Topic: When Graphics Don't Matter

I have several, random points I want to say about graphics and whether they matter or not.

1. Games looking good is a good thing
2. But I grew up on N64 so it takes effort for "bad" graphics to be a deal breaker
3. The obsession of high end graphics over actual artistry and style has been increasingly meaningless for a decade now. After Minecraft, the time for that mattering was obviously coming to an end.
4. The Ps5 has been selling itself on using its power things other than the inevitably better graphics, which says something about how much they don't matter at this point.
5. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and a handful of other Switch exclusives, still look more appealing to me than a good chunk of major Ps5 games. In some ways, even some of the higher budget indie games that have the right style to them as well.
6. Megaman 8, a Ps1 game, looks better than Megaman 11, a Switch (and others) game. Arguably same with the later Castlevania games vs. Bloodstrained or mainline DS Pokemon vs. modern Pokemon.
7. Look up One Finger Death Punch. That's my exhibit A on graphics being irrelevant to quality gameplay, as long as you get the bare minimum down correctly.

I’m a bit different than most I think. I only care about graphics when the devs/community boasts about them. Meaning I am more likely to find the flaws and texture issues in a series x game than a Nintendo one. If your actual selling point is amazing graphics and I need mods for even and high res textures… I have a problem. And I will scrutinize the heck out of a game. Partly why I wait on popular non Nintendo games so the marketing churn doesn’t make me overly critical by accident.

If your selling point is gameplay or artstyle, then so long as I can physically handle the framerate and it’s not glitchy, I started with NES (and remember thinking SNES was so “realistic “) games, I can find most games fun and artistic and be impressed by the artstyle. I love learning about the work that goes into game design or looking at concept art.

The attitude of a game moves me. Rather than the consumer expectations. Otherwise I don’t think I could work on my back log. I bounce from system to system (I have SNES games I still need to beat).

It depends on the game. If I'm playing something like a sightseeing game visuals matter a lot. If it's something like a racing game visuals are hugely important but performance probably matters more. When it's something where the gameplay itself is the core draw? It can probably get away with being below par on both counts

Eg a game like Tomb Raider? I'm playing that with details cranked and HDR, 4K if I can. 30fps I can live with if I can't hit it. A game like Dirt or Forza? Would not put up with less than 60fps, game needs to be responsive and solid visuals help. Pokemon? .... Would be nice if it looked better but the gameplay loop is compelling enough I don't care

Minecraft.