It appears a great deal of thought and planning went into creating an immersive world within which to explore and fight, and this is most apparent during combat. A little irritating, but it adds a spicy flavor to combat beyond simply rapid mouse clicking a foe to death.
Attacks also seem to follow basic rules of physics.
You can see your swings bounce off an opponent's weapon or shield, spraying sparks into the air. A solid blow can disarm your target, sending weapons, shields and even limbs flying. Where blows land is closely tracked in dealing the appropriate damage effects. Sound effects are concise and to the point. Different surfaces have appropriate footfall effects depending not only on material but also location.