ConcernedApe fans unite - a new Haunted Chocolatier screenshot has dropped, this time revealing a Boss enemy in the game!
Eric Barone (@ConcernedApe) is currently the solo developer of Haunted Chocolatier. While the game bears some similarities to Stardew Valley, Barone has stated that it will have a host of exciting new features. Notably, one of these revamps includes combat, and this new screenshot shows a significant aspect of that revamp - boss fights.
Essentially confirming that boss fights will occur in Haunted Chocolatier, Barone's latest screenshot has fans buzzing with excitement over the development.
**Content Warning: The following images contain clusters of empty honeycombs, which may be upsetting for those with trypophobia.**
A New Look At Haunted Chocolatier's Boss Enemies
In the screenshot, we see a player character dressed in a burgundy shirt and army-green pants, complete with a Thor-like hairstyle. The floor and walls are set in a honeycomb texture, with small bees emerging from the empty combs. Liquid honey glows a warm deep yellow, and a collection of stings stands menacingly in the bottom corner. Mid-run in a honeycomb-covered room, the player faces off against a giant Bee enemy.
The large, wide green eyes and particularly pointy stinger make it clear that this bee is no mere dungeon enemy! With its size and command of the room, many believe this enemy is actually a Boss Enemy - the first we've seen in Haunted Chocolatier.
Via Eric Barone (@ConcernedApe) on Twitter
As exciting as the art itself is, this screenshot of combat is particularly special. It presents a small look at the game's revamped combat system. Barone himself has said that Haunted Chocolatier will lean more towards the action RPG genre compared to Stardew, giving a more robust focus on combat.
That's evident here: we see a true boss enemy, settled within its own lair and potentially unique set of attacks. The introduction of Boss Enemies is new to the Barone library of games, making this a particularly exciting feature. It's currently unconfirmed whether or not this Bee Boss enemy resides within a dungeon crawler-style cave. Though, it's clear that Haunted Chocolatier is ready to give its players a bigger combat challenge.
On a smaller note, we also get a glimpse at potential character creation! The player character in this screenshot is dressed entirely differently from previous screenshots; so, it seems like Barone is building a character creation system as well!
A Surprise Feature of Haunted Chocolatier's OST
Even cooler, Barone also released a 1:30min clip of the Bee Boss battle music. This is the first time we've gotten a music reveal for the game, and of course, the song is full of character. Titled "bee_boss.ogg", it also confirms that this bee enemy is a full-on Boss.
The bouncing buzzes combined with a jaunty haunting tune paint a perfect picture of the game's mood: upbeat, energetic, with a dash of eerie flair. Listen to the full track down below:
Currently, Haunted Chocolatier has no release date. It's only been in development for under two years, so it will be sometime before it's fully released. In the meantime, keep your eyes on Barone's social media (@ConcernedApe) or here on DualShockers for the latest updates!