Quite some time ago, I began to notice gamers exclaiming how "graphics don't matter," and phrases like "it's the gameplay, not the graphics!" Well, I say, since when did gamers stop caring about how their games look, and why has it become almost politically incorrect as a gamer to demand both great gameplay and amazing-looking,eye-popping colors and textures whilst playing said awesome gameplay?For that matter, many traditional online review sites have removed the category altogether in their reviews. Some could say that was done because PS3 and X360 games looked so similar, but what about now,with all the framerate drama, and what about Nintendo? For example, when COD:Ghosts showed up on Nintendo's Wii U,we heard about how Nintendo's online multiplayer can't compete with the other consoles, but what about graphically? We all assume PS4 games look better, but just how well did the XOne's framerate fair versus Nintendo's,and just how much did those textures have to be dialed back to run on Wii U?
It seems as though we stopped talking about graphics when ports became pretty much identical across the two main competitive platforms,and when Nintendo insisted on not caring about graphics, with the Wii. So, perhaps, the "graphics don't matter" statement originated largely from those Wii-only gamers, who had no choice but to stave off feelings of inadequacy with the other consoles sporting the likes of Uncharted, Bioshock, etc., whose offerings provided both great, fun gameplay and eye-melting visuals, while Wii gamers dealt with a Mario Kart that, while played great, actually could be argued to look a little worse than its Gamecube predecessor.
Fellow gamers, Nintendo fans or not, PSXONE fanboys or no, we do look at the games we play, and regardless of how I may sound here, we do still say "Ooh" and "Aah" at wonderful art direction, great mapping, creative color palettes, and super-res textures, and our discussion forums and rude rantings in comments sections provide plenty of evidence for that. Anyone who says graphics don't matter, frankly has no need for a game system beyond Super Nintendo, where many a pinnacle was achieved in gameplay mechanics and level design.
The real of it is, graphics matter a lot. There is no caveat,no "yeah but gameplay is more important." There is no reason we can't have, and shouldn't demand, both. Just how much has the gameplay changed in Call of Duty games? Not much, really. What was it about Second Son that made us all clamor for what's around the next bend? I mean, the game did offer up some unique mechanics, but man-oh-man was it beautiful! Even Nintendo's Mario Kart 8 has gained plenty of curb appeal from onlookers who became truly surprised at just how good Nintendo's "new Wii" can look!
Rest assured, graphics play a huge role in the enjoyment of our games, and reviews, articles, forums and simply gamers in general don't have hide that fact like its some kind of "gameplay vs graphics" conspiracy. We all argue it anyway, so put it back in the reviews, stop acting like people are dumb for liking pretty games and stop pretending we didn't notice that texture was a little too stretched on some of the rocks in Destiny. I for one am happy to say "Yeah well, I LOVED the way Elder Scrolls looked, but the gameplay, well that was little stiff.
Its okay, graphics whores, when it comes to modern AAA titles, perhaps the old theme song from "Married...With Children" sums it up most appropriately, "....you can't have one without the other."
WTMG's Leo Faria: "God of War: Sons of Sparta is a very interesting prologue to the series as a whole, and a welcome return to the franchise’s original Greek setting, but as a metroidvania… I mean, it’s good, but it’s nothing I haven’t seen and played dozens of times before, especially in a post-Silksong and Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown. But I still love the fact it exists. The fact it’s somewhat unambitious and smaller in scope might actually be my favorite thing about it. This is a type of game I missed from Sony, something more focused, streamlined, to the point. I’d rather have three or four games like Sons of Sparta a year then yet another live service whose servers will be shut off after just two or three months."
The latest publisher sale is live on the Nintendo Switch 2 and Switch eShops, this time featuring games from SEGA / Atlus. Some games are at new low prices here, including the likes of Sonic Origins and Etrian Odyssey HD.
Reanimal is a co-op, survival horror, stealth and a cinematic platformer with light puzzle elements.
When PS4 took the lead in graphics and sales...
Neither should over-ride one another. The graphics should compliment the gameplay and vice versa. This generation and I'd even dare to say last generation gamers are becoming harder and harder to please. I like to think I'm ok with sub-par graphics if the gameplay is good, but it does kinda bug me...we just need to remember they aren't everything,but yeah graphics matter.
When PS4 became the leader of 8th gen and made people sour.
They still matter to me, thats why i have a strong PC that can run gmes at 1080p everytime and then some. But graphics are still very LOW on the priority list, even for a "graphics whore"pc gamer like myself.