You could spend all day debating whether [x] is closely related to [y] or [z]. What's important is that it is pretty different.

I'm not sure how common it is for video game sequels to drastically change the art style. Zelda pulled it off by having it occupy another timeline altogether with Toon Link, but I can't think of any other examples off the top of my head. I wonder why they decided to change it? It's not as if the original art style was ugly.