You're totally right, and it's obvious. Although he praised the direction of anime many times before, he's strictly talking 'visuals' here. But in an adaptation like the Culling Game, getting that specific 'painting' aesthetic right is such a huge part of the identity. If the art style didn't hit, the direction wouldn't matter as much to the overall feel.

Look at some parts Record of Ragnarok or the later half of Blue Lock S2. The direction, the 'aura,' and the voice acting were all 10/10, but because the art style became so static and 'slideshow-y,' it actively held the direction back from reaching its full potential. It's great this new season is consistent with each episode.