Dark Souls III, the latest medieval fantasy from From Software, will launch in April 2016 on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC, as announced by publisher Bandai Namco at a press event just prior to Tokyo Game Show this week. WIRED was on site to play around with the game’s new magic system.

Unlike magic spells in Dark Souls II, which had set casting limits, Dark Souls III spells deplete the player’s magic meter. Since players can refill the meter with items or by resting at a bonfire save point, this allows for more flexibility in combat.

Among the four characters shown to the press, magic abilities vary greatly in consuming the meter. Long-range attacks are cheap, while a powerful short-range spinning sword attack uses up nearly half of a full meter.

Though I remain unfamiliar with the particulars of Dark Souls games, I do appreciate the variety of tactics available to the player. In the demo level I saw, there was no single correct path to take. Many enemies could be avoided through careful play, or at least outrun. There was even a shortcut to the boss’ lair by jumping off a roof.

Once inside the final chamber, it was a contest to the death with a gangly beast named “Dancer of the Frigid Valley.” Its limbs and flaming blade gave it an extraordinary reach, and it was able to leap from one of the room to the other, making ranged combat risky. Yet getting close was even more dangerous, as the dancer can grab the player, hurl them into the air and impale them on its sword for massive, often fatal, damage.

No one in attendance was able to defeat this boss.