Yeah, but it also ended up being pretty sparse pickings on most of the maps, with the events feeling pretty scripted. And it's not completely open world, with Cloakwood, Baldur's Gate, and Candlekeep being locked until their respective chapters.
BG2 was more "story areas," so they needed to be locked until you got the quest that went with them. I mean, simply coming upon the De'Arnise hold and raiding it because red ovals were there would be empty compared to knowing what it means to Nalia. It's what gives you both good and evil adventuring options rather than making you a simple wandering grave robber.
And I'd say you took your virtual life into your own hands more in BG2. BG1 is special because you start off so weak that a wolf is a major threat and a bear is an epic boss fight, but once you get a party of 6 decked out with bows it's pretty much over. I've lost count of the number of mages whose only spell was, "Quickened polymorph into robe on the floor." BG2, OTOH, has dangerous encounters sprinkled throughout, starting right at the inn on the Promenade. I even wiped twice to the Beastmaster before remembering how positioning can turn an impossible swarm into a cakewalk.
Opening a sarcophagus to find a lich tends to be pretty consequential.
That's interesting, because I had almost the exact opposite reaction.
I know how to shape a game now, but when I first played BG I think I ran into many major encounters too soon. I remember feeling a little cocky and going East because I felt like it (dammit), running into the Red Wizards, telling them off, and............... poof, there went my party in about 8 seconds.
I also ran into the Basilisks
way before I knew how powerful they were, got stoned, and thanked the Gods for autosave.
The Cloakwood wizard encounter? I was completely unprepared, and stuck on that for weeks, alternately giving up and cursing, and then going back for more. After all - it's impractical to trek back to the arm once you;re so deep in the forest. There were so many event that taught me about how to play the game.
Every time I've finished BG to the bitter end (3 total, iirc) it took everything I had to beat Sarevok. Every potion, every spell, every last HP....
Seeing the final screen after a hellacious battle has always been one of the most rewarding gaming achievements for me.
BG 2 is obviously a great game, but I never experienced those types of emotions playing it. I built my party, went where I was told to go, enjoyed the scenery, and by the time I was half way through I could have put it on autopilot. I beat every encounter easily, and the final fight was very disappointing.