It feels like you're being shuttled around. Too bad...
I don't mind that at all. Having an entirely open world/sandbox is directionless and unimmersive as all hells, especially in this game where it makes perfect sense storywise to seek out the nearest large town for help. With a few choices for deviation along the way. There still is an astounding narrative dissonance between the apparent desperate race against time to find a cure and time obviously being completely irrelevant (even non-existent judging by the lack of day&nigh cycle) - and an open world exacerbates this. I wouldn't mind the game opening up a bit more at some point after arriving in Baldur's Gate though.
In general, I feel the free-roaming aspects of many roleplaying-esque games; from Mass Effect to Dragon Age: Inquisition to Assassin's Creed: Valhalla is some of the worst aspects of the games, and will for me serve as a reminder more isn't necessarily better. As a casual gamer I tend not to complete most games similarly to a significant majority of players. The time-wasting grindy filler elements and lack of direction is largely to blame.
