Does excellent graphics equal an excellent game?

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Bigfred19882000

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#1 Bigfred19882000
Member since 2004 • 538 Posts
I was looking at what are rated as the best games and 9 out of 10 times the game had almost revolutionary graphics. Bioshock,COD 4, Gears of war, G.R.A.W., G.R.A.W. 2. Now when I see videos of a game with excellent graphics I almost assume it is the next big thing.
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g5velocity

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#2 g5velocity
Member since 2007 • 1017 Posts
No.
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elvisisgod

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#3 elvisisgod
Member since 2005 • 244 Posts
not always, sometimes those excellent graphics make the game short and therefore not as complete as gamers would want them.
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Ket87

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#4 Ket87
Member since 2007 • 3840 Posts
Not at all.
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escrima24

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#5 escrima24
Member since 2006 • 55 Posts

not at all

if anyone remeber when the 360 launched bungie released not only halo but azerik and azerik for its time was very pretty but god did that game suck

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Elann2008

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#6 Elann2008
Member since 2007 • 33028 Posts
Not necessarily. But a Dev who puts a lot of time and detail into making graphics excellent, and close to flawless, usually come out with amazing games. I cant think of any right now. There might have been games with excellent graphics but recieved good scores, maybe not excellent. Usually they are. But my definition of excellent graphics is high standards, we're talking Assassin's Creed excellent, or Gears of War excellent, and Lost Odyssey which I hope will be excellent. We'll just have to find out. :twisted:
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ArsenicA

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#7 ArsenicA
Member since 2007 • 1446 Posts
IMO.... no it doesnt... but it really helps.
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Blitz1130

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#8 Blitz1130
Member since 2006 • 364 Posts
It never has guaranteed a game to be excellent, but now developers are not just using graphics to make the games look good but to create a vibe, or make them tell stories as in Portal, where the writing on the walls made you sence that it was more than just a simple test. Or Bioshock, the graphics with the help of the audio diaries help tell the fall of rapture
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Elann2008

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#9 Elann2008
Member since 2007 • 33028 Posts

It never has guaranteed a game to be excellent, but now developers are not just using graphics to make the games look good but to create a vibe, or make them tell stories as in Portal, where the writing on the walls made you sence that it was more than just a simple test. Or Bioshock, the graphics with the help of the audio diaries help tell the fall of raptureBlitz1130

Well said. And that's what we gamers expect, excellent graphics with a great storyline and gameplay. And avoid technical issues at all cost! ^.^ basically we want the full package, the diamond in the rough. 'Nuff said.

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MikeJones133

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#10 MikeJones133
Member since 2007 • 507 Posts

Most of the best games have GREAT graphics

but not all games with GREAT graphics are the best.

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AtomicBaconBits

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#11 AtomicBaconBits
Member since 2006 • 8855 Posts
No.Look at Counter-Strike,that game has horrendous graphics,yet it's one of the most popular multi-player games ever.
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GodLovesDead

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#12 GodLovesDead
Member since 2007 • 9755 Posts

No.Look at Counter-Strike,that game has horrendous graphics,yet it's one of the most popular multi-player games ever.AtomicBaconBits

Counter-Strike and Counter-Strike : Source had excellent graphics for their time. That should count for something.

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kostas360

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#13 kostas360
Member since 2007 • 67 Posts

not always, sometimes those excellent graphics make the game short and therefore not as complete as gamers would want them. elvisisgod

Or very repetitive, the case of Assassins Creed. However, i think this senario was to be expected: New Gen consoles were hyped and advertised as prossessing and graphical powerhouses, so i guess producers were expected to prove these claims. They did. Now that excellent visuals r to be expected, the consumers' interest is again substance. I think the future will bring us games that r visually excellent, plus have more substance

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KGB32

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#14 KGB32
Member since 2007 • 4279 Posts
stupid question, of course it doesn't, a game can look as beautiful as ever, but if it's not fun what's the point
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thekidmrj

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#15 thekidmrj
Member since 2004 • 200 Posts

Most of the best games have GREAT graphics

but not all games with GREAT graphics are the best.

MikeJones133

+1
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HomegrownHavok

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#16 HomegrownHavok
Member since 2008 • 25 Posts

In my opinion, just because a game has great graphics does not mean its a great game. Although for some reason most of the games I play with these great graphics also have all the other qualitys of a great game. For a game to be great, at least in my book, it must have much more then great graphics. Gameplay is the biggest factor to me when purchasing a game, if the game has great graphics but play like crap, is it a good game?

