mass effect conveys the sense of impeding disaster and urges the player to battle against time as well as against an enemy that seems always a step ahead.

Uncharted made me feel like a child hunting treasures and always wanting more.

Metal gear solid made me "understand" that age changes even the strongest of heroes.

Gears of War 2 made me feel the desperation of a soldier that sees a never ending battle in his future.

Dead space just scared the hell out of me.

All these games without a great story would have been just like diamonds: great to look at, expensive to get but cold at the touch. Giants with clay feet.

Your opinion?

kendrene

Meh, I'll read a book for a good story.

Gameplay > presentation (i.e. graphics,sound, etc)

graphics are important imo, but its not the top of the ladder. Gameplay, story and even soundtrack come before graphics for me. -DrRobotnik-

That.

I'm really annoyed by the countless grafix king threads on games that arent even released although hyped AAA just for its looks. I would say art direction is more important than graphics, but narrative and gameplay finesse is above them all. Games like Gears of War have great graphics but I find it shallow b/c the story seems so flat and predictable I really cant get into games like that for the long term.

The only peopl ewho care about graphics are PS3 fanboys.

Of course they will all say its the hermits, yet all we see these days are threads about the Cell's untapped power, X game looks better than crysis etc etc.

Most real gamers care about gameplay 1st, graphics just go a long way to really making a game special.

Frozzik

You sure about that? I mean all those Gears 2 and Crysis threads were just imaginary?

Great graphics + Great gameplay = Great game

Can't be considered great to me without both. And at $60 a game I try and only buy great games.

The only peopl ewho care about graphics are PS3 fanboys.

Of course they will all say its the hermits, yet all we see these days are threads about the Cell's untapped power, X game looks better than crysis etc etc.

Most real gamers care about gameplay 1st, graphics just go a long way to really making a game special.

Frozzik

Uh huh, yeah sure. I guess it was cows posting all those screenshots of Crysis. Yeah nice conspiracy you got there.

[QUOTE="kendrene"]

Everybody these days seems to care only about graphics- or this is the impression I get from this and other forums. I am not blaming anyone for it since the devs and the publishers are the first ones to stress the "our game will be graphic king" point.

But is graphic all that matters in a game? I'd say no. Now I will support my position with examples:

I just finished playing Killzone 2 (and thanks to my friend Dan who let me use his ps3) It is a great game, worth every 9 it got on reviews but in my opinion it could have been a 10 if it was supported by a more epic story and well drawn characters. I mean, the battle for the survival of a species offers plenty of drama and epic moments (something along the lines of Starship troopers. sci-fi speaking) but I just didn't manage to get into the story. To me Sev appeared cliched, shallow and unappealing. This game could have been so much better.

Take for example the Call of duty series: I think that conveyed the horror of war in a better way. An example: In Call of Duty World at war, when I played as the russian soldier in the first mission of the western campaign and I woke up among the corpses of my fellow soldiers, silent witness to the cruelty of the enemy I actually felt the sense of despair and the chaotic horror of the situation. And disgust for what men can do to each other.

Note I said "I" and "me" because in that case I was really captivated by the game.

That happens when a story is well crafted and well told. Other examples?

Mass effect conveys the sense of impeding disaster and urges the player to battle against time as well as against an enemy that seems always a step ahead.

Uncharted made me feel like a child hunting treasures and always wanting more.

Metal gear solid made me "understand" that age changes even the strongest of heroes.

Gears of War 2 made me feel the desperation of a soldier that sees a never ending battle in his future.

Dead space just scared the hell out of me.

All these games without a great story would have been just like diamonds: great to look at, expensive to get but cold at the touch. Giants with clay feet.

Your opinion?

angry_fork

Oh please, please! Say it to all the fanboys out there!

TC, that is one great post you have here. I agree about KZ2 so far. I am really enjoying the game, but at this point, I still really feel no attachment to the story.

I will continue to play through it though (I still see a fantastic game) and hope that it can "catch" my weak attantion span.

tis the hermit way.Zero5000X

[QUOTE="Zero5000X"]tis the hermit way.mo0ksi

How are you actually saying that? Oh right, I've a game. Awful camera. Awful controls. Awful gameplay. Awful music. But, oh! The graphics are decent, so therefore it's the best game since Maario Bros 3! Stupid question.

Imagine Zelda/mario/metroid with ps3 xbox360 level graphics it would def improve the experience

Imagine Zelda/mario/metroid with ps3 xbox360 level graphics it would def improve the experience

Wolfang07

When trying to see if a game is good before it releases graphics are the BEST representation of how much work is actually going into the game and increases the likely hood it will be good. Notice a trend with most AAA games? They are all graphically above average.

The only peopl ewho care about graphics are PS3 fanboys.

Of course they will all say its the hermits, yet all we see these days are threads about the Cell's untapped power, X game looks better than crysis etc etc.

Most real gamers care about gameplay 1st, graphics just go a long way to really making a game special.

Frozzik

A majority of all fanboys brag about graphics, if given the oppurtunity. On topic, I do not believe great graphics, exclusively, make a great game. It is only a piece of what can make a great game. But even without great graphics, a game can still be a great game. My word of the day: great.

www.quakelive.com

it has crappy graphics but its free and the gameplay pwns

Cryostasis say... no...