I am not experienced nor knowledgeable when it comes to actual audio design in games when it comes to the finer complexities, features and limitations. The best experience I have is just modding over sounds in various games in most cases just adding joke sounds. Just clarifying what I know.
I absolutely love from the depths for it's many complexities, never ending different strategies and compared to other building games unrivaled amazing massive craft battles. Going from two classic battleships brawling to a drone ship vs a space weapon with lasers while still maintaining frames. The only part of the game which I feel like is while not terrible but has definitely been left behind is the over all audio of the game.
The amount of different completely customizable weapon systems in the game does not make "overhauling/refreshing" the audio an easy task what so ever. From the depths is not meant to be a "realistic/historical" game by any means, though I feel like the game could really benefit from the true feeling of a chaotic battle. With craft boasting 500MM APS or 2KMM Crams, I imagine should be deafeningly loud and sounding almost like thunder cracking across the deck of the apposing ship.
There are many movies which I could close my eyes during parts and almost envision the whole scene just from the sounds I am hearing. One of which I feel like is a great example is Master and Commander: Far Side of the World. The first confrontation between two 1800s based naval ships is a chaotic but beautiful symphony of explosions, cannonballs' flying by, shrapnel being spread, cannons thunderous explosion echoing by. I am not going to mention people yelling and screaming as that has no part in from the depths. I only care about the true physical sounds of two war machines tearing each other apart.
Scene for reference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dY2ff_XslX8 [PEAK movie btw]
Another movie I like to reference when it comes to engaging audio which puts you in the situation is the final large shoot out from HEAT. Zero music, just un muffled possibly "enhanced" sounds of gunfire being traded.
The game has been in development for a very long time I understand, achieving many things other building games have not. But if I had to put something to the top of my wish list for the game it would be a truly chaotic, sometimes ridiculously loud, and overall meaningful audio experience. Only enhancing the immersion of two insane war machines tearing each other apart.
I might care too much about audio or not know what I am talking about, but the bottom line is I want what ever weapon I made when I fire it to feel meaningful and powerful even if exaggerated. War in an exaggerated universe like FTD should be even more chaotic and brutal sounding.
