The graphics may have not received much praise, but I actually like Exile and Geneforge graphics, and in any case I think they are an important part of the game. Avernum and Geneforge are two different worlds, that's why seeing the poor roamer-hellhound makes me sad.
Fortunately, many of the graphics come from Avernum and very few are very disturbing cross-breeds.
But anyway, the graphics aren't the whole game. I like the story development so far (which isn't very far), and the new spells are interesting.