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excaliber24

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#17 excaliber24
Member since 2006 • 269 Posts
yes
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Kobewars87

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#18 Kobewars87
Member since 2007 • 321 Posts
take call of duty 3 for instance. second duty game on next gen, had sweet graphics. after 2 hrs of playing hte game though you wanted to throw up for even buying it. worst duty game ever made, but had nice graphics for its time.
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Bansheezs

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#19 Bansheezs
Member since 2003 • 590 Posts
it is kind of like call of duty 4 nowdays. People are buying it for the graphics. Good graphic + bad gameplay = bad game
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Kobewars87

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#20 Kobewars87
Member since 2007 • 321 Posts
woah, now. you do realize that call of duty 4 is the most played xbox live game right. i was talking about duty3 and i should have said single player, thats what i ment to address directly.
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romans828_2002

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#21 romans828_2002
Member since 2003 • 1108 Posts

Excellent graphics does not necessarily equal excellent quality. However, excellent quality usually means excellent graphics. There have been a few games with graphics that I thought were top notch (MOH:Airborne comes to mind), but the game was terrible. On the other hand, there have been few games where I thought, "Man, this game is ugly but it sure is a great game."

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Trickshot771

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#22 Trickshot771
Member since 2005 • 12686 Posts
Nope. Look at Soldier of Fortune.
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Master__Shake

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#23 Master__Shake
Member since 2002 • 6214 Posts

I was looking at what are rated as the best games and 9 out of 10 times the game had almost revolutionary graphics. Bioshock,COD 4, Gears of war, G.R.A.W., G.R.A.W. 2. Now when I see videos of a game with excellent graphics I almost assume it is the next big thing.Bigfred19882000

I think it goes hand in hand. Good games usually don't have bad graphics because the overall production value allows for a good game plus a good visuals. THat's why I laugh when people throw the word AAA around so much on these forums. If you just look a game you can tell a lot has gone into the graphics or not and usually that means they've taken the time on all the other parts.

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deactivated-6074966979cf5

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#24 deactivated-6074966979cf5
Member since 2005 • 185 Posts

Great graphics does not a great game make, but great graphics can help make a great game even greater.

Wow, that was a tongue twister.

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herbie12282

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#25 herbie12282
Member since 2002 • 2861 Posts
i agree, great graphics doesn't mean the game is good. They definitely help but often times developers will spend a lot of time making the game look pretty enough for screenshots but ignoring game content and control issues.
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robbie4184

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#26 robbie4184
Member since 2004 • 25 Posts
im a big fan of pretty graphics but that doesnt mean its a good game. ex. assassins creed...beautiful gameplay repetative and the story sucked!
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lil_d_mack_314

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#27 lil_d_mack_314
Member since 2006 • 13969 Posts
no, not always
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skatatay

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#28 skatatay
Member since 2007 • 1617 Posts
No but people will appreciate a game more if it has better graphics.
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Rockingtime75

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#29 Rockingtime75
Member since 2006 • 805 Posts

Lair.

28 posts, and nobody has mentioned this?

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Sharvie

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#30 Sharvie
Member since 2006 • 8895 Posts
No, and i worry about the whole psychology that people only buy game if they look good. Graphics are important now, may be more than they once were but they're not the be-all-and-end-all of a game.
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Benjamin-T

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#31 Benjamin-T
Member since 2006 • 1029 Posts

Eternal Sonata had Cel Graphics, and is arguably the best RPG game on the 360

Spiderman 3 had a beautiful city, but its gameplay is arguably crappy (arguably cause I didn't think it was *that* bad)

Puzzle quest has to have the worst graphics for a 360 game, yet it is another good RPG/Puzzle game

KoF:CoD had beautiful graphics, but that's it.

See, games with crappy graphics can be great games.

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Rockingtime75

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#32 Rockingtime75
Member since 2006 • 805 Posts

Eternal Sonata had Cel Graphics, and is arguably the best RPG game on the 360

Benjamin-T

If you are insinuating that Eternal Sonata has bad/sub-par graphics, you need to get your eyes checked.

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APOLLOCJD

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#33 APOLLOCJD
Member since 2007 • 2311 Posts

I think your calculation is a little off, no excellend graphics does not = great game, but....

excellent graphics + good story + good game mechanics = excellent game

where as

excellent graphics + bad control scheme + lame game mechanics = bad game

So really it can go either way, but obviously excellent games to add value to a game.

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#34 Benjamin-T
Member since 2006 • 1029 Posts
[QUOTE="Benjamin-T"]

Eternal Sonata had Cel Graphics, and is arguably the best RPG game on the 360

Rockingtime75

If you are insinuating that Eternal Sonata has bad/sub-par graphics, you need to get your eyes checked.

Dude, Cel shaped graphics are not real graphics.

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Rockingtime75

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#35 Rockingtime75
Member since 2006 • 805 Posts
[QUOTE="Rockingtime75"][QUOTE="Benjamin-T"]

Eternal Sonata had Cel Graphics, and is arguably the best RPG game on the 360

Benjamin-T

If you are insinuating that Eternal Sonata has bad/sub-par graphics, you need to get your eyes checked.

Dude, Cel shaped graphics are not real graphics.

So basically, Cel-shaded graphics take no talent to make, have no merit, and aren't "real"...

Yeah...

