Shane,
I saw some YouTube videos with Zenonia combat, but it seems to me it is purely action based, like Zelda. Am I looking at the wrong version of Zenonia? It is indeed possible that within an action based system, some (magic) attacks need to recharge.
Good think that you both like staying in the current level when combat starts, and not going to a separate battle screen. I also like the former much better.
Koen.