oxstone, chill. Most of the problems ppl have with HL2 are a result of not knowing how Steam works. After you install HL2 and make an account, it'll decrypt your files and update HL2/CSS (whichever you choose). Keep the moniter open at all times and check its status. DO NOT try and run a game...
Make sure the gcfs are completely downloaded. Will extracting if you get the file has no data error, the gcf isn't complete. Going by the gcf filesize wont hope coz sometimes even if its incomplete it will show the complete gcf filesize. So just keep checking in the moniter while downloading...
Hl2 does NOT have bad outdated graphics. What makes us feel a game has good graphics? 1. Texture quality 2. Character/environment models 3. Lighting.
HL2 has great texture quality. The engine, like it's contemporaries, is capable of having very high resolution textures.
The character...
I hope the flash-light behaves like the one in Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow MP. It's got a kickass flash-light :D. Casts dynamic shadows, changes shape and size according to surface inclination etc.