Summary
Given thatHaunted Chocolatierhas a high bar to meet thanks to ConcernedApe’s debut success withStardew Valley, it could be beneficial for the developer to revisit content cut from the first game and rework old ideas into brand-new features. Since ConcernedApe has been upfront thatHaunted Chocolatierwould have a different, darker focus thanStardew Valley, players have seen some of these changes in trailers, ranging from combat to world design. ButHaunted Chocolatier’s contrast to its predecessor could lead it back to the scrapped ideas that didn’t make it intoStardew Valley.
Coincidentally, there even seems to be overlap between features cut duringStardew Valley’s development that would be better suited to the supernatural andcombat-heavy differences inHaunted Chocolatier. Certain characters, areas, and storylines that didn’t fit within theStardew Valleyexperience could easily be repurposed forHaunted Chocolatier, whether it’s a larger returning role for the Wizard to connect the two or a dedicated antagonist instead. These older cut ideas that the two games share could help establish the hidden connections betweenStardew ValleyandHaunted Chocolatierby embracing the former’s former content.
What Was Cut During Stardew Valley’s Development?
As a solo indie developer, it isn’t surprising to know that features planned duringStardew Valley’s developmentwere ultimately cut from the final game, either because there wasn’t enough time or certain ideas didn’t meet expectations. For instance, multiple unused food icons exist withinStardew Valley.ConcernedApe said that mechanics for butchering livestock were removed as they clashed too much with the game’s tone. In addition to this, there are several more sprites, items, dialogue options, and even maps that were removed fromStardew Valley.
Content Cut From Stardew Valley That’s Perfect for Haunted Chocolatier
While some elements like the unused skill-based titles of “Agriculturalist,” “Cropmaster,” and “Farm King” would be difficult to adapt toHaunted Chocolatier, others could be directly lifted without any problems. One example of this would be the multiple character-specific weapons that seemed to connectcombat withStardew Valley’s romanceoptions.Haunted Chocolatier’s focus on fighting could adopt this idea for its own romances and reward players for going out of their way to bond with NPCs. However, other features cut fromStardew Valleymight have better potential for enhancingHaunted Chocolatier’s story instead of just gameplay.
Connecting Stardew Valley to Haunted Chocolatier With the Wizard
SinceHaunted Chocolatieris more open about its supernatural side, many are expecting that it will build on the mystical elements established inStardew Valley, such as monsters like Krobus or a possible cameo from the Junimos. WithHaunted Chocolatierincluding supernatural ghostsas a key part of the game, an alternative cameo fromStardew Valley’s Wizard could connect the two games together.Stardew Valleyseems to have scaled back the Wizard’s development, as he appears out-of-bounds during certain festivals with unused dialogue and an implied mystery about Abigail being his daughter, soHaunted Chocolatiercould give him a bigger role to explore his backstory.
Stardew Valley’s Cut Antagonist Would Work for Haunted Chocolatier
As part of the extended introduction that was removed from the final game, it was originally planned for the players to explore the bus heading to Pelican Town and meetStardew Valley’s intended villain from Joja Corporation. ConcernedApe scrapped the idea of having a specific antagonist forStardew Valley, though JojaMart and its employee, Morris, continued to serve as an antagonistic force in the game’s background. But withHaunted Chocolatier’s combat focus and darker tone, giving the player a dedicated villain to fight against could work better, especially if it’s another JojaMart representative as another possible link back toStardew Valley.
