The feature that many fans are looking forward to ahead of Haunted Chocolatier‘s release is its Combat. Its developer, Eric “ConcernedApe” Barone of Stardew Valley fame, stated that the game will emphasize battles more than its farming-focused older sibling. Players caught a glimpse of Haunted Chocolatier‘s combat through ConcernedApe’s blog updates, and it looks similar to Stardew’s. One of the biggest differences is the environment, which ConcernedApe should double down on.
The first official announcement about the development of ConcernedApe’s Haunted Chocolatier was in October 2021. ConcernedApe envisions the game to take players to a place of fantastical possibilities while making and selling what he describes as “Magical Haunted Ghost Chocolates.” The game will mostly involve gathering ingredients, cooking chocolate, and putting them on sale. The game’s combat, which ConcernedApe built from the ground up, will feature a shield/stun mechanic and a fresh setting compared to Stardew Valley. The game shows the player fighting monsters in various location types, which is a breath of fresh air.
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Haunted Chocolatier has a lot of potential, and it even might have a chance to make something good out of an unpopular gameplay trope.
Haunted Chocolatier Can Make Combat More Interesting by Varying its Settings
While Stardew Valley‘s combat is fun and satisfying, it can get stale because of the setting. Players could almost exclusively fight monsters within Stardew Valley‘s mines and Skull Cavern, which can be quite repetitive. A change of scenery would have been great for future updates, but it’s understandable, as the main focus of Stardew was farming and nurturing relationships instead of battling baddies. However, with the increased emphasis on combat in the Haunted Chocolatier, the settings of the fights may hold some importance.
Different Settings and Enemies Can Break the Monotony of Combat
ConcernedApe’s latest post about HC‘s combat system shows the character fighting a bunch of blobs on what looks like an open, grassy field. Another post shows a video of the main character battling a bee-like monster near a stream. The combat happening outdoors is already a welcome change compared to Stardew Valley‘s mines.
Still, ConcernedApe could take it a step further to introduce monsters in different locations like beaches, forests, abandoned buildings, or even underwater. This makes battles more visually interesting. The game could also add even more variety to the gameplay by creating monsters that are unique to each setting, each with its strengths and weaknesses.
Varied Combat Locations Can Do Wonders for Haunted Chocolatier’s Worldbuilding
Having diverse locations and monster rosters for combat also helps flesh out Haunted Chocolatier‘s world. The game could play around with the reasons that certain enemies linger in certain parts of the map. Perhaps a monster preys on the local fauna of the forest or field, threatening the extinction of certain animals. If it wants to lean on its “haunted” vibe, it could introduce spirits with an affinity to certain areas, a la Dandadan’s Turbo Granny.
Another way that the setting can influence combat is through the game’s various seasons. The latest blog post on Haunted Chocolatier’s website shows a home covered in snow, with winter crops next to it. The game could introduce new enemies and/or make existing ones stronger or weaker based on what season the player is in.
Haunted Chocolatier’s combat taking place in various settings is a bigger deal than some would think. This is because it opens up so many opportunities for visual interest, especially when compared to Stardew Valley’s repetitive mine and tunnel levels. Different combat locations also provide some storytelling benefits, as each enemy could have a plethora of reasons for dwelling in certain areas of the map. Given ConcernedApe’s sharp attention to detail and the Haunted Chocolatier’s lean towards combat, such possibilities aren’t too farfetched.
