Videogame graphics, Do they color your decisions? Options

[unitself]

Do you choose to buy or not buy a certain game because of the graphics?
For example, did the anime look of Tales of Symphonia turn you off, even though you love turn based rpgs or did you buy it simply because it looked a certain way even if rpgs aren't really your thing? Alot of people say that games today are all visual flash and lack the core gameplay that games did years ago. Do you feel the same way? Does Pong have it all over FFXI?

Me?
Yes, graphics make a difference as well as character design.
I cannot stand Disney characters and so I will not be playing any Kindom Hearts games even though I know they are good games (or so I have heard). I have also heard really good things about Beyond Good and Evil, but I just can't get past the goofy look (not to mention the pig bugs me). On the other side, I did buy Tales of Symphonia because I really liked the look. Also, if a game has some sort of robot as the main character, I will automatically be interested in it, regardless of actual game play. Who was my first PSO character type? A HUcast, of course.

Anyway, what are your feelings about graphics and character design?