Constructively speaking, I can actually fully understand why some people are frustrated at how lacklustre this first Content Update is.
It actually really typifies the central issue with Sea of Thieves as a whole., because like the Base Game, this Content Expansion doesn't really add much of Playable Value.
Sure, we have the Megaphone (Trumpet) and Drum as new usable Items., as well as the new Megalodon (Epic) Enemy... which I'm hoping can be repeated, but getting together 5 Pirates as well as having to keep playing the Summoning Song from Merrick to the Summon Location; well that's somewhat part of the problem here.
Now to me, the new Shark Hunter Tune is pretty awesome.
It's an original tune that you and others can play on the Instruments that makes great use of the new Drum Instrument... but even once you Complete the Shark Hunter Quest Line, you don't unlock it to play it whenever you want.
Bare in mind at present there's a total of 4 "Shanties" that you can play with your crew.
Of which only one is actually an original composition rather than a rearrangement to be played by the instruments in-game.
This was something that disappointed me at launch, as well there are a tonne of "Pirate" Songs … it was weird that the two Folk Songs chosen (forget their names) aren't actually Shanties,. heck, one as I recall is a Coal Miner Song.
Anyway point is, there are a lot to draw from assuming they don't want to add original compositions; yet here we are with a brand new (and catchy) Composition added to the game. Except, we don't get to keep it to play it whenever we want.
Sure, it could be tied to the Megalodon Spawning., but that's only if 5+ People play it (and as far as I understand it, within a certain Grid Square).
I don't see why (given the Left Trigger is unused on Instruments), we can't have it added to the "Play List" of Random Songs; once you complete the Quest to Learn it, and use the LT as a "Song Selection" button.
See, just this minor change not just adds another great song to sail along / get drunk in taverns / greet players with... but having a Selection Option would open up a great opportunity to use specific Songs and/or Instruments as "Keys" for the Riddle Quests.
I mean the same is true for the Megaphone and Speech-to-Text Functionality that is baked into the Game. Having to repeat a Catchphrase, Riddle, etc. would be really cool and also somewhat encourage people to actually use their Microphones instead of sitting in an Xbox Party / Discord / Disconnected.
I'd also agree with the sentiment above that having to Acquire and use Harpoons on the Megalodon would've made it a more awesome / epic fight. It could've actually had a "Rare" twist to it... where the Harpoons weren't simply Projectiles, but instead they have a rope tied to them as a means of launching yourself at surfaces (say the Hull of a Ship, or a Giant Shark). Allowing you to Scale it's Back to actually damage it with your Sword, with it every so often shaking throwing you off again... this would've changed up gameplay in an interesting way, as Boats would have to go fast to avoid getting Chomped by the Shark., but at the same time would need to essentially Slow / Stop to pick their Crewmen back up.
Of course this could also be used outside of the Megalodon Fight for Troll-y Boarding Actions., where you're not putting a hole in the ship (so, could go "Unnoticed") allowing you to Sneak on-board... swipe some Treasure... and leap to Freedom.
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In much the same way, I actually saw the Merrick Quest itself as quite "Story" Light.
Like, sure it's awesome having a 45 - 60min Riddle Quest that requires you to figure out the Clues... I thought it was a bit too simplistic in places and being sent to the Tavern W*****s for the "Next Clue"., as opposed to said step being a breadcrumb trail of clues was a missed opportunity.
Yet equally so, was it's all pre-determined., so you'd have various crews in the same locations and sharing information on how to rapidly solve it... I wouldn't be surprised if there wasn't a Complete Wiki Walkthrough within an Hour of the Update going Live., and that's a key issue with such pre-scripted approaches today.
It ruins the act of discovery and enjoyment from actually figuring out the clues., as others will then just walk you through the steps. Instead there should've been a bit of a procedural aspect to it, forcing you to complete (essentially) a unique to your crews set of Clues... once complete that then triggers the Map Grid for YOUR Crew.
Thus each time you want to run through it again, it's different and provides the same enjoyment and discovery aspect.
