The graphics of HL2 are the best ever seen in a game, and graphics do matter, to a certain extent. The Gameplay is also very important, more important than graphics. But admit Parrot that it would be dissappointing if HL2 had the same graphics as HL1....
I was reading a PCG about it (HL2) and names came up like: Black Mesa, Gordon Freeman etc... I was like: I need to play the original in order to be worthy to play the sequel! A few days later I bought HL:Generation with CS, HL and all expansion packs. After that, It was only HL2. :D
P.S. And...