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.

It needs funzies.

The forum.
The Background.
The company.
The weapons.
Graphics.
And the Community.

FUN !
most important thing i think..

Umm for me is Weapons,People,FUN.

graphics and story are the things i like in games

Fun is not a real asset in a game, it is something it acheives though.

I would say, good graphic (No eye sores), good story line, good characters, good multiplayer, and a good forum makes it that much better.

Maps, I go crazy if it isn't open world or isn't very dynamic.

Gameplay, Quests and customization etc. If you cant add little things that you like, it would be the same for everyone. Which is boring.

Mechanics and gameplay.

I say if it has solid gameplay and decent levels fuck a story. Graphics on the other hand, I prefer clean graphics. Crisp cell shaded or pixel-art.

To me everything is gameplay and story.

Just like.... Pheonix Wright, easy to understand gameplay elements, great story.
(Pheonix Wright is just an exampel)

So... Story and Gameplay > the rest.