A game has more aspects than just gameplay and graphics like atmosphere, story and level design. It could be amazing due to any of those reasons too. Like The Order: 1886 has amazing atmosphere.

Like for example Myst? Gameplay is definitely not the most important thing in Myst.

Having good gameplay is not the same as having deep gameplay.

It has to fit though, and at least engage the player properly.

Sony has always been trying to make the next best immersive quality game and setting Ready at Dawn to the task proved the thought of it being innovative is not the case. Trust me, if Ready at Dawn and Sony Santamonicas game sells well despite the critical reception, we'll see a more gameplay heavy game than the last. There is only so much arguing that you can do when you work in a commercial enterprise. 

Take Killzone for instance. People complained that the games weapon weight was too heavy and wouldn't work great for multiplayer. Ever since the end of two they've been learning from COD's twitch shooting. Even though people have been raving about the multiplayer, they blame Guerrilla for listening to the critics of KZ2 in the first place, because they miss the unique quality KZ brought to gaming. 

its a double edged sword. It damns you  either way. 

Pointing and clicking is pretty damn important in a point 'n' click adventure.

100% agree with you.

Agreed, it all goes back to my original point : gameplay is very important even when the gameplay itself is pretty simple. If Myst had a horribly imprecise cursor and if clicks wouldn't register half the time, I'm sure it would have been trashed and forgotten. Sure the gameplay for point and click games is easier to pull off but it still has to be done correctly or else your game will suck.

Of course it is! A game with amazing graphics and a deep story should also have a good gameplay, otherwise it's just a mediocre piece of movie-videogame hybrid.

A significant population of the gamer demographic looks at the current formula of rehashes, remakes, and stale gameplay and swear that gaming sucks right now, or that a collapse is on the way.....
because the new things- mobile, story-centric games, and indies aren't "real games".

I think you guys and many others are missing the point though. Gameplay even in games where it's not the most important aspect still needs to work obviously. 

Reminds me of the game gold rush. While I remember that my family enjoyed the game it was hard because of several things. The biggest one being that many of the actions you wanted your character to take if not all, I don't remember if movement was separate you had to type in. Now there is a gameplay mechanic that thankfully died. Though at the time it was what was available and was tolerable, I suppose like the tank controls of the ps1 generation might have worked when there was nothing better but now are unplayable to me.