What about improving the animations and mechanics of
melee with hands just a little bit, similar to this:
ATTACKS:
Animations are already fine.
Both up attack (punch) and down attack (hook) can be blocked
by either up or down block. (so you can block a punch also with a down block)
Though, the down attack (hook) is slower and do more damage,
than the up attack (punch).
Left attack hits from left, right attack hits from right.
BLOCKING:
Animation of left block only blocks with left arm, and
right block only block with right arm, like in case of weapons,
mechanics is also similar to that.
Up and down block blocks frontal attacks, or
if your opponent does a side attack,
but it hits you from the front, then you have to do a frontal
block to deflect it.
So it works mainly like a weapon.
About the unusual frontal block:
We already have awlpike and long spear,
which can only attack one or two directions,
and shields blocking all directions,
so imho simplifying frontal block in the first run is bearable,
it won't feel cumbersome.
Poll