Every SR game was different from the last. The problem is that they went too long between installments and the latest installment wasn't fun. Two bad games in a row will put even the best studios on the chopping block regardless of past performance.
Yeah, the last few games had writing that felt like it belonged in a 2012-era game. It felt dated and was getting beyond cringey, and put me off from playing some of the later Saint's Row titles at all.