Like the title says, when you are on your way buying a new game you've obviosly looked around the internet to find some information, gameplay,critics etc.
What is it in these rewievs that makes you hooked ?
And what is the most important factor in a game to make you really enjoy it and think "damn, this was awesome".
I ALWAYS look up all the games on gamespot before i even think about buying it.
Read the rewievs and thats a simple way for me to get a slight preview of what's good in the game and what's less good.
The most important factor for me is:

I play mostly rpg's so these factors is .. important for an rpg game in my oppinion.

1. Simple controls - Yes, i cant spend a whole day learning the controls, and even when i've learned it, it still doesnt feel good, to get hooked on a game, you should enjoy the controls
2. Characters - okey, what is a good rpg without good characters? i think this is one of the most important factor, because if you aint intressted in knowing the characters in a rpg you wont follow the story properly.
3. Voice acting - Oh please, no more... i cant stand it when i can hear the actors blowing in the mic ... mufflers , please . i cant stand it when i can hear then they are concentrating reading on a note or whatever, one of these badly voice acting game is STAR OCEAN - the last hope.
4. story - Like said, characters and story makes the whole game, without a good story, it just becomes a booring "run through get it done" game.

There might be some of you that think i've forgotten some, there may be true.
But i dont care about the graphics at all, and i dont care about how bloody the battles should be, i wrote the most important factors in my oppinion, ur welcome to leave your list here alswell, and why you think its important.