Most Important Aspects of a Game?

[Mr.White555]

This is kind of a hard list to make, but without a doubt everyone should have gameplay and controls in their top two.

One point that is missing is music. Music is a HUGE part of liking a game for me. Music can make an average game a good game. Well at least in my opinion.

[RyaNtheSlayA]

Fun.

Controls, gameplay, sound design, and graphics in that order.

[Hobie-wan]

Indeed, Fun rules.

Earth Defense Force 2017 is better than the sum of its parts. Taking things individually:

Meh graphics.
Cheesy voice acting.
Repetitive environments and enemies.
Gameplay that doesn't change a whole lot between levels.

But somehow it is a lot of fun.

[sevin0seven]

yup, gameplay and control is what makes a game awesome. one example for me is pac-man, still fun to this day.

[GSZX1337]

I get so tired of this shit. Everything in a game is important. (Except for unlockables. Fuck unlockables, I want the content I paid for now.) If a game excels in one aspect and fails in another, the game will suck.

[wakeup]

Unlockable and length aren't that important to me. I usually never go into unlockables and like short games.

[Pingfa]

1.Controls(the game is done right then and there if it controls bad)
2.Gameplay(the only thing that really sets games apart from other entertainment)
3.Story
4.I would put music and sound here, but didn't see an option for it. So I'll say graphics
5.Originality/Innovation(much as I like originality, a game needs to get the above stuff right first)
6.Difficulty(Being too simplistic can make a game boring, too hard, frustrating)
7.Variety
8.Replay value(Not a must for a game to be great, but appreciated)
9.Unlockables(See above. I hate stupid unlockables though, like outfits and other such nonsense)
10. Hot chicks!!!(helps if they are smart too and different from the norm, like Jade from Beyond Good and Evil)

The other categories I don't really care about.

I mostly agree with this, but I'd switch a few things around.

If the controls suck, even if everything else is of high standard it will often feel like a mediocre game.
Gameplay features are what keep you coming back for more.
I'd probably put music before story. I think music is vital to tell a story - if there's no music or lacklustre music then a story is much less likely to have a strong impact. Not to mention the music dramatically increases the fun factor.
Then I'd put variety before difficulty, as if a game gets the above things right then the variety the game offers keeps you playing despite the difficulty. On the other hand, if the difficulty feels just right yet the game lacks variety... it'll get old a lot faster.
Graphics are secondary for me but it is important that the game isn't offensive to look at.

Secondary aspects:

Multiplayer/co-op
Hidden features / unlockables
Originality/innovation - not necessary for a great game
Alternate outcomes and paths
Length
Sound effects and voice acting

[slowslow325]

I was originally thinking that music and graphics would be combined, but now that I think about it music is probably 10 times more important than graphics. It sets the mood and makes it fun.

[Dakinggamer87]

yup, gameplay and control is what makes a game awesome. one example for me is pac-man, still fun to this day.

Exactly!!

[Gamerforlife]

1.Controls(the game is done right then and there if it controls bad)
2.Gameplay(the only thing that really sets games apart from other entertainment)
3.Story
4.I would put music and sound here, but didn't see an option for it. So I'll say graphics
5.Originality/Innovation(much as I like originality, a game needs to get the above stuff right first)
6.Difficulty(Being too simplistic can make a game boring, too hard, frustrating)
7.Variety
8.Replay value(Not a must for a game to be great, but appreciated)
9.Unlockables(See above. I hate stupid unlockables though, like outfits and other such nonsense)
10. Hot chicks!!!(helps if they are smart too and different from the norm, like Jade from Beyond Good and Evil)

The other categories I don't really care about.

I mostly agree with this, but I'd switch a few things around.

If the controls suck, even if everything else is of high standard it will often feel like a mediocre game.
Gameplay features are what keep you coming back for more.
I'd probably put music before story. I think music is vital to tell a story - if there's no music or lacklustre music then a story is much less likely to have a strong impact. Not to mention the music dramatically increases the fun factor.
Then I'd put variety before difficulty, as if a game gets the above things right then the variety the game offers keeps you playing despite the difficulty. On the other hand, if the difficulty feels just right yet the game lacks variety... it'll get old a lot faster.
Graphics are secondary for me but it is important that the game isn't offensive to look at.

Secondary aspects:

Multiplayer/co-op
Hidden features / unlockables
Originality/innovation - not necessary for a great game
Alternate outcomes and paths
Length
Sound effects and voice acting

I would agree that difficulty and variety can be put in different spots depending on the individual viewpoint of a player. However, I don't think music is necesssary to a good story. Otherwise, we wouldn't have books