The only thing the EE version has that isn't in the original, or can't be duplicated with mods is the gimmicky zoom feature, which is totally useless in a fixed asset game. Graphically, the EE version is inferior in many respects, like being able to distinguish selected items in the inventory, and subjectively the icons are inferior too.

You're missing one other thing. The GUI scales in EE, while the widescreen mod cannot accomplish that. Playing BG on a 1080p resolution results in the GUI being tiny. Some people don't care, but it annoyed the crap out of me. I love that on EE, no matter the resolution, the GUI stays the same.

Additionally, I like the zoom feature, particularly since I have been playing the game on my Surface Pro. When I'm playing on the subway during my commute, I zoom in about 3/4 so its easier to click on things using my finger or the stylus. When I'm back at home, I dock the Surface and play on 24" monitor with full mouse and keyboard. For that, I zoom all the way back out. Obviously I have a pretty unique situation, but its certainly useful to me.

I have used the zoom feature here and there during docked gaming sessions. It can be useful if you're trying to find something specific, but I do agree, without the original art assets to re-render, the zoom feature isn't as useful as it could be.

I'm also enjoying the three new companions. I've played BG so many times that without the party banter of BG2, its gotten a bit boring. Having the new companions that actually have banter is nice and while I haven't seen it all, having some new content areas is always a bonus. I did play once with the Party Banter mod, and I definitely recommend that (not sure if it works with EE).

That's what the BG1 NPC project mod is for, though. (Is that the party banter mod you mean? It adds tons of banters and whatnot to BG1, for each and every NPC that can join your party.) Much more value than having just 3 companions talking. Without it I doubt I'd ever play BG1 again.

Plus you can find some other mods that add NPCs too. I haven't actually tried this for BG1, but in BG2 there are some good modded characters to be found. Also a lot of bad/uninteresting/cheesy ones, but that's the internet for you.

I'll give you that the GUI scales, but that's only the GUI, and I much prefer to be able to see what ammunition (for example) a character has selected, as in the original, than to have a scaling GUI when you stick to one resolution.

The zoom is a gimmick in a fixed asset game, as I said.

The new companions just don't fit in with the original feel of the game. They are glaringly fan made facsimiles, and I don't enjoy them in the slightest. I'll go with the previous comment about BG1 NPCs. Much better to have extra content for existing characters I say.

Then there is the hilariously awful Saerilith mod for BG2. I haven't tried it myself, but the masochistic person who LPed it for the Something Awful forums did, and it was hysterical in how crazy it was.

Yeah, that's what I meant, the NPC Project. I've used it many times and loved it.

No doubt on the good/bad mod characters (or content in general). When you find the good stuff, its really a breath of fresh air, but there are so many that are mediocre to bad. The NPC Project was great, though I thought they made Imoen too annoying.
I'm not sure what you mean by not being able to see ammo is selected. I guess maybe it was highlighted in the original? I just checked it and you can tell the different (the border is a different color on the square), but it definitely doesn't stand out.

The zoom also replaces setting the resolution for the game. It may not be useful zooming in and out, but it essentially allows you to change the resolution you are playing at on the fly. Not everyone wants to play at their monitor's max resolution.

I would have enjoyed extra content for the existing characters as well, but they were pretty restricted contractually on messing with existing content (they couldn't include any of the Unfinished Business stuff either). I do agree that the new npcs are more like BG2 npcs than BG1, but like I said its something different, so I'm enjoying that.
I got turned off on mods early on after playing Dark Side of the Sword Coast and The Darkest Day. I respect the effort, but I just didn't care for either of them at all for a variety of reasons. It really wasn't until 07 or 08 when I decided to replay everything again (after 2-3 play throughs originally) that I started trying mods again. Wish there was a rating system like on the NWN mods!

See attached and tell me that you can seriously tell which ammunition is selected in the EE version (bottom pic).

I'm agreement w/ Hickory.

The original Baldur's Gate presents, by far, a greater resolution image than the Enhanced Edition.
That zoom feature is something that was useful in previous Interplay games like Stonekeep, M.A.X. and M.A.X. 2 but serves absolutely no purpose in a video game like Baldur's Gate.

The regular arrows. As I said, its not super obvious, but you can tell. Not sure why they changed it as I agree the original is much, much easier. Curious, is your 'original' screen shot from BG or BG2?
I haven't noticed any different in the resolution images between the two. Do you have any screens shots? Maybe I'm not sure what you mean.

I don't but Hickory does.

Check out the link under Hickory's post and you should see 'ammoselection.jpg'

The resolution in the background image (the original) is much crisp than the image placed in the foreground (Enhanced Edition). In fact, the Enhanced Edition image blurred out the direction lines that indicate where items are equipped on the player character as if it was a badly drawn tattoo. :)

Not super obvious? That's the understatement of the year. It's blatently UNobvious, unless you have 20/20 vision -- imagine somebody with even the slightest degree of colour blindness or vision acquity. It's simply not acceptable in a so-called 'enhanced' edition.

The original screenshot is vanilla BG1, out of the box.

I don't think that's good representation because they are obviously not taken at the same resolution.
I don't disagree that its a poor decision that they should fix. It just doesn't bother me that much. Thanks.

If the enhanced version scales properly, a difference in resolution cannot be to blame.

It's a good sample set that helps describe why the original is preferable to the Enhanced Edition which is the ability to show an image clearly and with a lot of detail.

It's clear that the Enhanced Edition actually removes details from the original.

I looks to me that the screen shot itself was what was increased in size, not the game itself. I've got EE up on my Surface right now and it looks very crisp.


edit: meant it looks very crisp