It's a Rare game, and most iconic Rare games were full of secrets, easter eggs and cross-game references. I find disappointing SoT is lacking in this segment.
Some examples from previous games:
- Jet Force Gemini : fish food, Jeff & Barry II Arcade Chip in the nightclub arcade on Ichor, Ivana the Bear and the ear plugs, Mizar 3D racer, Mr Pants...
- Perfect Dark 64 : hidden cheese, Carrington's wine collection, the Pond Punk bar in Chicago, the 'OZYMANDIAS' mystery about the password on Cassandra’s necklace, secret areas (Warehouse, Area 51...), the secret Skedar and the secret Maian...
- Banjo-Kazooie/Tooie : Stop'n Swap, Bottle's bonus puzzle games, secret room in Mad Monster Mansion, the picture of Conker in the Shipmate's Quarters of the Rusty Bucket, Donkey Kong doll, posters of Juno and Vela from Jet Force Gemini, the alien nammed Elvis (from Perfect Dark), Sabreman in Hailfire Peaks, Sharkfood Island...
It would be cool that Rare add some easter eggs and secrets later in the game and players would have to discover them. Some ideas :
- a secret shipwreck (different from other shipwrecks, you can only see it when swimming UNDER sea, no hints) called the Cetan ship (Perfect Dark) with an awesome and unique treasure
- A beautiful red bird (Kazooie) flying randomly in the sky. You are lucky enough to see her during your sailing (it would be extremely rare to see Kazooie), it triggers something unique and cool
- A bear (Banjo) hidding in a secret cave on an unmarked island. If you are lucky enough to find him, he will give you his instrument : a Banjo with Banjo Kazooie melodies (like Treasure Trove Cove and Gruntilda's Lair)
- a secret UFO (why not after all ?) which crashed somewhere in the sea, nearby an island. Inside, Elvis doll you can put in your Captain's room
- A Jet Force Gemini treasure chest (same model as in the N64 game/Rare replay) in a random location which contain... fish food ! If you use fish food, plenty of sharks (does the Kraken also like fish food ??? Hmmm) arrive in the area. Could be useful when fighting another ship. Better not to fall into the sea at this moment
- a hideous anglerfish somewhere in the ocean, called Lord Wood Fak Fak according to legends. Only at night, and if you think you catched sight of the yellow light on his angler, better to leave the area immediatly, full sails
- a squirrel (Conker ?) playing with chickens and pigs. Extremely rare, if you see the squirrel, you are very lucky. Indeed, it means that there is gold and jewels (5k) on this island. But the squirrel hid the treasure (naturally, Conker loves money and doesn't share it)
- Captain Blackeye driking in the back room of a tavern. To open the door, you have to accomplish something (discovering the Rusty Bucket's treasure). When you are able to talk to him, he will rant about how a bear stole his glory. If you talk to him four times, he will try to attack you, but being too seasicks, he will fall over onto his back.
I think secrets and easter eggs would add more reasons to explore the depths and the islands. Rare could also announce who is the first to discover theses secrets, which could encourage players to find them all over the map. It would also add needed variety in the game.
What do you think ?
