I actually kind of agree...? When I think bg2 I think Athkatla and big story and epic dragon fights, but the one word I would use to describe the original would be wilderness. Sure you had Baragoset and Baldur's Gate itself (much later into the game) but I think I've spent most of the original just wandering around and stumbling upon cool shit

Larian's Biggest Oversight, what to do about it, and My personal review of BG3 EA
"74.85% of you stood with the Tieflings, and 25.15% of you sided with Minthara. Good outweighs evil, it seems."