The game has definitely lost it's grit, there's no point denying that. This remake could have either gone 2 ways: a sharp, dark, bleak version... Or a more mellowed out, user-friendly experience which we appear to have today.
I think the point for me when my brain finally said "yes, this is more cartoony" was in this video at 2.25.
http://youtu.be/3f80t6Vfjj0?t=2m22s
When the Sligs run past in the background. Looks like something from a 90's Nickelodeon cartoon.