What's The Most Important Part of a Video Game?

[Serpentine Cougar]

What element of a game do you pay the most attention to when deciding whether or not to buy/play it? Is it the game's story? Graphics? Soundtrack? Gameplay? Franchise or developer name recognition? Replay value? What's the most important part a game needs to have, in your opinion?

 

Personally, it's very important to me that a game has a good story for me to experience. If it doesn't, it better have amazing, unique gameplay or I could care less.

[SW01]

Personally, it's very important to me that a game has a good story for me to experience. If it doesn't, it better have amazing, unique gameplay or I could care less.

 

Aye, I agree with that. The storyline is the most important part for me too when buying games - especially those on consoles, being so blasted expensive. That's why I'm happy enough spending money on the likes of Final Fantasy and GTA - almost guaranteed a good, immersive story.

 

Second to that, I like a game to have a free-roaming element. I've had my fill of straight-forward level by level gameplay. Again, GTA and FF deliver this, as do other things like Total War. This is also tied with Replay-value in second, and for that I generally like elements of customisation, usually in character design/appearance.

 

As you may have guessed from above, I also follow a franchise happily enough. I'm always likely to give GTA, FF, Hitman and Total War a chance. If it isn't part of a franchise which I have followed, I usually wait for someone else to get it and have a go then.

 

Graphics - yeah, I like a game now to take full advantage of graphics tech, but I won't write it off because it looks older, in the same way that I won't buy it just 'cause it's pretty.

[Miltiades]

Personally, it's very important to me that a game has a good story for me to experience. If it doesn't, it better have amazing, unique gameplay or I could care less.

Totally agree. For me, it's the story that pulls me into a game, and keeps me playing the game. Without a good story, I normally can't play a game for more than a few hours. If the story is good, I don't mind if the gameplay isn't excellent (though there's a limit, of course).

 

Exceptions to games without a good story are games with unique gameplay, such as the Indie game World of Goo.

 

Since I became acquainted with gaming in the "modern" Era, I guess graphics do matter to me, though not to the extent that I'd forsake to play a game with a great story because of it. And because I usually play games only once, replay value isn't of that much importance to me.

[Astor]

The story and setting are of utmost importance to me personally - it can look as pretty as it wants to, but if it's isn't engaging, then I'll pass (GoW, for instance).

 

But then again, I play mostly strategy games, so the setting is usually the most important (the peak of this being with Empire: Total War).

 

And, like SW01, I have a fondness for some franchises - Total War being the best in my mind.

 

EDIT: But, if Star Wars is slapped on the front, i'm sure to try it out.

[GeneralPloKoon]

I think the story and replay value are the most important parts of a video game.

[CommanderQ]

Yeah, as many have said, the story is indeed one of the most important parts.

 

I mean, some of the really old-school games had absolutley horrible graphics and gameplay, but the story made the game awesome. Nowadays, they have come up with several games that are cool to play due to graphics, but the story stinks, that nearly ruins the experience. Also, as Plokoon put it, replay value is very important. That and variety of the story are very very important, so that way you don't just play the game once and get bored, but put it to good use and make it fun:D RPG's work well in that case, but those things are, in my opinion, some of the most important things in a game.

[Ctrl Alt Del]

For me, it's the story that pulls me into a game, and keeps me playing the game.

I agree. If the story is good enough to suck you in and keep you there for a good while, then it's totally worth it. But then again, what about those games that simple don't have an story and are completely awesome for those who like the style, like the Total War series previously mentioned here? Then the suck in element must come from something else, like the gameplay.

 

Graphics do play a role, definetly. We're not reading a book, after all. But how good are they in the end? Will they still have that much significance ten years from now? They'll suck big time, that is.

 

Soundtrack is as raw as grapics but it still has some importance. They make a game more smooth to play and combined with the other elements they make a remarkable experience.

