What makes the two styles a lot different is that the old style actually utilised a lot of soft, light gradients made with an airbrush underneath the harsh shadows and highlights. It used an even mix between soft shading and cell (hard) shading, which adds a lot more tonal value in wide areas of the artwork, which creates a subtle variation in colour so the reader's eyes don't get bored.
The new style, however, does not use gradients as frequently, and when it does, they're definitely not as soft and minimal. Instead, it focuses heavily on its lineweight and harsh shadows.
Basically: The older style uses tone and colour to make the art interesting, where as the newer style uses line and shape.
One is not superior to the other. It's just that the old style did not have strong lineart (soft angles and thin) and shapes, so to make it appear less flat and simple, the artist utilises colour and tone to create a "form" (dimension). The lineart also is not often purely black, having light washes of whatever colour its lining.
The newer artist's style has lineart that varies in thickness and is quite sharp and angular, which is a pure black, so combined with the strong shape of the harsh shadows, the artwork doesn't need to create a "form" in order to be interesting to eye.
That's why they're both good artstyles, but you feel as though it's missing "gloss" or looks quite flat; our eyes have gotten used to seeing the various subtle changes in colour and tone in the old style, that it now feels like something is "missing."
(Also just in general facial features are different)
A lot of people don't really know how to explain these differences even though they can see them because they lack the knowledge of the terms, so I thought I'd just explain it if you're interested haha
Wow! Thanks for the explanation!
Ohhh, that explains a lot, I felt like something was wrong and different, but couldnt exactly what as the characters do look similar in the new art style
Omg you described this perfectly tysm
Well first of all the new art does look good, all the characters almost look the same, its just that it's missing the "gloss" or the highlights (I have no idea what's its called) like in the hair or eyes, so the emotions are not coming through Imao, but it's their style I guess, we will get used to it eventually ...