you said they should fix the combat, but gave no examples. How I would do it is have 2-6 buttons, having a punch, kick, and power trigger no matter what. Maybe having it be 2 player, with Churchill being a second starting character (he's useless without his team, and they broke the clock tower)
Churchill would be slow, weak, and with low health, but his military background has him using a pistol, and grenades, which the science trigger reloads.
Einstein is weak, kind of fast, and with low health, and short reach. Once you press the power trigger, he becomes almost uncontrollably fast.
Freud is pretty average, but his power trigger has to be held in order to work. I doubt I need to explain what it should do.
Tesla goes slightly slower than Einstein's relaxed speed, is a bit stronger than him or Churchill, has the same health as Freud, as well as the same default reach. Once you hit the power trigger, his punch becomes a chain attack, and his kick becomes a stunning projectile. This is based on a "battery", and is charged by action in the powered down mode.
Darwin is the same as freud, but his power briefly stops play, like a super from streets of rage, and has the player make a choice with the movement buttons.
Up: gorrila, strong, but slow.
Down: horse, fast, but inactive attack (at least in front)
Left: wolf, fast, but without a kick.
Right: snake, stuns with dot, extra damage taken
Nothing: human
Cutie is a bit slow thanks to the dress, beyond that she's about the same as Darwin and Freud, but with a bit more health, and a slower kick. Her power trigger gives her a radius attack in place of a kick, and changes her punch to orbs that pierce. Using these drains her health, though.
Taputti is a large target, but can attack multiple targets at a time with her scythe. Her trigger only works on males, and 3.87% of females. She can only use it after a idle animation, which is her making it.
How's that for the programmers?
How's that for the fans?
How's that sound to play?