 

Replayability is vital, though. If the experience was good enough to make me want to play again, great. But on a third playthrough and from there, without proper "extras", things might start to get boring. In such cases, any artifices are needed and welcome: extra gear, special powers of some kind, New Game+, etc..

 

It's a mistake I normally make, that of relying too much on a company's name. I've learned that every developer is capable of, one day, making a game that'll bomb. Eventually, it'll happen. It's the cost of creating and innovation. Keep an eye out for reviews, rent if unsure.

 

In the end it's too hard to pick apart the most imortant element. Games are an unique experience that mix all those aspects in only one media. All of them, together, make a game playable, enjoyable and good.

[jrrtoken]

For me, it's usually the plot, overall setting, and the gameplay, although the latter isn't too essential.

 

Another factor is immersion. Games that create an environment that seem to put you into the world, as if you're really there, are some of my favorites. That's probably why I like the Myst series so much, they put into the game, not just having you play as someone else. the same thing is true with Half-Life, especially HL2. The first chapter set in City 17, getting off the train, and entering a dystopian society; it was sheer brilliance how they used the most subtle details, such as cans and bottles littered in the streets, and Dr. Breen's prerecorded propaganda, broadcasting to the masses. That was my favorite moment in the game, and I wish there was some sort of mod that is entirely an adventure-oriented odyssey.

 

Art direction, is also equally important. I prefer more stylized and escapist oriented visuals, rather than the photorealistic. TRON 2.0 perfectly blended the art style of the film with the medium of video games to create a beautiful world, with brightly colored and glowing polygons filling the atmosphere. The same can be said about Team Fortress 2, and how that brilliantly took advertisement art from the early twentieth century, and transposed them to an "evil genius" atmosphere. Okami, and how it took Japanese wood block paintings and put that video games was also stunning. I'm also liking the upcoming MadWorld for the Wii, and how it uses high contrasts of white and black, in a Sin City-esque nature. I think there needs to be more games that are visually based off of art movements. A game featuring the works of Wyndham Lewis and Edward Wadsworth would be most appreciated, and a must-buy, IMO.

[GeneralPloKoon]

The same thing is true with Half-Life, especially HL2. The first chapter set in City 17, getting off the train, and entering a dystopian society; it was sheer brilliance how they used the most subtle details, such as cans and bottles littered in the streets, and Dr. Breen's prerecorded propaganda, broadcasting to the masses. That was my favorite moment in the game, and I wish there was some sort of mod that is entirely an adventure-oriented odyssey.

 

I agree, my mouth gaped at the G-man's speech, the train, the detail in the starting station, all the detail in the streets. One of my most remembered game experiences. My favorite part of Half-Life 2. The beginning of Half-Life 1 up unitl getting a weapon was pretty cool too.

[Jeff]

It all depends on the game for me, different things attract me about different games. Some series I remain loyal to despite the game not being stellar. A lot of times if the art style intrigues me it will get me to at least give the game a second look as was the case last year for Prince of Persia and Mirror's Edge which both games I enjoyed very much. A good balance of story and gameplay is always nice, but sometimes those don't balance out so much.

[Commander Obi-Wan]

The graphics.

 

 

 

 

Nah, to me, it's really the gameplay and the story that matter the most to me. For most games in general at least. Specifically, an RPG or FPS.

[Rogue15]

gameplay and setting.

[The Doctor]

Graphics mean **** to a game. Period. Anyone who seriously finds graphics to be a valid way to judge a game is simply wrong, plain and simple. No two ways about it.

 

Another factor is immersion. Games that create an environment that seem to put you into the world, as if you're really there, are some of my favorites.

 

Quoted for great justice. I enjoy games most when I can immerse myself in the story; a story that makes me think, that challenges my mind. KotOR II is a perfect example of the kind of story I like best in a game. It was intricate, and revealed mostly through dialogue and character interactions rather than solely through space battles and lightsaber duels.

[Rabish Bini]

Quoted for great justice.

