Okay, I don’t think I’m understanding you here as I can’t think of a cRPG where there isn’t some mystery about the identity of the big bad. Okay, sometimes you see them relatively early, but even then you don’t necessarily know their name or what they’re after, or what wider plot they’re involved in (eg Sarevok in BG1). Finding out exactly who the enemy is and what their motivations are is usually a major part of a cRPG plot and while I’d certainly not want every game to be the same, this seems to be a convention that makes sense as it would be boring to have this all out in the open from the start.
I know what you're saying but in BG1 we meet Sarevok very early on and likewise with Jon Irenicus in BG2, so while there is certainly mystery around them our PC is made aware of their existence almost from the outset.
I don't feel one can really draw a parallel with Sarevok or Jon Irenicus and The Absolute right now.
