I have to agree with a lot of things said here in regards of this not feeling like D&D. I have not played the original Baldur's Gate games (Nor do I have any desire to, AD&D and THAC0 just.. No more, thanks) so I cannot comment on how they feel in comparison to this. What I have played is various other cRPGs and they struck a very good balance of feeling like you are low level versus going up against extremely "Strong" Foes.
Recently while playing through BG3 I found myself stopping around the time I enter the Druid Grove where I ask myself "Why does this feel overwhelming? Why must everything be Do or Die? Why must there be a constant crisis to solve?" I've played to the grove three times and just don't want to continue. The story and concepts are at conflict with the mechanics and the pacing. It doesn't want to slow down, the story discourages you from stopping to rest, and yet you need to rest to get in pace with the gameplay which in turn shows the "You are unique and epic and strong!" or brings up the Absolute and things like that. I just find it hard to actually get connected to the world and the characters if everything is going super fast.
