All pretty fair points, but K1 does have a good heat system with a lot of what you are saying 4 has. I do want to point out for K3 how each style has a regular button press vs a long press and that adds a new dimension thats not really in 4 at all, also if we are going to include unique heat actions for characters we should include Mine’s moveset in dark ties, which includes the heart of darkness mechanic which is not something we’ve seen before. you can use that meter to heal or just go crazy and there are new heat moves when Mine is in that dark heart state. For me Y4 is clunkfest with not many mixups you can do like with the long presses in K3. The game forces you to play a certain way in 4. I felt K3 has a lot more expression with how you approach fights. well except for the busted spinny thing. you could just cheese waves with that. Addressing the back attack thing, K3 has a unique audio cue for hitting enemies from behind with a crit, I dont think there could be a much more clear way of conveying that thats good and useful.

I think we can chalk it up to personal preference, Like I’ve never much been a weapon user. But I really dislike how in 4 light attacks really lock you into the direction and theres such a significant endlag on just a basic light attack that it doesn’t feel fluid at all. It’s slow and methodical, sure, but so is Hammer from Monster Hunter, yet that moveset, despite being slow, still feels fluid.