What Makes or Breaks a Video Game (Part 2)

On part one of What Makes or Breaks a Video Game, I explained the three core factors of what makes a good video game; gameplay, graphics, and story. So why must these three concepts go together to make a decent game?

Well firstly, it must be understood that games often concentrate especially more on only one or two of these concepts. Sometimes, a game might have a great story and gameplay mechanics, but the graphics aren't very spectacular. Or even a video game with great graphics and story, but the gameplay isn't very important.

I'll pull up some examples. If you've ever played an anime text-based game, the game likely concentrates on how well everything is drawn as well as the plot and conflict. The gameplay, which would be selecting what your character says or does, is not particularly spectacular.

Or how about Pong! It's revolutionary and exciting gameplay drives the game, not its graphics and (unseen) story.

Every game has their own properties. Just because some of these factors are more spectacular than others, it doesn't mean that this game is bad. But then again, if it tries to build on a factor and instead really tears down the game instead, then yes, this is likely a bad game

Many flash games have great gameplay. Sometimes even great graphics. But when developers try to build on a story when they really don't need to, the quality of this game really just plummets.

So just keep these things in mind when you're judging a video game. It can really open up your perspective on how a good a game actually is.