GAH!?
First post ever due to someone not enjoying my favorite game...
Listen; 1. Play the Tutorial. Seriously.
2. Read the Manual. PC games used to come in these big boxes with manuals in them yeah? And you have to read the BG2 one for the memorial to one of the developers on the first page.
3. Play the previous game like? It's a sequel!?
However I want to answer your questions fully too, so here goes.
" I had more starting spells to choose between then I ever had on my World of Warcraft mage "
Well to be fair a difference from one game to another (two very different games) is not a warranted criticism. The reason you have more spells is because there is no "mana" system in D'n'D and in BG2. Play the tutorial a bit, or the previous game - and you'll get that. Also, you begin with a lot of spells because you don't start at level one. Why? Notice the neat "2" symbol after the Baldurs Gate part? It's a sequel where you play the same character you played in the previous game.
"How the hell am I supposed to know the game mechanics well enough to carefully select the 10-20 spells I needed, why couldn?t the game give me magic missiles and some defensive spell and introduce the rest to me later(?)"
Well if you read the manual (old game required that), played the tutorial and worked hard and learning how to play the game (old games required that too) then it shouldn't be too tricky. One reason I loved the game was that I was still discovering things about it YEARS later. And as I said, as it's a sequel then developers assume you might be at least familiar with the first game - where you start at level one - with two or three spells if that.
" I was trying to figure out what was going on, where are my spells, how do they work, why cant I just drag them from my spell book to my quickbar? And why the hell was I supposed to control two characters (we had two each), can?t the computer do that for me so I can try to have fun with my mage?"
Your friends aren't that good at teaching then. You seem to misunderstand the fundamental mechanics of spellcasting in the d'n'd universe - assuming it's like a previous game. It isn't! The game *is* poor at teaching, because it assumes you have played the first game.
Controlling two characters? The real game (not multiplayer) asks you to control six. The reason you don't control one is because you have a party. You have a party because this game isn't WOW or Diablo! It's like asking why Peggle doesn't have a gravity gun!
" that the UI was shit, the combat was dull, the controls (were) awful and the fact the game seemed to be laughing at me behind its back."
The UI isn't *amazing*, but it's totally usable. The controls are again nothing special but there isn't a fault with them. The combat may seem dull but that is because it isn't about "hack'n'slash", it's about tactics. When I play the game I pause with space bar every few seconds and plan my next move!.... You *do* know it's turn based right???
" like how apparently I didn?t start on level one (I never did manage to figure out what level I was on my own, but they said it was eight so I decided to trust them) or that the game was less of a sequel and more of an expansion pack to the original?"
Press the "Character Page" Button. Next to your portrait is every possible thing you need to know about your character. Read the manual for explanations of those things. And it's a sequel, definitely, you meet characters from the previous games - and the game itself is HUGE!
"But really, if Baldur?s Gate II is the greatest game of all time, why isn?t it fun?"
A sport isn't fun if you come to it not knowing the rules, and no-one wants to play with someone who doesn't bother to read them - frankly.
"Why does it seem to demand I spend hours understanding it before I can get to the actual fun stuff(?)"
Because games used to be like that young man! If you load up Fallout and start playing you'll be like "what are actions points?" "what is this grid system?" "why to I have to take turns I DONT WANT TO PLAY A BOARD GAME!?!?" .. It is NOT similar to diablo, and you expected (or were told) that. Don't begin a game expecting it to be something it isn't. And older games were more creative and difficult (and better) than they are now.
"Maybe its like a rite of passage, if you can endure the horrible start you can finally stand there with something like Diablo II, but with awesome characters and story."
Wait.. so Baldurs Gate 2 has to work to compare itself to the majesty of Diablo II? *cries*
"But I fear not, for after my impending breaking of fast I shall play Call of Duty 4 and laugh like and idiot while I shoot mindless headshot after mindless headshot"
*sigh* YOU WILL SUFFER, YOU WILL ALL SUFFER!