The spear definitely struggles a LOT on uneven terrain.

In addition to a shorter range than most other weapons, AND a narrower cone of effect, it also has a significantly higher "bottom" on the attack. Things like boars, wolves, fulings, slimes or leeches that are on even a slightly lower elevation than you are very unlikely to get struck with a melee attack.

I absolutely get the narrower cone of attack....its a spear thrust, not a swing in any direction. I've used a spear before, you have to be pinpoint accurate....

But either the elevation, or more appropriately, the RANGE should be improved.

I can kinda see keeping the range short is they allow the spear to strike lower (you can fairly effectively arc a thrust slightly downwards when holding it like the character in the game, covering a larger range of elevations at the expense of range)....

But much more effectively, a 1 handed spear, even held at the balance point in a throwing position, is used in melee as a long-range, pinpoint accuracy weapon. A spear the size of one in the game would VASTLY outdo the size and style of sword in the game for effective melee threat range (it would recover between attacks much more slowly though, despite having a quicker initial attack....a spear thrust doesn't have a followthrough strike to set up for another thrust the same way you can backswing a sword to ready it for another attack)



TL:DR

Spear should have a longer range than all the other 1-handed melee weapons, but have a longer attack delay. The narrow cone of effect is fitting for how a spear actually functions, even if the spear in the game incredibly annoyingly struggles to melee hit enemies below your waist.