Dark SoulsandHaunted Chocolatierare from two entirely different worlds, but the former can be a surprising inspiration to the latter. WhileHaunted Chocolatieris going in its own direction compared toStardew Valley, it’s safe to say that direction will be nowhere nearDark Souls' grim setting. Despite that, there is a thing or two that it may be able to pick up from the dark action-RPG franchise. One ofHaunted Chocolatier’s tasks will be setting itself apart from its predecessor. To that end, it may be worth taking inspiration from a few unexpected sources.
The potential ways thatHaunted Chocolatiercould improve overStardew Valleyare only one part of what players should look for regarding the game.Haunted Chocolatierisn’t going to be a newStardew Valleywith a supernatural coat of paint. There are going to be some similarities, most likely involving friendship mechanics. However, even the premise already sets it apart fromStardew Valleyin a major way. Fans ofStardew Valleyare going to have a lot to look forward to from the game, especially with ConcernedApe at the reins. At the same time, they should be prepared to learn a lot of new mechanics.
Haunted Chocolatier’s Combat Includes Shields and Enemy Stuns
It has already been revealed thatHaunted Chocolatierwill focus on combatto a greater extent thanStardew Valleydid. In particular, one of the revealed changes is the addition of shields. By using a shield inHaunted Chocolatier, players will be able to block enemy attacks and temporarily stun the enemy in question. When the enemy is stunned, the player will be able to deliver attacks more quickly.Stardew Valleydidn’t have defensive options like this, so there is already solid evidence ofHaunted Chocolatier’s combat being much deeper. Future updates will likely flesh out the associated new mechanics even further.
Dark Souls' Counterattacks Are a Good Well of Inspiration
The addition of shields toHaunted Chocolatierdraws a parallel to thecombat of theDark Soulsseries. InDark Souls, parrying and dodging attacks were both a vital part of the formula. Both would open the opportunity for the player to do a powerful counterattack on their off-balance foe. Considering the high difficulty of theDark Soulsgames, mastering these skills was a necessity.Haunted Chocolatier’s shield letting players stun enemies and attack quickly afterward is reminiscent of the counterattacks that theDark Soulsgames thrive on. There’s a chance thatHaunted Chocolatier’s combat could resembleDark Souls' even more as time goes on.
Haunted Chocolatiers' Combat Can Include Many New Tactical and Defensive Options
Haunted Chocolatiercould have tactical and defensive options beyond its shields. One of theimprovements toHaunted Chocolatier’s combataccording to ConcernedApe involves further off-hand options in addition to shields. This points toward more playstyles, and possibly other opportunities to catch enemies off guard. There could be some ability for players to use a dodge roll similar toDark Soulsto reposition in a fight, or some other dodging ability. That could allow players to employ sneak attacks for extra damage in addition to stunning enemies with shields.Haunted Chocolatier’s new emphasis on combat would be served well with these deeper mechanics.
Haunted Chocolatier’s shield letting players stun enemies and attack quickly afterward is reminiscent of the counterattacks that theDark Soulsgames thrive on.
Haunted ChocolatierandDark Soulscould end up having more in common than expected. While players shouldn’t expectHaunted Chocolatier’s supernatural elementsto go in the same direction asDark Souls, the new emphasis on combat can take some inspiration from the latter franchise. Making combat a bigger part of the game requires more options available in a fight, and stunning enemies with shields may only be the tip of the iceberg in that sense.Haunted Chocolatier’s fights could benefit greatly from the variety thatDark Soulsenjoys.
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.
