I agree, check out this well done video explaining how just 1 example of a quest plays out in the original Baldurs Gate, and how dialog choices are yours to make, not the Dice in this video:
I like the video. I think, overall, it is under appreciated how BG1&2 delivers its quest - games can feel chaotic and unpredictable but have this organic feel and still are secretly convenient (aka. You won’t miss anything major). It avoids artificiality of modern design, while not being obtuse as, let’s say Kingmaker.
Another thing, while Umbra Colossi are tough, it is not a balls-breaking encounter. I didn’t discover the dog trick until my latest playthrough. While it feels good to outsmart those guys, it is not an obtuse but mandatory puzzle - killing them is very much in player’s power.
Maybe that’s why Witcher3 reminded me so much of BG2. I thought its quests were also very organic - delivered to player in a natural, unpredictable but reliable way, and while one could always simply push forward,there are many touches for those who think and explore.
