Feel like arguing? Come in

[RCBH928]

Story is the most important aspect of any game!
Right?

I believe that is true 100%. A lot of people would say , no graphics is, but to me it is the story. The story contains the characters and objectives. Just think about it.

What makes a game like Monkey Island still popular today? Is it the graphics? Well you can compare it with a game like haze maybe, but which is more popular? Is it gameplay? Compare it with other point and click, they play about the same right? Then what is amazing about MI?

Let us assume, SF4 , has the same gameplay and same graphics. Would it sell as much if it had different characters and called say World Warriors? Just think why people are STILL buying sonic games?

However you look at it, story always wins. It is the only that that ages well in a game, it is the only thing that makes you want to go back and play the game. Plus it is the only unique aspect in a game. FPS is all the same, point and click, strategy. Graphics quality is the same(M64, Banjo kazooie. Killzone , Resistance) . Around the only unique thing in a game is the story.
I know some of you will say stories can be similar, like humans fighting aliens, BUT it is also about what character is fighting the aliens? What type of aliens are they? Where the setting(levels) are taking place?

Of course, it is not the only element to make a good game but it is the MOST important element. Plus this element is the same in other media types, books and movies.

[Curlypaul]

How about games like Tetris or bubble bobble etc? or old school action games like Radiant Silvergun where the story is wafer thin but the gameplay paramount?

[Hatta]

Radiant Silvergun was going to be my example too. I don't have a clue who those people are, what they're doing, or what they're saying. But god damn that's an awesome game.

[Droid party]

Ok, for me story is important. But different games don't need a story to compel you too play just as Curlypaul said. Hell if you ask me why I spend so much time playing Galaga legions (or sor for that matter) I don't really know what answer I'd give. I know it wouldn't be the story, I don't think there is one. However the thing that keeps me coming back to the first mgs or Medieval is the story.

[marurun]

I think gameplay is the most important factor. Games which have easy, solid, good gameplay are the ones people come back to. That's why classic arcade games still have longevity. It's also why so many PC games simply disappear as soon as something better comes along.

[superlarz]

Actually I think story would rank behind graphics. All I care about is having a fun game. So I believe gameplay is the most important by far

[ToKeN]

yeah graphics are good but it's the gameplay where it's at! now a day's developers focus alot on graphics. it seems like the games now are beautiful to look at but when you play them they seem short. not like back in the day where games were long and you could play and you seem to discover something new but now you play the game and all of a sudden it's done!

gameplay and long story and don't care about the graphics that's what i want.

[MrPopo]

For me gameplay is paramont. However, a good story will help forgive some bad gameplay decisions. I'll hold up Odin Sphere as the greatest example of this. The gameplay is ridiculously frustrating at times, and in a way that feels unfair. However, I really like the story and art direction, so I am willing to forgive the gameplay flaws.

[marurun]

I would argue, however, that great gameplay covers for a bad story much more easily than a great story covers for bad gameplay.

[t0yrobo]

I like games to have good stories. But 90%+ of games have absolute shit stories, so they obviously can't be that important.