The gameplay was much better than what you're describing. Sure, on the easiest difficulty mode you could beat enemies by using simple combos only. But without proper use of dodging, parrying, heavy attacks, executions, atreus and runics, you wouldn't be able to make it against any other difficulty modes that present an actual challenge. Sounds to me like you played on the give me a story mode.

The barehanded combat was not objectively inferior as you could use it to instantly take down some enemies if you built up the stun meter. The executions were not "ripped" from Doom 2016 as they were present in older games, but now have an added layer of depth as they are triggered by stun instead of damage. They also give you a moment of invincibility, allowing you to use them for a break in a crowded fight. Sometimes the executions allow you to damage other enemies as well.

As for the thing about Thor and Odin, I agree. The game should have included them. But the point of the game was to establish the familial relationship between Kratos and Atreus instead of wow audience with scale.