I know this post is really old, but the original was very clunky.
It was the first time they went from the cutesy look that Harvest Moon (now Story of Seasons) was known for and just jumping right into realism. This new version looks like they found the right amount of realism while keeping true to their cutesy look (for lack of a back word) but the original just felt off with their artistic approach. The graphic limitations at the time probably played into that.
Maybe I could had given the game more time and a chance, but I just didn't like how drastic the changes were. The remake looks like the right level.
I would definitely hold off on buying the originals until the remake arrives.