But you are right about environmental effects. Combat feels like Larian. Meaning it's fun but it's not D&D. Environment is just Larian's thing. Did you freeze that pool of water, blow up that brine solution, find your way to high ground?
This mirrors DOS which was all about surfaces -- how do you get yourself on the surface you want to be on and your enemy of the surface they don't want to be on. If you are on a surface you don't want to be on is it better to nullify it or make the most of it? I just feels like the people who designed the combat didn't fully understand or appreciate D&D combat. Well, and we know this for a fact because Larian told us they didn't like D&D combat. And that's what upsetting people -- to succeed you need to think like a DOS fan and not, say, an IWD fan.
In IWD you get "advantage" by casting buffing spells, using magic items and/or through you class features. Good party builds / good use of spells won the day. In BG3 I use firebolt and magic missile more often than not. Let's blow up that barrel that seems to have made its way to just the right spot. And I'm not going to waste a spell slot on bless -- the AC is already lowered and combat is going to over soon anyway. Why lose a turn using Faerie Fire when you can just jump up a ledge to get advantage?
This is my only problem with BG3. And it's a big one. Most other aspects of BG3 are great but the most important one is not.
DOS exists. Don't mutilate D&D combat into a half arsed replica of the DOS system. I can go play DOS already.
This game is D&D and it's Baldur's Gate. The focus here should be character builds and teamwork, with the environment and surface stuff as spice. And about resource management and smart resting. But it's completely flipped around in BG3. It's all about uber powerful high ground, shoving ridiculous distances, blowing up barrels and mushrooms, eating magic food for unlimited healing and long resting whenever, with a small spice of D&D sprinkled on top for show.
It's time for Larian to prove they are not one trick ponies who can only make environmental puzzle gameplay where everything is overpowered and comical.
