Yeah I get why this sounds confusing.
I guess the game did try to look as realistic as the engine permits it to be,
but there are some elements that look heavily stylized,
like trees
or the lit window panes on buildings, that cannot be accessed.
But yeah other than that, its not all that retro, you re right.
Still I fill that by making it 100% photo real and losing everything stylized, it might turn out a bit boring looking.