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zaku101

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#36 zaku101
Member since 2005 • 4641 Posts

No.Look at Counter-Strike,that game has horrendous graphics,yet it's one of the most popularmulti-player games ever.AtomicBaconBits

Once source came out no one that could play source would want to go back to the old one. It's just to hard after the huge graphical changing and physics.

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Benjamin-T

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#37 Benjamin-T
Member since 2006 • 1029 Posts
[QUOTE="Benjamin-T"][QUOTE="Rockingtime75"][QUOTE="Benjamin-T"]

Eternal Sonata had Cel Graphics, and is arguably the best RPG game on the 360

Rockingtime75

If you are insinuating that Eternal Sonata has bad/sub-par graphics, you need to get your eyes checked.

Dude, Cel shaped graphics are not real graphics.

So basically, Cel-shaded graphics take no talent to make, have no merit, and aren't "real"...

Yeah...

Not saying that, but the better the graphics, the more real it looks to the outer world, at least that's my opinion. Cel shapes are easier to make btw.

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obsolete2k1

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#38 obsolete2k1
Member since 2007 • 990 Posts
graphix whores are lame and limit their enjoyment based on graphics. I never understood graphix whores, are they unable to play games from previous gens? Are they not able to go back and enjoy classics from the SNES, N64, etc? I enjoy gameplay over graphics, maybe because i've been gaming for so long and graphics have been more unrealistic than realistic longer.
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#39 KaotiK_un_basic
Member since 2002 • 2128 Posts

it is kind of like call of duty 4 nowdays. People are buying it for the graphics. Good graphic + bad gameplay = bad gameBansheezs

lol graphics and gameplay rock in that game IMO (+ many many others opinions) but i'm sure you know that, and are just trolling (or are a halo fanboy)

and actually, was playing with a friend, i don't understand how or why, but he thinks the graphics aren't too great in cod4 (loved the game though)

anyway, great graphics + great gameplay = great game. a game can't survive on graphics alone. if it sucks, you're not going to want to keep playing it. no matter how pretty it is.

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blacktorn

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#40 blacktorn
Member since 2004 • 8299 Posts

Couldn't be more wrong,graphics are just one element of a game,there are so many other things a game needs to get right to become an excellent game.

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rrreptile69

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#41 rrreptile69
Member since 2005 • 25 Posts
name a game with awesome graphics out now that is bad
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yentar480

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#42 yentar480
Member since 2007 • 5066 Posts
no....and you know this...maaaan
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deactivated-57af49c27f4e8

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#43 deactivated-57af49c27f4e8
Member since 2005 • 14149 Posts
the reason, i believe, that the best games have the best graphics is that it shows the developer cares about the final product and wants the whole thing to feel complete. graphics don't make a game, but they can help.
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robobie

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#44 robobie
Member since 2007 • 2172 Posts
excellent graphics equals one of the requirments for an excellent game...
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#45 nyc05
Member since 2005 • 10190 Posts

No, but amazing visuals can certainly add a lot to a game. Look at BioShock. The graphics create an amazing atmosphere to play in, and really help immerse you in Rapture.

I'll also use Resident Evil 4 as an example. To me, RE4 was a decent game, gameplay wise, but the graphics created a stunning atmosphere that really immersed me in the world, bringing everything together to create a great game.

Of course those graphics don't mean jack if the game sucks, but combine great graphics that create a great atmosphere with a great story and gameplay, and any game is much better off.

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JJpenguin

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#46 JJpenguin
Member since 2006 • 955 Posts

Great graphics go hand in hand with a great game, as they are on of the main components a player (and reviewer) look at from the onset of a game, bad graphics can destroy a game more than anything else (on occasion even gameplay)

So for a game to be GREAT it needs great graphics, as it is fighting for the top spot of crucial game factors, however people tend to appriciate gameplay at the expense of graphics more than vice versa

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SemiMaster

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#47 SemiMaster
Member since 2006 • 19011 Posts

My simple theory is this...

While NOT ALWAYS true, if someone puts the time in to make great visuals, a great set of gameplay will be involved and vice versa.

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congrats

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#48 congrats
Member since 2005 • 103 Posts
No real use responding to this message, but I will anyway. You should no for sure excellent graphics doesn't equal a great game, but poor graphicsis almost inexcusable with today's system and technology. JERKS!!!! they should only come out with quality Graphic games, especially for the price they sell them for.
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congrats

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#49 congrats
Member since 2005 • 103 Posts

No real use responding to this message, but I will anyway. You should no for sure excellent graphics doesn't equal a great game, but poor graphicsis almost inexcusable with today's system and technology. JERKS!!!! they should only come out with quality Graphic games, especially for the price they sell them for.congrats

I mean " you should (know) no for sure (that) excellent graphics doesn't equal a great game, but poor graphicsis (is) almost inexcusable

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canadiankidd91

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#50 canadiankidd91
Member since 2007 • 680 Posts
ya