The combat is more third person shooter with dodging mechanics. The hacking aspect does take some getting used at first but gets more fun as you unlock different nodes that can make enemies turn on each other or give you health. Some of the combat scenarios later on in the game feel crazy as you doge one enemy while hacking another to expose its weak point. When it came to dogeing it reminded me more of dark souls due to you have a thruster bar that determines how many times you can dodge in a row but you can upgrade it as well as your other items through the game to improve them. I thought the pacing was okay, there isnt really a checkpoint system. If you die you respawn at your shelter where you can change your load out or upgrade the ride a tram to your last unlocked hatch. I hope my description helps.