>>3869018
>the map is deceptive since it's not as open as it looks, with very hard paths that funnel you
What kind of total nonsense comment is this?
It's almost exactly as open as it looks, especially in comparison to BG2. There are far fewer "very hard paths that funnel you" when compared to BG2, which is almost entirely "very hard paths that funnel you."

BG2 is a huge game and in terms of raw content to discover there's probably more (though I haven't added it all up). And there's substantial freedom to explore in BG2.

But it's undeniable that the exploration in BG2 is far less free-form. There is have much clearer and more constrained hierarchy. You have the 7+1 main city zones serving as quest hubs, and from each of those embark on quests that involve a mostly-linear adventure to a specific destination. There are some random isolated events to discover within the large city of Athkatla, there's no point in BG2 where you're just navigating an unknown wilderness not knowing what you might encounter next.