ConcernedApe’s upcoming game, Haunted Chocolatier, shares much of its DNA with the dev’s first game, Stardew Valley, from its retro pixel art design to its top-down gameplay. These are welcome similarities, as Stardew Valley’s nostalgic and cozy vibe made it stand out in a sea of 3D AAA titles. Despite being a highly-rated game, however, there is one gameplay element that it doesn’t do well, and Haunted Chocolatier shouldn’t make the same mistake.
While Haunted Chocolatier does bear a lot of resemblance to its predecessor, its developer assures fans that it will offer a fresh experience. Instead of preparing and harvesting crops, players will work with ghosts to create and sell chocolate. Haunted Chocolatier will also focus more on combat compared to Stardew Valley, with a refined shield/stun mechanic and different off-hand options for various playstyles. Apart from providing new experiences, this new title also has the opportunity to improve on some issues that Stadew Valley had.
Haunted Chocolatier's Premise Raises a Major Setting Question
Haunted Chocolatier promises a fun blend of ghosts and confectionery, but this combo raises some major questions about the game's world.
Haunted Chocolatier Should Have Better Fishing Mechanics on PC
If there’s one complaint that people will have about Stadew Valley, it’s that fishing is difficult on PC. New and intermediate players have been complaining about it on Reddit, Steam forums, and the game’s message board for years. Some players even deem catching fish in Stardew Valley plain “impossible” to do, especially on mouse and keyboard. Here are some of the chief complaints about it:
- Tracking the Fish Icon is Difficult on PC: When players get a hit, they need to follow a fish icon that moves up and down using a green bar that they control using their mouse’s left click. If they lose track of it, the fish gets away. This is easier on a controller, as directing the bar is easier using buttons on a pad.
- Fishing Mostly Gets Easier Through Upgrades: The fishing experience only gets more bearable as the player unlocks upgrades. The bar increases in size as the player levels up their fishing skill. Equipment like the Training Rod, Cork Bobber, and Deluxe Bait can also make the bar longer. Some players may be discouraged from ever going back to fishing before they even get to level up their skills and upgrade their stuff.
It takes a lot of patience and practice to get the rhythm and precision needed to catch fish consistently. For some players, this mechanic takes away from the cozy appeal of Stardew Valley. It’s understandable, as people likely boot up SDV to unwind after a long day or a frustrating competitive gaming session. The last thing they want to do is stress over fishing, which is supposed to be a relaxing activity. Rather, some players enjoy the challenge.
How Haunted Chocolatier Could Improve its Fishing Mechanic on PC
If Haunted Chocolatier features a fishing mini-game, there are a few ways it could improve on Stardew Valley’s original formula. Haunted Chocolatier could take notes from the best fishing games of all time and make reeling a more dynamic experience.
Reeling refers to pulling in a fish once it bites onto the hook, which is the mechanic that players are frustrated about in Stardew Valley .
Players could tire the fish out by using directional keys or moving the mouse opposite to where it wants to go. Once the fish is tired, the player can then reel it in closer using their scroll wheel or left click and repeat the process. This would require more actions than Stardew Valley’s fishing mini-game, but it does offer a more beginner-friendly experience. If they end up letting go of a fish, they can easily identify where they went wrong during the reeling process and amend it instead of getting frustrated over aligning a fast-moving fish icon and a slow green bar.
Haunted Chocolatier
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.
