The new spell identification rules are terrible.

[Meta]

That's in the text for all illusions though (barring phantasmal force). Just saying, illusions seem less powerful than in this edition. Then again, the casters had to concentrate (like, really concentrate) on illusions or they didn't behave like they were supposed to, in 2nd, IIRC.

I didn't play 2e so I can't really compare. I can say there are a couple of defensive illusion spells that will be pretty solid in most battles though, like Mirror Image and Blur. Simulacrum is also ridiculous