So.....how does the combat in this game compare to something like Dark Souls?
I guess it's similar in some ways as far as controlling space from your enemy, but you have a lot more control over where you strike your enemy in chivalry so a lot of combat revolves around watching the tip of your enemies weapon and blocking in the right direction.
You can also feint your attacks which is used a lot in combat to get your enemy to commit to a defensive move.
Combos can be intentionally whiffed on the first hit to quickly surprise your enemy will a follow up that normally would take a lot longer. This is especially effective with slower weapons.
This of course all varies on which class you're playing. The combat is pretty deep, and with the added element of friendly fire, you need to be thoughtful of every swing (especially horizontal swipes when you're standing next to an ally).