It shouldn't be automatic. Perhaps after the first hit against you, it pauses with your idea, otherwise surprise attacks would be useless.

Maybe they need a few more options. You can select the following settings when you start a game:
  • Difficulty - Scale enemy stats up or down.
  • Do or Die - You have one saved game. You can only save when you quit. If you die, your save-game is deleted.
  • Frenzy - Pause is disabled.
  • Endurance Combat - Damage is scaled down. Do you have enough stamina and mana?

I remember in Nethack, when you died or finished the game, along with your statistics, were a list of self-induced restrictions such as:
  • Was a vegitarian. (Hunger was a factor.)
  • Never prayed for a miricle. (You could pray at an alter of your god.)
  • Never genocided any creature. (Genocide was a spell.)
  • Never made a wish. (From magic rings, etc.)

These were for the sole purpose of gloating on the high-score list.