Stranded Deep’s release on PlayStation Plus brought it to more people’s attention. Those who enjoy single player survival sims are going to absolutely love this game, albeit some technical setbacks are indeed found here and there. Don’t expect to be led by the hand as you figure out what to do and how to do it, there are no tutorials to help you out.
If the developers manage to include online co-op at their earliest convenience, Stranded Deep has the potential to become a great deal more engaging than it currently is. Despite that, enjoying a lonesome swim is not all that bad… Unless some sharks plan to join you.
7 Blacktip Reef Shark
You should know that there are two types of sharks in this game: passive and aggressive. Blacktip Reef Sharks are passive, so they only swim around you out of curiosity. Don’t attack them to obtain their hide or meat, they can potentially swim away to flee, and you won’t be able to kill them regardless. So don’t fret if you see one of these harmless creatures.
Like their name suggests, these sharks inhabit reefs and therefore live in shallow waters. You can likely encounter one of them swimming around most islands in the game.
6 Whale Shark
These ones can only be found in the open sea. That isn’t much to go on, considering most of the map is, indeed, the open sea; however, you can tell a Whale Shark apart from the others due to their typical spotted coloration. Moreover, they are considerably bigger than almost every other shark in the game, except The Meg.
Whale Sharks are passive, so bring a crude or refined spear to hunt them. Make sure to wear some repellent while you do that, to prevent attracting other sharks to your position.
5 Tiger Shark
Start exercising caution when you see a Tiger Shark. This dangerous fish is rather common since it can be found both in the deep ocean and shallower waters around islands, especially in the Sand Plains biomes. You can distinguish them thanks to their distinctive stripes that run alongside their bodies.
The best way to kill one of these aggressive sharks is to stand on a structure generated by the game, since any shark won’t be able to destroy them. When attacked, the Tiger Shark hastily backs away from you, only to prepare for a swift comeback, so keep your eyes peeled and your spear ready.
4 Hammerhead Shark
Although Hammerhead Sharks are practically the easiest type to tell apart from others, they are pretty rare and pretty aggressive. It is unclear where they precisely spawn, although a few players managed to encounter them around shipwrecks. Like Tiger Sharks, Hammerheads live in both deep and shallow waters, they’re just harder to come by.
If you run into one, have at least 8 spears at your disposal or better ranged weapons. When killed, a Hammerhead drops 3 large meat and 3 rawhide.
3 Goblin Shark
This is easily the scariest looking creature in Stranded Deep — it’s like a monster out of a Resident Evil game. In real life, Goblin Sharks are found in the deepest parts of the ocean and spend most of their lives in the dark. Their eyesight is poor and they can’t swim fast. Unfortunately for you, in this game they are absolute killer machines, capable of reaching great speeds and inflicting tons of damage.
That might not be enough to scare you, though. You can find a Goblin Shark casually swimming in deeper areas away from land, most likely when approaching islands from a considerable distance.
2 Great White Shark
Naturally, this iconic aquatic creature had to be included in a game about being stranded in the Pacific Ocean. You can find a Great White swimming in deep waters, and also in the Barren or Deep Sea biomes. They are also located around buoys, where you can often spot them idly swimming. Bring your best weapons, like the refined spear and a speargun, to hunt one of these sharks effectively.
Although Great Whites in real life rarely attack humans, the ones in Stranded Deep grow exponentially more dangerous the longer you stay in the water. In some cases, they can flip your raft and force you to fight them on their turf, where you’ll likely become their dinner very quickly. It’s best not to engage a Great White unless you already have some experience hunting sharks.
1 The Meg
Short for Megalodon (you know, the primordial giant sea monster that dominated oceans 20 million years ago), The Meg is one of three bosses in the game, and it is also the biggest shark you can find. It spawns only in a special boss area, that’s randomly procedurally generated, like the rest of the game. You’ll know you found it when you see a shark eating a whale above the sea’s surface — that’s The Meg. The Call Of Duty Zombie wonder weapons would really help if you plan to hunt this creature; too bad they are in another game.
Go back to this area with plenty of healing items and weapons, unless you already have them on you. The Meg can jump out of the water to take a good old bite out of you, which inflicts bleeding damage. It can also drag you while you’re underwater, so spend the least amount of time there. Its attacks patterns are similar to a Great White’s, so practice a bit beforehand. Successfully killing The Meg rewards you with an aircraft part, needed to beat the game’s storyline.
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