What do gamers care more about? Graphics? Or Gameplay?

Have you ever asked yourself: What's more important in a video game? Is it the over the top, awesome, 3-D graphics that make you purchase a game? Or do you purchase a game due to astounding gameplay? Or a little of both? I am going to attempt to go into the minds of gamers every where over the next few minutes of your time with this article:

Gameplay or Graphics: The Ultimate Question

So what makes a game? Does it have to have superior ultra sharp graphics as in picture A, or ultra tight gameplay as in Picture B?

Picture A. LAIR for the Playstation 3 Entertainment System. This game features crisp, ultra-sharp, high resolution graphics, but is severely lacking in the gameplay department, or so says some reviewers.

Picture B. Kingdom Hearts for the Playstation 2 Computer Entertainment System. This game focuses more on great, addictive gameplay than nice graphics. As you can see, the graphics are bland and uninteresting.

Based on those pictures, I am far more inclined to go for LAIR as opposed to Kingdom Hearts. Games like LAIR have trailers and screenshots that show apparent awesome gameplay AND graphics, but usually only have one of those factors. However, while LAIR does draw my eye with the dragons, it is the subtleness of the Kingdom Hearts shot that gets my attention. WTF is going on? I want to find out, so I'll play it. To my surprise, the gameplay was excellent, as it should be coming from Squaresoft. After playing both titles, I have come to the conclusion that LAIR, while absolutely stunning, and the best looking game this generation, doesn't satisfy as much as the overly simplistic, yet highly addictive gameplay of the Kingdom Hearts.

However, there are also games that balance graphics and gameplay (see Picture C, D, and E), but they tend to lean a decent amount more towards gameplay. With these games, the graphics draw my attention heavily, I tend to wonder that they just left half-assed gameplay for the other assets of the game. About 33% of the time, I am wrong, like I was with Final Fantasy XII and Jak X: Combat Racing (both available on the Playstation 2 Computer Entertainment system for $19.99)

Picture C. Final Fantasy XII for the Playstation 2 Computer Entertainment System. This is just your typical boss monster. Another day in the life of a future sky pirate!

Picture D. Gears of War for the Xbox 360 Computer Entertainment System. DAYUMMM!!! YOU GOT PWNEDDDDD!!!

Picture E. The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess for the Nintendo Wii Computer Entertainment System. IIIIIIIII'TS WOLFTASTIC!

Those three games above are some of the three best games on the market today, but what about when you're buying for a portable system, such as the DS or PSP. Obviously some other standards will come into play. On the road, playability will have more importance over graphics. There are some portable games that suck at both (see picture F) and some games that excel at both (see Picture G). Then there are some games with horrible graphics, but amazing gameplay and vice-versa (see pictures H, I).

Picture F. Final Fantasy II for the Playstation Portable Computer Entertainment System. Can someone say: Me no speaka Englashh!!!

Picture G. Monster Hunter Freedom 2nd for the Playstation 2 Computer Entertainment System. Someone's gonna get paid tonight!

Picture H. Pokemon Diamond for the Nintendo Developer's System (DS). USE MIRROR MOVE! I COMMAND YOU!!! ARGGGH! You get no supper tonight!!!

Picture I. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix for the Playstation Portable Computer Entertainment System. Anyone who plays this game should be shot, burned, and shot again.