After seeing many reviewers that are disappointed with the enhanced edition I thought I'd play both. I haven't played BG before so I am not coming at this with nostalgia-tinted glasses. I've also played other older games like this so I am not coming from a coddled modern perspective. I played both of these unmodded, by the way. Also, I played about 2 hours into each. Beamdog’s Enhanced Edition is better. Gameplay-wise it comes with some QOL additions i.e. MMB grab panning, zooming in & out, a bigger viewport. The UI is not great but it is better than the original due to it being a lot clearer. They’ve also added a “Reveal Details” button which is very useful to see interactable items and doors, although in at least one case something can be found probably too early (maybe a note with the location of the item would have been read?). The only thing I have an issue with is the replacement of the FMV’s with motion comic. Motion comic—with it’s strange warping and noodle-y bending of still images—always looks worse than the most primitive 3D animation. I think an option to choose between the two would make this a better experience. That would bump my review to 5-stars. Basically the Enhanced Edition has a better feel. The in-game "cutscenes" are timed better as well. The games themselves are good but it is 2e so you may not want to play as a mage or you might do something drastic.
