Topic: How important are quality graphics to you?

Is it a determining factor if you will purchase and or enjoy the game? I have heard others say that even mediocre graphics will turn them off from the game. For me it is really a minimal factor. This could be because I grew up in the days of the Atari 2600, but I know after I say this someone will come in and correct me. So how is it for you? Do you need visuals to look amazing in order to play through or are you content no matter what the game looks like?

(And TBD I looked through the first few pages of topics and didn't see another one like this so if its a repeat sorry.)

I don't care much but if the graphics are extremely horrible, probably on my list of games I want to buy.

if it tells an absolutely amazing story, or if it's just that dang fun to play, who cares what it looks like? so long as it's detailed enough for me to be able to interact properly with the game environment, whatev'. :3

Graphics are important to me, but the gameplay is king. If a good game has crappy graphics I'll still enjoy it. If an average game has crappy graphics, though, I'm more likely to not play it.

I really don't care, and I daresay most people on this site are the same way. That's why we're on Nintendo Life rather than ZOMG Ubergraphics Life. The only problem is, if a game has absolutely horrendous graphics, it's quite often evidence that the developers didn't put much effort into the game.

For 360/PS3 it depends on the graphic style . For cartoony HD graphics don't really matter because they look good and my HDTV upscales it. (super Mario galaxy). Games that are photorealistic should be like MW2 , TF: Unleashed , or Mass Effect where the characters are modeled after the voice actors.

???????

Jeez, must every thread resort to IGN bashing? Seriously?

So long as I can see what the hell I'm doing, and what the hell is or isn't a platform, I'm perfectly happy no matter what the quality of the graphics are.

It depends. If it is on the Wii or a last gen system, no, because they can't have very good graphics. If it is on the 360, PS3 or PC, yes. If they are capable of it then there is no excuse for bad graphics, other than the developers don't care about the game and didn't put much effort into it.

As long as gameplay is sharp and if it's an RPG style game need a great story that's all i need, graphics depends on what type of game you play if it's puzzle it's basically meaningless, while shooter i guess require them but from my point of view old school style graphics is a form of art so i don't really mind.

It depends on how you define quality graphics. For me, the technology behind the graphics means nothing. Take Gears of War. Technically impressive, nifty effects, and yet all there it has to offer is a gray mess that's hard on the eyes. That's not quality graphics at all.

Now, quality graphics as in, good art style and being nice to look at, that has importance.

Graphics are important, yes. Just not in the way a lot of people think they are. To me the "graphics" in games refers to artistic use of color, style and balance. Look at the original Super Mario Bros for example. Even by todays standards you'd be hard pressed to find anyone that doesn't agree that the game is visually appealing. Not because it's using all the latest texture buffers, bloom lighting and whatnot, but because it has a very clean look to it. It didn't set out to use the NES hardware to it's fullest at the time, but rather focused on making a game where everything was easilly distinguishable and with clever use of color and light within the sprites the game more than achieved that goal. I won't lie, I've always been impressed with hardware increases growing up in the late 80s and 90s but now, as an artist, I can still appriciate good visual design in games, no matter what the hardware fidelity might be.

Quality graphics are very important to me, because who wants crappy graphics?

Although, really most games that aren't shovelware usually do have quality graphics.

Well thats important in games today. Also have you even read an IGN review the only games they complain about with graphics are the ones that are really boast about graphics. Also you can't lump every reviewer into one sum as Ign does more then Game Reviews.

Well, I'm pretty finished with arguing, so I'll just apoligize, delete my past comments, and zip my lip.
/me apoligizes, deletes past comments, and zips lip.
Allow me to state it differently: no. Great graphics are a plus for me.

I don't really care, but sometimes bad graphics signal a bad game. Ah well. As long as the game is fun, I don't care about graphics. Just look at MM9/10!

It's a difference between bad and retro.

I don't mind the graphics.

The things I care about in a game is gameplay and controls.

Yes, but not all games can be retro.