I found myself mostly just swinging the hammer and letting enemies walk into it rather than aiming at them. I'm not sure where the chaining was supposed to occur. I didn't play all the way through though, cause I also got stuck in a door.
I don't think the movement is fitting for melee combat. It's very platformer-y movement, fitting the lasers and doors but not really the slow hammer. It's too quick and exaggerated I think. As such, I felt more like jumping over enemies than doing anything to them.