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, asStardew 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, andHaunted Chocolatiershouldn’t make the same mistake.
WhileHaunted Chocolatierdoes 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 Chocolatierwill also focus more on combatcompared toStardew 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 thatStadew Valleyhad.
Haunted Chocolatier Should Have Better Fishing Mechanics on PC
If there’s one complaint that people will have aboutStadew 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 deemcatching fish inStardew Valleyplain “impossible” to do, especially on mouse and keyboard. Here are some of the chief complaints about it:
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 thecozy appeal ofStardew Valley. It’s understandable, as people likely boot upSDVto 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
IfHaunted Chocolatierfeatures a fishing mini-game, there are a few ways it could improve onStardew Valley’s original formula.Haunted Chocolatiercould take notes fromthe best fishing games of all timeand 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 inStardew 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 thanStardew 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
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.
