Yeah it’s technically better (crisper, higher res, etc) but the visual language is totally different and IMO worse. That fire just doesn’t look as hot, for example.

Lighting as an art form is highly coupled with the given tech. Something as small as just changing the shadow method can require artists relighting a whole game. My guess is they aren’t doing this or maybe are pushing the stark lighting the same way depth of field, colored lights, lens flares etc got juiced in previous generations.

That’s always wrong. The tech should service the art, not the other way around.