[Luvian]

Both Icewind Dale games are linear. That's the point of the game. When they made Baldur's Gate I and II, they made them as an outdoor exploration game with roleplaying elements. When they made Planescape, they made a game that was all about the roleplaying elements. When they Made Icewind Dale I and II, they wanted to make a dungeon exploration and hack and slash game. They even used that as a selling point.

You can't expect all games to be made the same way, that would be boring. This is not "Baldur's Gate III, a trip to the north". So it should not be like Baldur's Gate.