What rose tinted glasses? Mate, I first plated SS2 back in the early 00s and part 1 for the first time with the Remake. Has it a rough start? Yes, because they remained true to the original. Did I get lost multiple times because I had no idea what to do? Yes, again, because they stayed true to the original.
But that is what's so good about it. This game does exploration like no other. By the end of it you won't even need the map because of how the game made you explore the station. But it takes time and you have to be willing to put it in.
This game is a true Remake to the bone. A game from a different time. It looks and plays like a modern game but it's still a game from 1994. You have to play it with this perspective in mind. It's so awesome. We probably won't ever get anything like it again. Don't dismiss, enjoy.