Two Minds: Are Better Graphics Damaging Gameplay?

Path of the Gamer have a new fortnightly feature named Two Minds in which two writers offer their opinion on a different question every second week. This week's question is 'are better graphics damaging gameplay?'

[PhoenixUp]

Graphics do not damage gameplay, question solved.

[freshslicepizza]

they do if it becomes the main focus. take a game like the order 1886, we all know it looks beautiful but at the expense of limited gameplay and being way too linear in order to produce such high graphics on the hardware. the budget needed for those graphics also probably explains why the game is short too

[_-EDMIX-_]

Except the artist creating your games are not the ones that are creating anything in regards to gameplay

They are two different jobs that have nothing to do with each other

[freshslicepizza]

@_-EDMIX-_
"Except the artist creating your games are not the ones that are creating anything in regards to gameplay"

they collaborate together.

"They are two different jobs that have nothing to do with each other"

lol, you have no idea what you are talking about. the hardware has limitations, of course they have to do with one another.

[miyamoto]

If better graphics are bad then we should still be stuck to dot matrix or 8-bit graphics.

[Big_Game_Hunters]

Either you have it or you dont right,? Graphics evolution is good, but Focusing on it so much to the point where it affects gameplay evolution isnt.

[Big_Game_Hunters]

Thats only true in a vacuum.

[sk8ofmnd]

No weaker systems hinder game advancement. Im looking at you nintendo switch, wiiu, wii! 😼

[Ristul]

PC will keep pushing game advancement, together with Sony and Microsoft (even if some people would consider even the new Pro and Scorpio underpowered). I think we can afford one console manufacturer (Nintendo) not pushing graphics like the others are trying to do. It's not like Nintendo games look "bad" anyways, it's all about artistic style over raw power when it comes to Nintendo games. Just look at Breath of the Wild, sure it's not as impressive as Witcher 3, but it has a great artistic style and look good in it's own right.

[Big_Game_Hunters]

PS4,Xone,Pro,Scorpio,95% of PCs that don't have the latest hardware top of the line. Stop hindering advancement.

[EddieNX]

Not true at all considering some of the fantastic games on Wii,Wiiu and next Switch. If anything the PS4 and Xbox one are holding the PC back, Nintendo isn't in the power race.

[Trekster_Gamer]

Here is a thought, how about both!

[sk8ofmnd]

Ristul:

Im not disagreeing with that the switch games wont look great for a HANDHELD. In fact, they will probably look amazing. I dont need amazing graphics either and i have always enjoyed the gameplay and artistic brilliance when it came to ninty 1st parties.

The problem i have is the failed promises nintendo makes for what the wii, wiiu, and now what the ns can do. The ninty fans eat this shit up everytime and say "thank you can i please have another, wow this is amazing, sooooo imaginative."

When in fact any level headed individual knows knows you fooled me once twice and now a third time with your bs lies. Gtfo.

My last fav ninty console was the gamecube because it needed not any gimicks or was it trying to be something it wasnt. It played games and brilliantly so with a traditionalish controller... The days are long gone and after 3 gens this is the shit they are regurgitating.

They even tricked me a 3rd time thinking man this time nintendo has learned from their mistakes and are really going to make something special this time... Only to be dissapointed... Once again.

[Ristul]

Look, I'm not gonna lie, I would rather have a box from Nintendo that plays regular games with a regular controller and with some fantastic graphics. I just don't see it happening, and I have finally released my mindlock that Nintendo will make another Gamecube like console. That would only set me up for dissapointment.

So I will never just own a Nintendo console, I will always be dependent on Sony (or Microsoft) to deliver that premium experience. However, I loved Nintendo in the past and I think it would be foolish of me to let graphics come in the way of their entertaining games. Thats how I feel. I have ignored Nintendo during the last two generations, and I would not have that changed in retrospect. Wii and WiiU did not appeal to me. Nintendo Switch on the other hand got rid of the double screen, it has a Pro controller out the gate that will be supported and it will finally get Nintendo's full focus as it combines both their handheld and stationary line. I want to play Nintendo games again, subpar graphics will not stop me.

[uth11]

No, but the obsession with better graphics/resolution above all else consumes tons of resources that could be used for better gameplay

[ApocalypseShadow]

Right on the money. Some developers are obsessed. And there are a lot of gamers who seem to be obsessed with graphics over gameplay.

[medman]

By definition, if something is "better", you can't somehow claim it's making things worse. Otherwise, it's not really "better". The funny thing is, no one really questions "better" graphics on pc, even though if you run higher graphical settings on pc, you also sacrifice framerate. There is always a trade off.

I suppose in a perfect world console only gamers would have the choice to use their own preferred settings, and choose for themselves if they prefer graphics or speed, but that is the only real complaint with legitimacy here. Also, "better" cannot be applied across the board, as not everyone prefers one or the other....if you were to take a vote in a room full of gamers, you would no doubt get a split between those who would prefer the prettier graphics vs. those who would want the smoother gameplay. So what is better in this case is not something you're going to get widespread agreement on.

[Interloper]

I'd rather see processing power put into innovative game play than how pretty textures look. It's like a turd... sure, you can cast it in gold and it'll look beautiful, but it's still a turd...

[Tzuno]

What damages game-play is bullshit side quests just for the sake of making the game appear longer instead of doing a solid long single player content, mafia 3 is a good example of bullshit side missions over and over the same just to kill the bosses, pathetic.