I guess if you grew up with the PT I can see why that would “feel like Star Wars” because it was part of what initially defined Star Wars to you.
Basically. It’s funny, though, when I was younger, I liked the prequels fine. They weren’t my favorite SW movies, but I enjoyed watching them all the same, and I associated them with Star Wars. Last time I watched them (I think it was in advance of TFA), though, they fell completely flat. I always did release order, and the second half of the marathon was nothing like the first. They just didn’t feel like SW anymore.
Haven’t watched a prequel since. Though I’ll probably watch TPM again some day.