New Engine?

[Stun]

And by the way i see nothing wrong with the actual graphics, they look awesome to me.

I agree. The game is simply better looking than the IE games. I don't know if it's the graphics that make it so, or the art style, or that bizarre hybrid of 2d & 3d, or a combination of the above, but the results are plain and obvious. They nailed that aspect of the game. Period.

[Sensuki]

I think I prefer the more stylized color palette of the BG1 and IWD1 environments compared to the color palettes used for wilderness/nature/forest style stuff in this game, but YMMV.

 

I also think Icewind Dale and BG2 have some better environment pieces / props - Severed Hand Astrolabe room for example. Whoever modeled that did a superb job.

Edited February 8, 2015 by Sensuki