It's pretty much nonstop action, nothing like BG2 or Planescape: Torment. But it's good fun nonetheless. It sucks though that after clearing an entire area of critters, they respawn once you leave. So when you come back you'll have to fight them all over again...and again...and again.
Especially that Orc infested desert is annoying. Good thing though, that you can equip items that instantly kill creatures of much lower level than your character is, on sight. Saves you from a lot of trouble.