The current Riddle Treasure Hunts do this (to some degree) and it works quite well.
They can be quite enjoyable to figure out. This should've expanded upon that concept, being a more devious (harder) version... requiring more focus.
I'd also like to see "Notes" be added to you Pirate Journal (the screen that shows your Voyages, Commendations, etc.)… so that Lore your pick up remains there. An aspect of the Hungering Deep, could've been to repeat it enough times to Collect the whole "Diary of Bard Merrick"., along with a Commendation, Tattoo, and possible unique Items / Shanty.
There also needs to be more Voice Acting. Everyone In-Game is voiced by someone at Rare, so it's not like you're going to be paying through the nose for Professional VO Actors... and you have an on-site Recording Booth.
So, why is there basically ZERO Voice Acting? Why is everything Text with short Sample Greetings and Farewells?
This is part of what makes Sea of Thieves feel so, lifeless and empty... is the few Characters that do exist; only have a handful of lines which are all just written text.
Each of the Treasure Hunters, Traders, Mystics and Barmaids, etc. should really have A LOT of Character... have interesting things they say each time you interact with them., actually say things in-game.
I mean near launch there was actually a bit point made about how proud you (Rare) were that the VO was done in-house by the Development Staff themselves. Yet, there's so little of it... does it really matter? I'd love to hear the Dev Staff hamming it up., I thought the Golden Banana Quest Videos were pretty cool and thematic (and again that was another one of the Studio Staff, as I recall).
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I think what I'm disappointed the most about in terms of this Content Update, was I had a faint hope that after essentially 2 months., we'd FINALLY see some actual Storyline Quest... regardless of how brief it was, that expanded the Lore... gave us SOMETHING to cling onto in terms of why this world is Interesting, Fascinating and WORTH Exploring.
Some measure of involved PvE Content., that had us interesting more deeply with the Game and the World.
That's not really what we got though. Instead the Fidelity of the Game was improved (which is appreciated)… some more Cosmetic Customisation was added,. which yeah still don't really care about it given again; our Ships, nor World is persistent; so what is there to attach us to the Cosmetics beyond bragging rights?
It's all still a bit too much Flash with little Substance.
What I think A LOT of people were hoping for, was for some more Depth... even if it was for just this Singular Quest Line., anything to showcase that when the Expansion Drops; it won't just be essentially expanding the Map to include more Visual Variation., but would include New, Innovative, and Interesting Gameplay to explore.
I mean the worst aspect of Sea of Thieves, is we have this Ocean that just BEGS to be explored... but with the exception of Bottle Messages, and the exceptionally rare piece of Lore (which you can't even go back and look at later) that Randomly Spawns; well there's just really nothing much more.
Islands don't have their own unique mysteries and secrets to uncover.
There's no escalation by facing off against specific Undead Pirate Captains, that increase their Lore, add new Mechanics, etc.
As I said I didn't expect Hungering Deep to really add "A lot" (although given it was seen fit to change the Intro Logo to include 'Hungering Deep' on it, as if it were an Expansion) but just something that showcases that there is finally "A Plan" as opposed to just a Whiteboard Roadmap of loose ideas; which is what you'd have in Pre-Production before you began to throw the Lore Boffins at it to flesh it all out; giving the Artists a Clear Direction on what Content they need to focus on., and the Designers a clear direction of what Mechanics need to be there and interactable to create the experiences that the various Storylines, Mysteries and Adventures would uncover.
I'm not sure what the concurrent population is like right now., but nothing in Hungering Deep has really tempted me to want to come back to play regularly again … and bare in mind here that mid-way through the Pirate Legend grind., I felt like I was getting burnt out with the climb ahead just rising ever steeper.
There was nothing to really keep me engaged... I had hoped Hungering Deep was going to rekindle that to bring me back to play for another few weeks., but after being able to experience everything in a single sitting (basically 1-2hrs); well what is there to keep me hooked?
This NEEDED to be more,. or released last month.
I want to love this Game... I want this to be my "Go To" Game that I jump on whenever I have nothing else to play... but Rare., you're REALLY not helping.
