You guys say "nowadays". Graphics ALWAYS were a big deal in gaming.
Even way back in the 2nd generation, Intellivision was already using graphics as their selling point. The NES sold millions based on the fact that it's graphics blew the hell out of the 2nd generation consoles. The 16-bit wars was all about graphics (blast processing, Mode 7, FX chip, etc.). Sony tried to make game publishers make ONLY 3D games for a while on the PS1.
And more importantly, the majority of gamers bought into it all. It's not a new issue, it's an always has been around issue.
Yeah, it was about graphics then just like it is now. A pretty game with awesome gameplay is still awesome. I'm not all "8-bit or nothing". I like fun games from any generation. I'm just saying Super Mario World is a 1000x better game than the latest Call of Duty.