An interesting game that no does not allow you to take passive strategies.
It's turn based but also timing base with it's combat. Your fights are based upon if you can duck, jump or backstep away from an incoming attack by reading the attack right. There is some that even have faint little details between the two that let you know, like a sound clue or a certain item turned upwards or downwards. However, when it's your own turn you must act quickly or you'll do nothing more than a simple punch!
The combat in this feels smooth, very good and balanced, with it increasingly getting difficult as the game progresses. Some enemies may prove more difficult than others for you depending on not only how well you can read their attacks, but how well you can react in time! With enough victories you get the currency Energi to trade for upgrades to your stats or even buffs, and those first few battles will be easy peasy.
Combat alone is not the only thing though. There's plenty of lore and story sprinkled about and given to you in short bursts of dialogue versus long winded exposition. Each NPC that speaks with you having their own personalities and it shows through their dialogue. The knights speaking with a ye old English with "Thous" and "Doths" while the Nagas speak with the typical (but still comical) overpronounced S. Even the fairy that ends up helping you has their own uniqueness in how they address the player with their own unique butchering of their last name.
With everything, I give this game a solid 5 out of 5 with the note of get me a full game.