Gameplay.

I used to hate games that tried to make people look like... people. So incredibly ugly that I wondered why they even bothered. Up to this day with games like Uncharted and Heavy Rain I still need a few hours to get used to the awkward faces, expressions, lipsync, bodies and whatnot. They try try and try and they fail fail and fail.

It's a GAME, a make believe world, please stop trying so hard to make 'real-life' graphics and concern yourself some more about the game itself.

For some people I guess it is but just buying for the "anime style" is kinda pointless! I buy them for the gameplay, I could care less about the anime style xD. I don't watch that much anime also.

The topic of the thread is to bring questions out in people for discussion so I'm actually very glad you brought up this point :)

In my opinion artstyles is a selling a point. Of course gameplay needs to do well for the longevity of the franchise or title.  We have a simplistic way of viewing graphics right now.  I've seen a lot of heavy debates comparing best graphics like The Last of Us vs let's say Uncharted.  If we determine raw processing power one or the other will win in a power stand point.  But it doenst mean it is more pleasing to the eyes as the consumer is the only one who can judge that.  This is why we have so many opinions on this topic.

Some people like Anime and are drawn to that artstyle.  So to them JRPG games may have the "best" graphics to them because that is their favorite artstyle.  They still however look for good gameplay but none the less anime is a selling point to them.  If it wasnt then they would be fine with american soldiers as the main characters instead.  Others like realistic games like battlefield or The Last of Us.  Others like cartoony games like mario, or stylized games like Halo.  

The list goes on but my point is they are selling points but all the great games share a common factor which is good gameplay in my opinion.  It is hard to judge which is the most successful formula(my main question) which is why my opinion is we like what we like.  But Im glad to see people giving their opinions on the matter :)

Gameplay is most important. You can have awesome graphics but shitty gameplay would ruin the game no matter how good it looks. So the focus first should be on gameplay and then making graphics that complement the gameplay. If gameplay > graphics then why would so many people still play 8, 16, 32, 64 bit games still? Why would people play games like Civilization where graphics are almost an afterthought? I'll take superior gameplay over beautiful graphics loaded with QTE any day.

I agree that artsyle can be a factor for buying a game but if you buy a game solely on that you could be in a problem! For example when you buy a game like Ico. The game is beautiful and has a strong art direction but some people hate the game for it's gameplay elements.

Also yeah, the definition of "good graphics" is subjective to the person who plays the game I also agree with that. 

About the point that JRPG could sell fine if it had a soldier as the main protagonist... There is already a game like that . Shin megami tensei Strange journey features an american soldier, all the "main characters" are soldiers and they have generic clothing. And it was well recieved by the fans of the franchise . The artsyle could be said is Anime like but they are generic soldiers nonetheless.

it's really simple: you can pour sugar on a piece of crap but that won't turn it into chocolate.

in the metafor above, the sugar are the graphics and the piece of shit is the game.

a game must be good at it's core thanks to game design. graphics are just the sugar on top, pleasant to the eye/mouth but uneccessary so it shouldn't be the focus.

I couldn't agree more. when did the industry forgot gaems are about things you can't do in real life?

I would like a game to look graphically good and play well, but if it is a crappy game, no amount of graphical fidelity will change it.

I had a little bit typed out how the game can be slightly worse and I'll prefer it if the graphics are better, but then I tried to think about an example. I literally looked at every game in my collection and then came back and am now editing this post.

If the game is better graphics don't matter. I'd rather play the better game. However if it's the exact same gameplay, the difference is negligible, or it's remade to be even better than the original, then I'll play both but I prefer the better game.

My favorite games are Brigandine and Brigandine Grand Edition. Check them out on Youtube. The two best TRPGs that most people haven't played. Atlus published them in the US if that helps :P.  PS1 games with dated graphics.  The graphics aren't ugly, but they're simple.  Amazing gameplay makes the game, the music is really good too.

"good" graphics were achieved in the 6th gen. graphics are currently at the "amazing" level and I can't believe how many people bitch about some minor extra details.

Gameplay is more important, but good graphics are nice. Few games get both right. The Last of Us managed to do it.