There are some *hard* battles in Chapter 3. I remember feeling like the difficultly level ratcheted up quite a bit at that point (there was one that I never did win the first time through). Dark Yojimbo was definitely one of the toughies. Strategy is good; it's true, you are getting to the point where you can't just power through everything anymore.

Your reaction makes a lot of sense, I think, especially if you've been finding the game too easy up to now. The adrenalin rush, almost winning but not quite pulling it out, combining now with the questions of strategy now preying on your mind... that's a heady mix. And fun.

It sounds like the game is growing on you, which I'm happy to hear.