"For great justice, take off every zigg"

Sorry, couldn't help myself, (if you've seen it, you'll understand )

 

Anyways, gameplay and replayabilty are most important to me, storyline is fairly big, but not extremely big, i mean, i like all the real old school games that don't even have a storyline

 

Gameplay and replayabilty = win

[Mav]

For me it depends on the genre, for example RPG's = Story then Gameplay, FPS = Gameplay, Replayability, then Story. As far as graphics go, art style is more valuable than poly counts and AA to me, case in point go look at Valkyria Chronicles.

[Rev7]

I think that there has to be a blend.

 

The game has to have a good solid story, big immersion factor, customization, replayability, a nice soundtrack is good, and the icing on the cake would be graphics. There has to be that blend for me for it to be a great game.

 

Then there are the good games. I generally base what I think of a game on what I just said, but a good game focuses on generally one or two of the things that I just mentioned. For me, there are very few games that fall in the great/I] game category--which is just fine, I guess....:/

[mur'phon]

Story coupled with imersion, but since there are extremely few games with a intresting plot (VtMB,K2,Torment, Witcher), and fewer getting imersion right (the only game who did both masterfully was VtMB) gameplay takes priority most of the time. IWD2, Blood Rayne2, PoP3, Evil Genius and RTW are games I have played pretty much since they were released, purely because of the gameplay.

What I truly wish for is a game with the story as good as Torment, the Witcher and VtMB, and imersion done like Dark Messiah (I.E lock you in first person, and never let you out).

[Rabish Bini]

Evil Genius

+50 awesome points for saying Evil Genius. Brilliant game, one of my favs, so simplistic yet addictive

*rushes off to play it again*

[igyman]

I'd say story and length, because there are games with a pretty good story, but just when you get into it the game ends.

[SW01]

length, because there are games with a pretty good story, but just when you get into it the game ends.

 

I agree with that, definitely. The likes of TFU had a good, well written story, but at about 8 hours of gameplay, much, much too short.

 

I also prefer those like KotOR, GTA and Final Fantasy, that have stories that last many, many hours. There is a much greater satisfaction in finally completing a game that has taken you 40+ hours to complete. Feels more worth the money too!

[igyman]

Exactly. A game like Tomb Raider Underworld (which is for some reason praised as the best TR so far), while having an interesting story and good gameplay, lacks length. It took me about eight to ten hours (split to two evenings) to finish it. Definitely not worth its price, while GTA 4 took me almost fifteen days (and that's me, the crazy person who just had to play it five or more hours a day). That game is definitely worth the money - a great and lengthy story, a bunch of optional activities, a huge city with a bizzare secret

inside the Statue of Hapiness.

I still play it on occasion.

 

Mirror's Edge gave me a somewhat better impression than TRU, because of the game's originality. The story was pretty interesting, but it should have been longer.

[jrrtoken]

Quoted for great justice. I enjoy games most when I can immerse myself in the story; a story that makes me think, that challenges my mind. KotOR II is a perfect example of the kind of story I like best in a game. It was intricate, and revealed mostly through dialogue and character interactions rather than solely through space battles and lightsaber duels.

Yep, although I was merely pointing towards the more aesthetic aspects, i.e., ambient sounds, believable scenery, etc. KotOR II was most definitely immersive, however, I believe in order to be totally immersed, a game has to be in the first person. Hence why Myst and Riven was so damn awesome; you were the protagonist.

[igyman]

I don't mind third person games - in some cases I actually prefer a game to be third person, because there are cases when immersion is better accomplished if you can see your character. The Hitman series is one example and also GTA, not to mention Prince of Persia. I just don't think those games would be as fun, if played in the first person (that goes for KoTOR too).

[Jae Onasi]

a. story

b. story

c. story

d. ability to role-play and choose different dialog options.

[RedHawke]

It would greatly depend on my mood as to what would be important to me at a particular time...

 

Sometimes I just want to kill things, sometimes I want a game with a story, sometimes I want to just build an army and wipe out all the opposition, and sometimes I want them all.