No they made it “harder” by removing the immunity that Skeleton Summons have to mind flayers. The main danger with Mind Flayers is that they do the Eat Brain, which in BG, if successfully rolled they zap you of 5 Intelligence. If your Intelligence drops to 0, then you die. Skeletons, in the rule books, and in the original BG games, are immune to such an attack because they don’t have brains. But Beamdog decided that such a strategy was too “cheesy” so they “fixed” it, and now they too are vulnerable to being devoured by Mind Flayers, despite it making no sense at all.
Baldur's Gate 2 is vastly overrated. It's a complete mess.
One point I will give to the OP - the game, story wise, is a mess. And you don't need to listen to me - every person on the developement team will readily admit that. Just scour the various interviews - they outright concede that the plot was so rushed, cut up and stitched together with duct tape, that they thought they would be shat on upon release. Just to give a few examples:
1. There JUST SO HAPPEN to be two major locations/quest lines associated with Amaunator. They have no connection to one another. This is pure accident.
2. Firkraag is supposed to be behind both the de'Arnise Keep invasion and the slave trade happening in Athkatla. This is never properly signalled.
3. Bodhi being Irenicus' sister was tacked on at the last second. Initially Imoen was supposed to be killed in Irenicus' Dungeon - a plot point, unfortunately, recanted very late in development. Thus, there would only be one Bhaalspawn within the game. But, since Imoen DID survive, now we needed someone to receive HER soul in turn. Thus Bodhi the Magical Vampire Sister. Seriously people, she travels to Spellhold. Across running water.
4. The initial reason why Irenicus kidnapped CHARNAME has been completely cut. No, it wasn't supposed to be in order to steal his soul. If that were the case, he would've immediately performed the ritual upon taking us to his dungeon. This idea came thanks to Spellhold and the magical implements there - which is also never properly signalled. --- This one has been confirmed by the lead writer.
5. Cyric's involvement has been completely cut, and only hinted at in Throne of Bhaal.
And so much more! As much as I love the game, the plot is a beautifully stitched together Frankenstein's Monster.
BG2 doesn't start with a rat killing quest, so at least it has that.
She is a strong independent woman, she can do anything she sets her mind to.Thus Bodhi the Magical Vampire Sister. Seriously people, she travels to Spellhold. Across running water.
BG2 is easily in top 3 RPGs ever created, and it will probably stay this way even if we discuss it in 2034 or something. No other game did the whole package better (combat, story, quests, companions, music, exploration, itemization, monster / location variety, memorable moments, etc.). The holy grail of RPG design forever.
The writing in Icewind Dale is, indeed, fantastic, and we can consider Icewind Dale 2 as a game made in a modified version of the Infinity Engine, so your statement isn't wrong.All Inbred Engine games are overrated. Except one - and this one is saved only by excellent writing.
OP is a suspected Alt. My guess is that's it's Swen trolling.
He seems to have problem with his games delivering ample content. Athkatla is a large fantasy city. It's in a fantasy nation. Lots of people (and creatures) live there. Things happen. Those things provide the player with opportunities to earn money required to advance the plot. The player need not complete them all, as someone who knows what they are doing can come up with all the money before ever leaving Waukeen's Promenade. Players are welcome to try that route if things like "fun" and "choice" lack appeal, but I wouldn't recommend skipping all the glorious content. The spell combat is also glorious, and one of the most enduring qualities the game has. It's varied venues for adventuring is a virtue--none of which are out of place or shoe-horned into the setting. His complaints, if any, should be directed at The Forgotten Realms, rather than Baldur's Gate 2 itself. The art is lovely. Grounded in historical realities with fantasy embellishments.
When mentally challenged little primates don't have arguments they resort to the age old tactic of throwing faces. It's amusing for a while, but then the little Tiax monkey gets tiresome and earns its place in the iggy bin with many other shitposters.