Stardew Valley developer Eric “ConcernedApe” Barone has revealed that combat in his next title, Haunted Chocolatier, has been made from scratch. Barone announced his new game a couple of weeks ago with a Haunted Chocolatier reveal trailer that showcased some of what players can expect in the new title.
Haunted Chocolatier is also a simulation game similar to its predecessor, but rather than restoring a farm in a seaside town, Barone’s new title puts players in the shoes of a chocolate maker running their own shop. Additionally, the new title also features more fantastical elements to it, including ghosts and strange creatures. There’s even a haunted mansion. Apart from what was shown in the trailer, not much is known about the game at the moment, and prospective fans are still waiting to learn more about how Haunted Chocolatier differs from Stardew Valley.
In a new blog post on the Haunted Chocolatier website (via IGN), Eric “ConcernedApe” Barone explained that the new game has a greater focus on combat than Stardew Valley. Because of this, combat and almost everything else in the game is being coded as well as drawn from scratch, and isn’t just lifted straight from Stardew Valley. Barone gives a short example of the new game’s combat, which includes a short video clip, involving the use of shields. According to Barone, many of the attacks in Haunted Chocolatier can be blocked by a shield with the often added effect of stunning the attacker. The player can then supposedly take advantage of the opportunity, as they’ll be able to attack stunned enemies faster.
Barone does explain that while the game’s shield, with its stun mechanic, rewards players who are more cautious and patient, Haunted Chocolatier also allows for other playstyles. Players can also choose to be more aggressive, which is less safe but also has the potential to bring down enemies quicker. The game will feature other off-hand items for players to utilize to complement different playstyles. Barone does note that everything that’s been seen so far could still change, since, despite Haunted Chocolatier‘s impressive reveal trailer, the game is still a work in progress. This was also the case during Stardew Valley’s development.
It looks like apart from making and selling chocolates, combat is going to be a big part of the Haunted Chocolatier experience. While it’s unclear how the focus on combat fits into the game’s narrative at the moment, it’ll be exciting to see just how it’ll all work out. Unfortunately, would-be fans may have to wait a while, since Barone has said that the game is still relatively early in its development.
