BG1 is a completely linear series of dungeons with some random encounters spread around them. Yes you can explore an open map but there's basically one interesting character or fight on each screen, and they are each one and done.
This is 100% false. Once you leave Candlekeep the map is designed very similar in structure to Jagged Alliance. Here is the map:
That doesn't actually give you all of the map you can travel to since some of those locations have multiple grids per map. The maps in BG2 were much more linear. No idea where you're getting the "very open from the beginning" from since it is extremely linear during the first hour or two, and after that it strings you along very similar to how KoToR is designed. Also the map has far fewer places to visit, as you can see here: https://cdn.mobygames.com/covers/8096423-baldurs-gate-ii-shadows-of-amn-collectors-edition-windows-map.jpg
Not sure where you're getting your information from about both games, but I played through BG2 about two or three times, and BG1 like half a dozen times. Had both games on the original CD-Rom where they came on multiple discs.
EDIT: Just looked it up again because I thought I was misremembering how many discs both games came on, and yeah, BG2 and BG1 both had multiple discs, but BG1 had more discs because it had way more locations to visit and that's what filled up the discs, since BG2 streamlined its story and had more voice acting but fewer locations. I remember it used to take a long time for BG1 to install some of the location data because of how large they were when it came to file size.
BG1 is a completely linear series of dungeons with some random encounters spread around them. Yes you can explore an open map but there's basically one interesting character or fight on each screen, and they are each one and done.
This is 100% false. Once you leave Candlekeep the map is designed very similar in structure to Jagged Alliance. Here is the map:
That doesn't actually give you all of the map you can travel to since some of those locations have multiple grids per map. The maps in BG2 were much more linear. No idea where you're getting the "very open from the beginning" from since it is extremely linear during the first hour or two, and after that it strings you along very similar to how KoToR is designed. Also the map has far fewer places to visit, as you can see here: https://cdn.mobygames.com/covers/8096423-baldurs-gate-ii-shadows-of-amn-collectors-edition-windows-map.jpg
Not sure where you're getting your information from about both games, but I played through BG2 about two or three times, and BG1 like half a dozen times. Had both games on the original CD-Rom where they came on multiple discs.
EDIT: Just looked it up again because I thought I was misremembering how many discs both games came on, and yeah, BG2 and BG1 both came on five discs, but BG1 had way more locations to visit and that's what filled up the discs, since BG2 streamlined its story and had more voice acting but fewer locations. I remember it used to take a long time for BG1 to install some of the location data because of how large they were when it came to file size.
BG1 is a completely linear series of dungeons with some random encounters spread around them. Yes you can explore an open map but there's basically one interesting character or fight on each screen, and they are each one and done.
This is 100% false. Once you leave Candlekeep the map is designed very similar in structure to Jagged Alliance. Here is the map:
That doesn't actually give you all of the map you can travel to since some of those locations have multiple grids per map. The maps in BG2 were much more linear. No idea where you're getting the "very open from the beginning" from since it is extremely linear during the first hour or two, and after that it strings you along very similar to how KoToR is designed. Also the map has far fewer places to visit, as you can see here: https://cdn.mobygames.com/covers/8096423-baldurs-gate-ii-shadows-of-amn-collectors-edition-windows-map.jpg
Not sure where you're getting your information from about both games, but I played through BG2 about two or three times, and BG1 like half a dozen times. Had both games on the original CD-Rom where they came on multiple discs.
BG2 was on more discs because it had a lot more talking than BG1, but BG1 gave you a lot more freedom to explore.