What does a good game need?

[Unforgiven]

Honestly, what makes up a good video game? Is it the graphics?
Or is it the storyline? Or is it the characters personality and
development? Or how smoothly the game goes on? Possibly the
re-play ability of a game?

What's your ideas on this? Post them up then expain why.

 

[k@daj]

A good game needs good gameplay. If it doesn't have that all is lost. It doesn't matter how the eyecandy looks, if it plays like crap it's still crap. Take grand theft auto for example, the graphics are not the best in the world but the gameplay and the story make you forget about it. There is rarely a game that manages all three. RE 4 and most FF games have done it, but it seems that all people care about now are the graphics.

 

[ChaosVincent45]

I would agree that gameplay is the most important. How the game comes together and the overall impact on the player is a major factor in determining a good game. How the game feels, and the atmosphere created by the game also make a difference. It needs to be able to draw you in from the very beginning and hold you there until the very end.

In my opinion graphics take a back seat to everything, while they're the least important factor in determining how good a game is, they can help and should be at a reasonable quality but are not needed. It can look as pretty as you want but if it's not fun, then it's nothing.

 

[Sasuke-kun]

i think that need great grophics and a good story

 

[Tomara]

Gameplay. Even if the story is great, if the gameplay is frustrating chances are I won't finish the game. On the other hand, I've played several Fire Emblems in Japanese, because they were such great fun. I don't even understand half of FE4's story, but I played through it four times.

I appreciate it when developers put thought and originality into the graphics, but I can live without all the fancy stuff. The most important thing is that the graphics are functional. Look at the Fire Emblem games, not the prettiest games around, but the graphics and interface make the game very player-friendly.

Story? It's nice if it's there, RPGs do need to give the player some kind of motivation, but some of the greatest games had no story at all. Tetris anyone?

 

[Rydia]

Gameplay above all. If the gameplay is not good then why bother?

If it is an RPG it needs a good story and interesting characters.

Graphics come in last. If graphics are what makes a good game then FFIV, FFVI, and Chrono Trigger would not be good games and X-2 would be brilliant.

 

[Howl]

Graphics has absolutely nothing to do with the quality of a game.

The most important thing is the gameplay.
I would say that the storyline is most important, but honestly, if I can't appreciate the battle system and menu navigation, then I won't be arsed to keep playing.

Take Valkyrie profile for example. Great, great game...I've heard nothing but good things about it...but I hated the battle system so much, I couldn't bring myself to sit down with it for more than 10 minutes at a time.

The second most important feature is the storyline and character development. FFVII has the best character development I've ever seen in a videogame to date. Each and every character has their very own in depth history and they all have their own ambitions.

Third most important feature is the skill system/rare items/ item modifications/ sidequests, etc...
Star Ocean 2 had the most enjoyable skill system I've ever seen in a game. And Final Fantasy wins first place for rare/novelty items and sidequests.

 

[Tomara]

I wouldn't say graphics are of no importance. Graphics need to be functional, but they're also part of the identity of a game. The graphics are was makes Okami Okami, if it had looked any different, it wouldn't have been the same. Okage: Shadow King wouldn't be the same without it's silly artstyle either. And how about Locoroco? Parappa the rapper?

Polycount is not make makes a game beautiful or unique, it's all about style.

 

[*Omni-Slasher*]

A good game needs a storyline that can really draw the player in or at least get them hooked to where they "have" to see the finish. Some people may say a good game needs graphics, but I for one could go with just playstation one graphics such as FFVII. A good game also needs replay value, which some games are hard to come by with that nowadays. A replay value such as the story changes with choices, hidden stuff you missed previously, etc. A good game needs memorable characters. Such as characters you'd remember through a life time and they'd stand out from the rest. Last but not least, a good game needs good music with it.