Runescape is in both respects, a bad and a tedious game.
At a graphical standpoint, Runescape may be disgusting to the eyes, but people, you have to understand; Runescape is built on a java engine. Unfortunately, me comparing this game to the java engine it has been built it pointless, although it is the best looking game built with a java engine. The graphics you will see is very saddening compared to graphics and detail from other MMORPG's of this date. As with, the graphics really lower the amount of fun you will get out of the gameplay.
Gameplay wise, there are tidbits of action to be found. There are a healthy number of quests and a decent player versus player system. The problem with the gameplay though, is that it is quite boring. If you were to engage in hand-to-hand combat there are no skills to be used along with it; other than the style of attack you choose to use. Ranged attacks either come from magic or a missile launcher of any sort such as a crossbow. Spells from magic can be fun to use, but spending the time to find "runes" (hence the name Runescape) is quite tedious and ultimately, just isn't worth spending much time for the spells.
The area of sound used within Runescape are seriously below par. The music that comes with many of the areas you will be exploring can be found to be annoying and outright pointless. Other than the music you will be hearing, there are a few sounds from magic spells and things of that sort. Other than these two generalizations of sound, there is nothing else to be heard or even be worth hearing for. If you choose to stick with Runescape there is actually a nice amount of content the game has to offer for you. Jagex is constantly adding new quests to the already quite large quest-base. You may choose to level all your skills to the max which is actually a huge grind. Although the grind is presented nearly obviously, getting skills to a high level is considered a bragging right to many and will make you feel proud. Player versus player content can be exciting at times and can be fun. The penalty for dieing in player vs player content is losing all of your items except your 3 most valuable items. If you are marked by a skull, well, you will lose all your items. So aside from the quite hard "PVP" death penalty, the action within it is just like the PVE(player versus environment) combat.
Runescape is by no means a bad game to those with much patience and for those looking for a cheap monthly payment of only $5. If you can get past the too simple gameplay, seriously subpar graphics, and a almost non-existent sound area; Runescape may finally prove to be a somewhat fun game.