Summary
Haunted Chocolatier, for all of its similarities toStardew Valley, has every chance to be a wildly different sort of experience. Thebasic premise ofHaunted Chocolatier, which is an appropriately bizarre combination of chocolate-making and supernatural beings, is the most obvious way the game deviates from its predecessor. This distinction will probably not just be surface-level, as ConcernedApe has already pulled back the curtain on the game a bit, giving a glimpse into what makes it unique.
The central gameplay loop ofHaunted Chocolatierlooks to be fundamentally different fromStardew’s. WhereasStardewfollows the framework of classic farming games likeHarvest Moon,Haunted Chocolatieraims to simulate a decidedly more niche profession, which will surely have significant implications when it comes to things like structure, narrative, in-game economy, and progression. That’s the “Chocolatier” side of the equation, but the “Haunted” side may involve just as many, if not more, changes, as the game will ostensibly place a greater emphasis on adventure and combat.
Haunted Chocolatier Should Have Difficulty Options
Stardew Valley Didn’t Need Difficulty Settings, But Haunted Chocolatier Might
Though very little about the game has been revealed at this time, it looks likeHaunted Chocolatierwill focus on combatin a way thatStardew Valleydidn’t.Stardew Valleyfeatures combat in its various caverns, and its simple hack-and-slash mechanics can be surprisingly satisfying, if a bit shallow.Haunted Chocolatierwill apparently adopt a different sort of combat philosophy, with the game’s solo developer ConcernedApe describing it as “more of an action-RPG” thanStardew.
Haunted Chocolatiergameplay footagehighlights some of the game’s most significant deviations fromStardew Valley’s combat system, such as off-hand weapons, which can offer integrated ranged damage options, and a shield-stun, which helps set up counters while bolstering defense. This gameplay and ConcernedApe’s statements indicate thatHaunted Chocolatierwill have a deeper and more complex, feature-rich combat sandbox, which can only mean good things. At the same time, this greater focus on combat will lead to a more difficult and complicated gameplay experience, which might not be what everyStardew Valleyfan is looking for.
Deeper, more fleshed-out combat also suggests more incentives to engage in combat scenarios, so players can likely expect greater, more crucial rewards from these sorts of encounters inHaunted Chocolatier.
Difficulty Settings Will Make Haunted Chocolatier Better for Every Player
Despite its clear differences,Haunted Chocolatieris clearly linked toStardew Valleyin terms of atmosphere, tone, and general spirit; the game’s playerbase will probably be composed primarily ofStardew Valleyfans who enjoy the more casual and low-stakes nature of that game.Stardew Valleyis the quintessential ‘cozy’ game, after all.
If harder, more mechanically complex combat is integral to theHaunted Chocolatiergameplay loop (if necessary crafting materials can only be gained through combat, for instance), then the game runs the risk of alienating these players. Thus, some sort of basic difficulty options would help make the game more palatable for fans ofStardew. By the same token, players who want to go full-tilt withHaunted Chocolatier’s combat mechanicsmay benefit from harder difficulties.
This could be especially true for players experienced with action-RPGs or hack-and-slash titles as, whileHaunted Chocolatiermay be hiding some white-knuckle challenge, its base difficulty will probably not be at the same level as something likeHadesorDiablo. Difficulty options could simply boil down to enemies dealing more damage and taking less, which would encourage action-RPG veterans to make full use of the combat sandbox, while still accommodating players looking to lean into the more relaxed, low-stakes side of the gameplay formula.
Haunted Chocolatier
WHERE TO PLAY
Haunted Chocolatier is an upcoming adventure game from Stardew Valley creator ConcernedApe (Eric Barone). The game is currently set to feature a lush explorable world, chocolate making and cooking, a spooky theme, and more. There is currently no release date or time period for the game.
