The original definitely had a more engaging cinematic flair to it. Things in the remake are more practical and sensible, but you lose the cool factor.
No coolness factor is loss, but a different kind of coolness.
The introduction of el Gigante is a good example. It sorta makes more sense that he gets awoken by just one priest (atleast within the context of the remake), but the original's take of having a bunch of ganados lead it out and then lose control over it offers a lot more spectacle.
RE4 is a game from 2005 that borrows heavily from cheesy machismo action movies from the 80s and 90s, so spectacle was to be expected. Plus, this was mid-to-late 2000s Capcom; any spectacle was to expected. While
RE4R is a game from now that borrows heavily from early 2000s action movies (the good ones before
Bourne Supremacy fucked everything up), that are more grounded/semi-grounded. Plus, there are things in the remake I find way more creepy and atmospheric than the original. Especially the cabin sequence. God damn, was I actually scared!
Some parts of the original do have better aesthetics and styles. But character models do look a bit outdated in comparison
RE4 does have better lighting over the
RE4R, so I will give it that. The character models in the original still look great today, and barely even feel outdated. Also, I definitely wouldn't call
RE4R "soulless". It does have a soul. A different kind of soul. A soul that more than respects it's original counterpart.