'Haunted Chocolatier' Dev Update: A Look At Game's Combat System

The solo dev for “Stardew Valley’s” spiritual successor “Haunted Chocolatier” has detailed the upcoming game’s revamped combat system, giving players a glimpse of what they can expect in the new chocolate-making, sim-style title.

“Haunted Chocolatier” will mix elements of a store management sim with social game aspects, exploration, combat and more. Developer ConcernedApe explained his new approach to fights in his upcoming game, which seems to be much more intricate than his previous one.

First of all, it’s worth noting that “Haunted Chocolatier” will have a stronger emphasis on combat, as ConcernedApe said in his blog. As such, some of “Stardew Valley’s” original combat system has been improved and refined to feel smoother and more satisfying.

In a short gameplay snippet shared on the blog, ConcernedApe featured new blocking and stunning mechanics. Players will now be able to equip shields to block enemy attacks, and when timed properly, a perfect block will stun attackers, opening them up for free counterattacks.

This alone is a big improvement from “Stardew Valley’s” simple hit-and-run style combat that relied on spacing and weapon knockback. The shield and counterattack mechanics make combat feel more reactive and rewarding without necessarily forcing players into just one playstyle.

Another improvement in “Haunted Chocolatier” is the sword swing animations. In “Stardew Valley,” sword swings were fairly slow and were limited to just one animation. Now, sword attacks are faster, and players can now swing it back and forth, giving it a more natural feel when fighting.

ConcernedApe also mentioned that there will be other off-hand weapons that players can equip, hinting at other potential viable playstyles. He mentioned that aggressive players will have other off-hand options to choose from, but he refrained from showing any more weapons.

“Haunted Chocolatier” is still being actively worked on, and considering ConcernedApe is a solo dev, players will have to wait a little longer before any more news and features concerning the game come out. Instead of settling for a schedule, ConcernedApe will be treating the blog casually and “post things when it feels right” instead.