Console games are definitely held to a higher standard. For example, pushing out great graphics is a pretty top priority on consoles, but I've played so many handheld games where the graphics were brought up to pretty much the minimum acceptable level. Making the most out of the hardware is just not as important on handhelds. (At least that's the case with Nintendo handhelds, which I guess are the only ones I have experience with.) And that's not to say that graphics are more important than fun factor, but it just means the developers don't always put in the extra effort when they don't feel they have to.
I mean, the 3DS is capable of Gamecube graphics, but there are so many games that look barely better than N64 games. And the DS could do better than N64, but most of them looked like SNES games. It's just kind of the way things go.
Currently playing:
Bloodbath Paddy Wagon Ultra 9
