I agree, was more grounded and wasn't as difficult with the bullshyt.
It was definitely way more over the top. But I think difficulty wasn't the problem, it was just the loop of dump all ammo -> chainsaw for more ammo -> rinse repeat was annoying and repetitive. The gameplay is kind of braindead. That doesn't apply to everything obviously, like the boss fights.
The original game wasn't as hard but I felt rewarded skill more, if that makes sense. It was more true to the original feeling of the games, which rewarded you more for ammo conservation against the right enemies, knowing which guns to use for which enemy types, prioritizing which ones to kill first, understanding the space around you and using it to your advantage.