[alfaitha]

Of course gameplay is what matters. Something that 989 Sports (TM) did not think about when they made NFL Gameday 1999 (I think, or maybe 1998). In this game, they did a great job of putting together the most important element of football... That's right, the referees, whom looked and animated spectactularly, but the focus on improving the actual gameplay was not so much, and it was basically just a reproduction of last year's NFL Gameday, but with prettier referees. The result: Another frustrating year of being outsold by Madden NFL, which had sucky referees.
However, they usually go hand in hand. Chrono Trigger, FFVIII through FFXwhatever were some good games which had some hot graphics that were the best of their time. However, generally, with upgraded systems that boast slicker graphics, comes along improved gameplay capability, so you have to consider that. Sometimes, it's weird and depends on personal preference. I'm lpaying FFVII, and FFT like, everyday, but I can't stand Grand Theft Auto, because it's graphics piss me off. instead, I play Driv3r (Driver 3), a game with better graphics but less starling gameplay. At the same time, I love Jet Grind Radio on Dreamcast, but when they released it's sequel, Jet Set radio Future on Xbox, they took away some of the gameplay elements that made the first one attractive for me, and so I can't stand to play it cus it's not the same... But it's graphics are beautiful.