Same as the other thread, but this time, which game do you feel has the best feeling melee/close quarters combat, and why?

For me, that has to be Vermintide 2. It's so weighty, responsive, and impactful. It's equally fun against hordes of trash and single-target specials, and there's a lot of variation with weapon types, attacks, and synergies with other classes and attacks. I've played a lot of games in my time, but nothing else comes close to VT2. In second place I'd put something like Elden Ring.

DMC 3,4,5

Bayonetta 1,2.

Games where the combat is fast, fun, and satisfying.

Ninja Gaiden II/Black/Ninja Gaiden 3 Razor's Edge. These are more visceral, gory, and bloody, and enemies are more aggressive. What I love is how if an enemy is missing an arm, they become more aggressive. Down to suicide bombing you. No legs? They still crawl to you to attack. Anyone who has played Chapter 13 in Ninja Gaiden II/B with over 100 enemies on this small staircase knows how brutal yet fun it is. It's survival. NG Games are not flashy like DMC/Bayo, but just as in-depth with combos and various weapons.

Tho there is different types of melee combat in different genres. From ARPGs and Beat Em Ups. So I think it needs to be broken down by genre.

Sekiro and by extension Stellar Blade, the clash of swords and rythymm is just excellent and the thrill of the mechanics around it. Can't think of anything more satisfying.

I know this doesn't fit, cause it's turn based but the real time action bits in Clair Obscur, parrys and counters exceed anything in the action genre, oddly enough. 

God of War feels a lot more heavy compared to Ragnarok,
Hellblade is pretty decent too

For me, it's Streets of Rage 2.

Monster Hunter for me, immensely fun to play with a melee weapon. Probably the franchise i play the most all around across all games. Other than that, I love the combat in Stellar blade, Nier Automata, the Bayonettas, Hi Fi Rush, I like Ghosts of Tsushima's combat quite a lot, I guess Ninja Gaiden Black as well.

Bayonetta 2 and Kingdom Hearts Final Mix

Most of the games I can think of are 2D (and can be old or new): Zelda 1 and 2, Castlevania IV, Punch Out, Golden Axe, Super Smash Bros Ultimate, Castle Crashers, Double Dragon, Scott Pilgrim vs the World, Streets of Rage 4, ect....  There are tons of 2D games with really satisfying melee combat.

For 3D games, the first one that comes to mind is Hyrule Warriors (and Warriors games in general).  The next closest after that I'd say is Elden Ring.  Although I think it's more accurate to say that Elden Ring combat is really engaging, but not exceptionally satisfying.  The delay/timing factor in the weapons makes the combat less satisfying, but it does make the combat very engaging.  FF7 Remake is pretty good too.

Really to get both engaging and satisfying combat there needs to be both challenge and a visceral enjoyment of beating the shit out of something.  It is really hard for 3D games to do this well, while 2D games do this easily.  2D games, in general, have a huge advantage when it comes to tight and satisfying controls.  However, 3D games have a huge advantage when it comes to immersion, and this advantage keeps a lot of people from fully enjoying 2D games.

Demon Souls and its sucessors

Those games evoke a sense of adrenaline most of other games can't compare