In Baldurs gate, I explored randomly and came across a random hatch that lead to cellars. I explored and looted it a bit and found a secret switch. I flicked it and a bookcase moved to the side, revealing a secret chamber. I went down there and came across a coffin. Suddenly a skeleton came alive from within' it and began running around activating all of its buddies, who tried killing me. I retreated backwards, funneling them in a corridor and used AOE abilities to barely win the battle. I continued looting and found notes from some high level necromancer dude who was mastering the form of reanimation and had written notes about his progress and concerns. I loot a bunch of valuable stuff from cubbards and chests, shelves and barrels I also get a quest item, implying there is a quest that would lead me there. But it doesn't stop me from exploring everything and doing the quest early like it would in Sea of Thieves (any tell tale will block you from gaining anything unless you begin it from an outpost). I eventually find a magic mirror on the wall. I interact with it and need to convince it to let me pass. I failed a test once and it sent some flying iron ball thing to burn me and kill me. I barely survive. Eventually I convince it and find my way through. What I see there is a huge laboratory. It has a bunch of research notes and stuff to loot relevant to the area. I loot it all and make my way out through another path and lever.
Baldurs gate has hundreds if not thousands of these areas. Meanwhile Sea of Thieves has literally not even one of them.
And that is why I don't like sea of thieves. It calls itself an "adventure game" when there is nothing to adventure for. There are no uncharted things to explore. It is empty. Like all new players say before 95% of them leave for other games.
Until Sea of Thieves becomes a little more like Baldurs Gate in sense of exploration, I will not find enjoyment in "exploring" it. And won't be playing it for such.
