So here's a thought that would require a good bit of animation, that could make two-handed fighting a little more interesting without necessarily bringing back auto-block.
You can block an incoming attack with a block that is 90 degrees off of the attack's direction, but doing so results in a "weak parry." Your weapon is knocked aside, or caught in a blade lock for a moment. For this moment you cannot immediately counterattack, but you can regain your footing by stepping back, kicking, or blocking again.
You can block an incoming attack with a block that is 90 degrees off of the attack's direction, but doing so results in a "weak parry." Your weapon is knocked aside, or caught in a blade lock for a moment. For this moment you cannot immediately counterattack, but you can regain your footing by stepping back, kicking, or blocking again.