I also like these new animations! They seem to make sense.

Sometimes it's the little things that stand out. Lately I've been playing IWD2 (and enjoying it quite a bit), but the animations for my dwarf using his two-handed ax are so bad, that I'm beginning to wish I'd chosen a different character.

The strikes really look like critical hits, and the victims react the way they should. I especially like how the attacker plants his foot to pull out the spear! Kneeing the ax victim while he's down is a nice touch too!