What's the balance between boring ass button mashy combat and more complex stealth based combat? Would you recommend this game to someone who regards the usual beat em up style combat as boring filler in between all the story and atmospheric elements. Also, can you kill people in this game or will they just lose consciousness? I would try the demo myself if it were not for my always full stock hdd which I'm dead tired of always rearranging for demos.

well the game is pretty balanced about fighting and stealth moments. the fighting mechanic is not really stupid and button mashy. it's fun to do and it's really easy to learn but kinda hard to master. 
also you can't kill enemies. you're BATMAN for crying out loud.