=p The catch is that games were they put a lot of effort into graphics they mostly also try to put a lot of effort in the rest of the game.

Battlefield 3 is a nice example;..Looks a lot better on PC and the rest of the game (amount players/size maps) also got improved.

Gameplay and fun factor over graphics.

Good technical graphics are a big bonus. I rather have a game that looks clean with higher resolution then a game with too much detail and full of effects that runs poorly in sub 720p with reflections and shadows running at lower frame rates or resolution then the rest. Just leave it out then, it's only distracting.
Playing the gow hd collection beats Max Payne 3 graphically for me.

Wii graphics are fine but I would have really liked it if it ran at least in 720p. The big pixels take some getting used too every time.

I really hope we'll get a lot more 1080p games next gen. Native resolution on an LCD screen looks so much better.

Its importance really depends on the game. But unless the entire experience is based around it, it's nothing but a bonus.

I don't think I have seen a single game on the 360 that I would consider a bad looking game. Games like Quake 3/ Enemy Territories didn't have excellent graphics, but they were there and they did their job good enough for you to not bother. The same can be said about games like Kameo and Halo Wars.

I did bother with Metroid Prime 3 though. One of the greatest parts of the first two Metroid Primes was their amazing visuals, and the great atmosphere that they brought to the experience. That feeling was completely gone with the third title, and the poor visuals and resolution just made me sick.

6 out of ten
i need graphics to be functional and serve the purpose of the game
if the purpose of the game is to show impressive graphics then....well, theres something wrong with that game

6 out of ten
i need graphics to be functional and serve the purpose of the game
if the purpose of the game is to show impressive graphics then....well, theres something wrong with that game

Then buy a PC and game on it an not console and stfu.

Naturally, it's not the most important part of a game, and nobody will ever try to claim that it is.

However, it undoubtedly adds to the experience. It's easier to see things. The little things impress you more. You become more immersed in the world. It's nice to look at, and gaming is a visual experience. Visual design is more important, but good graphics with good visual design is better than bad graphics with good visual design.

I do feel that, now that I am used to slick HD graphics, going back several generations, to the PS1, is a painful experience. Some games can shine through their hideous technical graphics (like Crash); others, like Syphon Filter, fall flat because they are just so hideous (and unpolished and poorly designed, but the graphics contribute). However, go back one gen further to the SNES, and it's all fine again, because it's not trying to look like real life.

If you're going for a 3D, realistic look, you do need to spend a lot on making your game look good. If you make something cel-shaded, or intentionally pixelated, it can look great with far less emphasis on graphical technology.