Do Graphics Take Away From Games?

[Tomo Stryker]

My question is very simple and very mind boggling at the same time. Do games with decent graphics (such at KotOR) or other games with awe inspiring graphics (such as Crysis) make games what they are? Today many people think that if a game has good graphics then the story might as well take a hike, but I want to know what you think The Escapist.

On a side note (seems pretty sad really) I myself never had a good computer that could create certain textures or models, so I sometimes wonder if I miss out on a portion of the experience that could provide a whole new stimuli if I had a better computer.

 

[boyvirgo666]

survival horror was ruined by the best graphics. otherwise no. in fact i still say fable 2 has some of the prettiest graphics iv ever seen

 

[SomeBoredGuy]

While plenty of games are better for their purdy graphics, some games have a charm that simply could not be replicated were they given an upgrade. The main ones that come to mind are Minecraft and the N64 Zeldas.

 

[LandoCristo]

I'm actually sort of disappointed with some of the newer graphics. Like when playing MW2 on my PS3 (disappointed in that whole game, but), I thought that it was TOO detailed, and that the details stood out too far, taking away from the realism.

 

[TheComedown]

No, never unless the dev team is a bunch of retarded monkeys.

 

[mParadox]

Details in games is fine.... having detailed gfx in Horror games is something else. It completely destroys the mood. For the first time i found a HORROR game non-scary i.e. FEAR 2. Not scary anyway but still. Dead Space in parts.

 

[Get_A_Grip_]

I really think that F-Zero on the SNES is one of the most visually appealing games ever made.

Also BlazBlue

 

[Ace of Spades]

Just look at FF13. The graphics were jaw-dropping. All the cutscenes look pretty. Everything else is pretty crap, making the game not worth playing. Yes, it's nice to have good graphics, but you can't expect that to carry a game. It doesn't work like that.

 

[linkzeldi]

It depends on the title. On some games graphics are a saving grace, *Cough* Final Fantasy XIII *Cough*, others I would honestly prefer some 16 bit sprites.

 

[Mista Miggins]

The only negative thing I can say about good graphics is that they clusterfuck your computer if it isn't up-to-date

 

[Kpt._Rob]

Honestly, if it were up to me we'd do a big downgrade to the graphics that games have. The ridiculous cost of creating modern generation graphics is really limiting to developers. If people weren't so concerned about graphics then we could have much more creative games because the investment risk in creating a game wouldn't be as high.

To be honest, aesthetically speaking, I actually prefer low end graphics. For instance, part of the charm of Earthbound is derived specifically from its pixilated graphics. And I loved N64 era graphics. My drawing professor once said to our class that we should leave the transparent construction in our drawings, because it's like when you're listening to an acoustical recording, and you can hear the fingers of the guitar player moving on the strings, it actually adds to the experience. It lets us literally see the work of the artist, reminds us that what we're experiencing was created by a human, and I like that. But now instead of having worlds which opt for whimsical color instead of absolute realism, every time I pick up a new game it's a sea of browns and grays. Yuck city.

So yes, I'll say that graphics do take away from games, specifically, good graphics take away from gaming as a whole.

 

[mParadox]

But gfx also instill disappointment in gamers if they are not up to date. Like the reaction to Bioshock 2..sure it was a great game but the gfx were not upto mark. You may argue that indie games like LIMBO do not have good gfx and yet are still enjoyed but that's not valid. It had mystery of a story and good gameplay. Bioshock 2 however did not have a convincing storyline and same is the case with [PROTOTYPE].

 

[lithiumvocals]

As long as they don't look like shit with a chewy puke center(i.e. The original pokemon game), I'm fine

 

[Iandiaeufaieubfeuihfi]

Well if an fps has shitty graphics, the hitbox is gonna fuck up for sure.

 

[CrankyStorming]

It's less about 'taking away' and more about 'adding too much' to games. It's impossible for a bad game to suck on the PS3 because a single game having good graphics is still special for some reason.

 

[Johnnyallstar]

Depends. Survival Horror, as mentioned, does sometimes if it removes the feeling of panic and mystery. Other times, if a company focuses too much on graphics that gameplay suffers, then it certainly does... see Lair.

But they can also be a wonderful addition, such as Braid, or Okami.

 

[Fenring]

No, graphics are a different teams than he ones that develop story, gameplay, and other stuff. The thing that has been hurting games most in my mind are the success of the CoD games, now every developer wants to be just like them.

 

[KingGolem]

Graphics are but a minor detail. Visuals are a vital aspect of game design. You see, it's not so much how good the graphics are, it's what they portray. I'd rather take a beautiful, colorful, interesting world portrayed in blocky Nintendo 64 graphics (Ocarina of Time, anyone?) than the setting of any boring brown FPS rendered in stunning detail.

 

[Nashidar]

You know what ...I would kill for a good Adventure game.

Something like Monkey Island Series, Blade Runner, Full Throttle, Grim Fandango, etc.

What the heck happened? Those games were fantastic because they had a story and a good amount of gameplay.

I know there are games like Mass Effect, Fable II (both of which I enjoy), but they are more of an FPS/RPG game.

I want an Adventure game.

 

[Deathsong17]

My universal opinion on the matter is that good graphics never make a game good, but bad graphics can make a game bad. Having visually appealing graphics adds another layer of enjoyment and appreciation to a game. Hell, my dad refuses to play games that 'don't look right'. Losing this layer can be damning to the enjoyment of a game, since it's more difficult to engage with it.

So to answer your question, no, good graphics don't detract from games, but rather todays technology allows far more scope for the opposite.