Graphics don't matter.... but they do

I've always said that graphics don't matter because they aren't a major part of the game and how it plays. Though, lately I've noticed how much of an impact the graphics and aesthetic contribute to the overall gameplay experience.

My favorite game of all time, Jet Grind Radio, wouldn't be anything without it's graphics. It was the first game ever to use the style known as cell shading. It couldn't be a better fit. The team behind used the cell shading graphics to their fullest extent with the colorful environments and even more vibrant graffiti. The game just screams personality.



The graphics make this game what it is, and emphasize the personality of the game, and mark it as something of its own. Coupled with the amazing soundtrack of Jet Grind Radio, it has a feel that solely belongs to it.



Journey.

I really can't say more about how beautiful this game is. The entire game is about it's look and feel. The graphics make it truly stand out among the rest, and let you know it's a game developed by That Game Company. All of their games have a certain look and simplicity to them.

Though, it isn't all about "artsy" graphics. Some games have a distinct look to them.



All of Valve's games do use the same graphics engine, so it does make sense that they all would have a similar quality to them. Except when it comes to something like Team Fortress 2.



This was one of the first trailers released for Valve's game Team Fortress 2. Already you can tell from the music and the graphics that this is unlike any other massively multiplayer competitive game that you've ever played before. The writing of the trailer tells more of the personality of this character and how he thinks, or rather how he doesn't. This was a huge departure from the original Team Fortress as that game used the usual graphics engine from what was available at the time. It basically looked like Counter-Strike but with hardhats. Team Fortress 2, on the other hand, looks like a Pixar film gone horribly wrong.

Even though I seem to be showing favoritism to games with a cartoonish quality, I do appreciate the realistic.



The photo-realistic graphics of Battlefield 3 only serve to create a more realistic an visceral experience. The sound design and animation create a weight to everything that is going on around the player. Along with the introduction of the Frostbite 3 engine, the environment crumbles around you. Leaving the level a smoldering heap after a game is through.

Graphics are important. They don't make up the game entirely, but they are a crucial part of the feel of the game. Much like a clock, every component works together to create a mechanism.