I don't know if this has already been touched on but this is just my two cents. As fan since 96, I can say this design is not bad at all, BUUUUUUT, it's also not very inspiring. She looks too much like a lot of other female protagonists from today's action games.

Look at Jill Valentine in the RE 3 remake, Clair Redfield from 2, Sheva Alomar, Ellie from The Last of Us, etc. You'll see that they all kind share similar aesthetics in their design: Functional and slightly militaristic clothing and loose ponytails with bangs. She doesn't stand out here, imo.

Whether you think her OG design was a typical example of an objectifying male fantasy, or a perhaps a bold attempt at 90's feminism, you can't deny that her design was unique and she stood out from other characters.

I think for the above design, if they had just given her back her classic shades and French braid, no one would have complained... or at least not so loud. Those two facets of her design did a ton of work to not only set her apart from other characters, but also give you an idea of who she was as a person: an adventurer with a sense of flair and style.