Up until Mistlands the stamina was manageable. I was in many fights where I had to disengage and regen stamina then fight some more.

But in Mistlands if you need stamina in battle, chances are you can't run and regen because you need stamina to get up sloping ground or you run into more enemies you couldn't see. And of course all the wasted attacks that don't land because an enemy is slight above or below you on a slope. Even with stamina pots it is painful to play...