Summary
ThoughHaunted Chocolatierhas already promised an improved combat experience, it could introduce one more key change based on a lesser-known detail from one ofStardew Valley’s romance options. Among the various gameplay features thatHaunted Chocolatierwill be refining from theStardew Valleyformula is its combat, something which players were able to get a glimpse of with trailer footage showcasingHaunted Chocolatier’s bee bossbattle. However, given the limitationsStardew Valleyhad with its single-player combat,Haunted Chocolatiermight benefit from both learning a lesson from this and capitalizing on an overlooked opportunity hidden within the farming sim’s romance mechanics.
With a broad range of characters for players to choose from as a love interest, it’s hardly surprising that there are guides onStardew Valley’s best and worst romanceoptions. Yet, while each character has their own unique storylines and events, Abigail is an outlier due to a rare and unusual encounter players can have with her in the mines. But this obscure detail that many players might never have seen when romancing Abigail could leadHaunted Chocolatierto make one key enhancement to its combat thatStardew Valleymissed out on.
Haunted Chocolatier and its Focus on Darker Themes and Combat
Despite how little indie developer ConcernedApe has revealed about its second upcoming game, one of the main standout differencesHaunted Chocolatierhas compared toStardew Valleyis its darker overall tone and greater emphasis on combat. Based on what’s known so far,Haunted Chocolatier’s combat systemwill offer new mechanics not currently available inStardew Valley, such as offhand and shield stun features commonly seen in other games. Combined with potentially more mature themes throughout its story, this dedicated focus on combat should incorporate other elements ofHaunted Chocolatier’s gameplay, especially its romances.
Stardew Valley’s Overlooked Opportunity For NPC Co-Op
SinceHaunted Chocolatier’s combat will be more intensive, then it might integrate co-op into this by building on elements previously established inStardew Valleythat arguably didn’t get their chance to shine. WhileStardew Valley’s romances and marriages can benefit a player with perks like watering crops or giving gifts, their help doesn’t extend beyond the farm. However,Abigail can strangely appear inStardew Valley’s minesunder the right conditions, making her the only romanceable character to appear in a hostile area. But instead of lending a hand in the mines as she might on the farm, Abigail only has one line of dialogue for the player.
Given then that ConcernedApe has already demonstrated it can implement multiplayer functionality intoStardew Valley, it shouldn’t be a stretch forHaunted Chocolatierto take inspiration from both this and Abigail’s rare mine encounter to introduce NPC co-op. Much like its other new combat mechanics, adding an NPC companion as part ofHaunted Chocolatier’s romance options would be a good reflection of its improved combat while also creating new avenues for storytelling and character development.Haunted Chocolatiercould utilize NPC companions to enhance its combat and other gameplay in myriad ways:
Haunted Chocolatier’s Could Let Players Fight For Love
Just as married farm life helpedStardew Valleyplayers tend to daily chores as a sim game, the expanded combat ofHaunted Chocolatiershould prompt the same treatment, especially if both it and its darker themes will be the game’s focus. This could also be balanced withHaunted Chocolatier’s potential supernatural romances, something which also builds on elements previously established inStardew Valley. In doing so,Haunted Chocolatiercould refine what madeStardew Valley’s romances memorable by unifying these with its combat, allowing players to fight side-by-side with their partners all while learning more about them and growing closer in the process.
