how did they get away with this

>>718249947
you forgot the most important aspect:
Skilled artists.

>>11846439
From a technological/realism fidelity point of view SH3 is a monster game
The sheer amount of details and poligon count, both on character/monster models and the ambient is all around astounding
The art direction and visual choices are debatable, but just how impressive is from a technical sense is undeniable

>>713979478
There are PS5 games that look worse.