I just fought a boss without using a single flying kick on it because it could knock half my health away if I wasn't careful.
I'm starting to notice picking up objects & tossing them is actually useful this time around, as I almost never did it in the previous game.
Also flying kicking isn't really suggested against the faster flying enemies, like those dragonflies, half the time it misses so I realize "oh right, I should just throw stuff at them"
But I still understand if the combat doesn't click & it can feel repetitive, especially in the first game. I get why people thought the first game was a good "proof of concept" than an actual game. I imagine it's hard trying to figure out to design combat for a game that gives you full control of how your character moves through the air.