Devlog #5 — Combat & Impact: When Encounters Turn Real

In the last update I showed how creatures notice you and react to your presence. This time it’s about what happens when that awareness turns into action, when both sides commit to the fight.

The Flow of an Attack

Every attack in The Beyond 37 follows a clear rhythm. There’s the wind-up, when a strike begins and intention becomes visible; the impact, the brief moment when the hit actually lands; and the recovery, when the attacker needs to regain balance before acting again.

These phases give every fight its own tempo. A heavy creature might take longer to recover after a strong swing, while a lighter one can strike again almost instantly. It’s what makes each encounter feel distinct.

Timing and Control

In The Beyond 37, every strike that connects leaves an impact, but timing decides the difference between a simple hit and a real interruption.

A well-timed blow can cause a stagger, breaking an enemy’s momentum. A mistimed one still deals damage, but without stopping their advance. Whatever the case, each impact triggers a short physical reaction, a step back, a recoil, or a push that makes combat feel grounded and responsive.

How Enemies React

Enemies respond differently depending on their nature and the force of the hit. Some briefly hesitate before resuming, others are knocked back, and a few recover almost instantly. These reactions set the rhythm of combat, a constant back-and-forth between pressure, openings, and recovery.

Fighting Together

When multiple players are present, everyone sees the same outcome. Hits, reactions, and movement stay in sync, so a stagger or knockback triggered by one player looks identical to everyone else. It keeps cooperative combat smooth and unified, one shared moment, no matter where you stand.

Combat is still evolving, but the core is now in place: every hit matters, timing shapes the result, and every creature fights with its own rhythm.