Best combat of the series but I didn't like the stamina bar. The thing is, people say it's a big action game when while it's true, it has more action, it's not just an action game. RE2 started with a huge explosion too
The thing is, the game series had to evolve at some point. There's only so many times you can use "virus/zombie take over". The story even makes a point about how they developed a new version of the virus, The Las Plagas, which meant they could create a more fast and mobile "infected" creature. RE5 used the type 2 and RE6 used the type 3 which results in the enemies being able to transform but also take commands and thus they can be controlled.
The reason this is important is because the enemies are the ones who progress. They evolve and become faster and smarter but if the protagonists stayed as walking tanks, they wouldn't survive. As such, the protagonists have to gain new abilities to keep up with the enemies.
I'm pretty sure many people complain about how games are constantly the same so I doubt if we have 20 years old RE 1, 2, 3 style gameplay, then it also wouldn't be well received. Lastly, people need to go and play the old RE games because they are archaic in design now. For the nostalgia fix, just play RE 0 and 1 HD.
You're surviving an onslaught of enemies that have had experiments done to them, much like the old RE games and horror films. How is it not a survival horror game anymore?