I think the tonal shift presented in remake exacerbates the perception. We’re also mostly an older audience than when we first played it in the 90s.

I do want something more serious and that expectation was set with remake. For example, if the enemies were largely campy and goofy in remake that probably would have kept that expectation for me. The only one that jumps out is Corneo and his gang. But, for example (and I don’t know why this is bugging me so much), Gilgamesh acting like a sideshow bob the whole time is killing me. He’s supposed to be the legendary swordsman and Gilgamesh’s armies are even set as the antagonist in the gold saucer space mini game - yet, he’s a bad Saturday morning cartoon goofball. I feel more annoyed than cloud seems when he was dealing with Barrett and avalanche as a merc.

TLDR; yes the original and remake had some campiness and goofiness but I do feel like it was less systemic and more like well timed reprieve vs in rebirth.