To be honest, I don't think highly of BG1. I don't deny its monumental importance in gaming history, but compared to BG2, BG1 lacks in many parts even when played with EE. However, I find myself playing BG1 more often than BG2 and I realized its because I love the beginning part of BG1 after you leave candlekeep.
Having Imoen killed by a wolf and getting your entire party wiped out by a direwolf are too fun and it is nowhere to be found in modern gaming. I've seen lots of people complaining BG1 has no regards towards balance at the beginning, but don't you love it when your wimpish character who struggled against a wolf later literally becomes a god rather than having the exactly same challenge from the beginning to the end as in scaled enemies?
I miss BG1's beginning of having less than 10 HP and having to struggle to survive because it is both immersive and perfectly fits the in game narrative. I dislike modern RPGs that give you tutorial level at the beginning in combats; despite its story telling you you are in a grave danger, you roflstomp everyone and earn enough gold to afford all gears needed at the beginning. I wish more games focus on synchronizing narratives to gameplay experience rather than focusing on game difficulty balance that makes casuals angry if not equal throughout the game.
Does anyone like this part of BG1 for the same reason?