Secret Level: Season One | Review

Secret Level is a 15-episode anthology series based around video games. It is releasing on December 10th and I’ve gotten to watch it in its entirety for this early review. Every episode, barring the finale, is a story set within a game world.  Some are good, some are bad, and the last one is just a straight-up ad.  Overall I enjoyed my surprisingly short time with this series. I’ll explain why in an episode-by-episode review, that’s as light on spoilers as possible.

The Premise

Secret Level takes us through 14 game worlds over 15 episodes. There is no interconnecting narrative between them. Every story lasts between 6 and 15 minutes, telling a tale that gives you a feeling of what that game might be like if it were more real. There are some heavy-hitting IPs like Pac-Man and Dungeons and Dragons. Two of my favorites came from games I’ve never touched. New World and Honor of Kings told fascinating stories that far surpassed the short tale we got with Mega Man, for example. For this review, I figured I’d give a short synopsis of each episode with its own score, followed by a full season score at the end.

Dungeons & Dragons: The Queen’s Cradle

Our first episode opens with shockingly high-quality CGI.  Tim Miller and his crew at Blur Studios are flexing right off the bat. This is essentially the story of a DnD party coming together. There’s a Paladin, Druid, Mage, and more trying to help a young man who is about to be sacrificed by a cult. It drags on a bit too long for what is ultimately an origin story. It runs into one of the issues of these shorter episodes and that is the fight you want to see happen is left unresolved.

As the party comes together instead of seeing the epic battle we’re left with a cut to black. This happens a few more times throughout the season. This episode in particular was a bit cliché and easy to guess what was going to happen in each scene.  Overall it was beautiful but nothing that stuck with me after its 14-minute or so runtime.

Score – 5 out of 10

Sifu: It Takes A Life

This episode is the polar opposite of number one.  Clocking in at just around 6 minutes this episode essentially tells the tale of the entire game in a series of quick-cut sequences. If you know the plot of the game you know what will happen here. It is carried by some beautifully choreographed fights featuring an art style pulled straight from the title.  Instead of the uncanny valley look of the DnD episode we get a higher quality version of the game.

It’s a tale of live-die-repeat until goals are accomplished. Much like the first episode, it isn’t something I’d rewatch. There is a basic story here that does its job and succeeds as it doesn’t overstay its welcome. The fighting looks fantastic even if it is pretty chopped up due to the nature of the main character’s journey.

Score – 6 out of 10

New World: the Once and Future King

This one was a shocker. I’ve never played New World and knew nothing about it. The CGI work here is stunning, with a mix of the game character’s look that still seems oddly realistic. The gimmick for the title is that anyone on the island it takes place in cannot stay dead. This is used to great comedic effect as it tells a full story. We get a clear origin, journey, and satisfying conclusion that few other episodes this season get anywhere near.

It gets shockingly gory but it makes sense in terms of the plot. King Aelstrom, the main character, is a moronic prick. Without saying too much, what he goes through on the island started cartoonish and ends with a hefty dose of emotion.  This was the best overall episode of the series, and it’s for a game I will never touch.

Score – 9 out of 10

Unreal Tournament: Xan

I have played far too many hours of Unreal Tournament. This show is about robots, self-awareness, and the perils of capitalism. While watching it felt a bit bored the first time. The “unreal tournament” part of this was the numerous weapons and items pulled directly from the games. After stewing on it a bit and talking with my wife it grew on me.

The CGI work is a mix of realism and stylized that fits the franchise. They didn’t go for photo realism here and I think that helped a lot. It’s a fantastical, brutal future setting full of science-fiction technology. The main character being a robot is tough, given that they never speak a word of dialogue. The main thing missing for me was some of the game music to match the obvious level references. The plot was predictable but ended well enough to be, OK.

Score – 6 out of 10

Warhammer 40,000: And They Shall Know No Fear

This episode kicks major ass. It was my personal favorite, as someone lightly steeped in Warhammer 40,000 Space Marine lore. Featuring the main character of Space Marine I and II this one requires some knowledge to get everything out of it. It’s a typical, brutal, gory-as-all-hell Space Marine mission. Fighting the agents of Chaos among others it is incredible looking, matching the games but upping the quality ten-fold.

My wife didn’t know the lore and felt a bit lost on what was going on. I think how cool it looks will work for many, but I doubt it will hit as hard for you if you have no idea what say an Astropath is. It’s a bit self-indulgent in looking cool but it does it so well that I just wanted more.  Give me an entire show or movie of this, please.

Score – 8 out of 10

PAC-MAN: Circle

This is the weirdest, creepiest, and grossest episode of the series.  It asks the question “What is PAC-MAN and why would he be trapped in a maze?”. The answers are f’ing disgusting, and pretty damned amazing. It starts with nothing that would make you think of PAC-MAN outside of this helpful orb that is floating around our protagonist.

He is a “chosen one” meant to escape the maze. He’ll have to avoid ghosts and learn the truth of his predicament. It’s a chilling, horror, gore-filled beauty of an episode. I had no clue what was going on, wondering why is PAC-MAN a little floating robot until near the end. No spoilers, just watch without knowing anything else. It looks great, and unlike anything PAC-MAN has ever looked like before.

Score – 8 out of 10

Crossfire: Good Conflict

This is essentially an episode that turns a PVP match from the Crossfire series into a short film. It takes all the mechanics of a VIP mode, where a package must be escorted to a specific location, and it is thoroughly OK. Full of military-style talk and action, you’ll know what is going to happen well before anyone on screen does.

This returns us to the uncanny valley CGI look of some previous episodes. It all takes place in an oddly vacant city that is slowly besieged by a massive storm.  Much like the opening episode, it was fine and immediately forgettable. Soldiers shoot and blow each other up trying to extract/stop a maguffin.  Things happen, it’s over, and it left my brain forever.

Score – 5 out of 10

Armored Core: Asset Management

This one features Keanu Reeves in his swearingest role yet.  Lots of effin and jeffin as he plays an augmented pilot that no one likes. He’s a miserable prick who hates the world and just wants to get paid again so that he can drink himself closer to death. He’s got a classic lady robot voice in his mind that only he can hear. Is she real, is she not?  Yeah she’s probably real but you’re left to wonder unless you know the lore.

Action wise it looks amazing. The human characters look real, with Keanu’s character having his face and a really stupid hairstyle. The mechs look as cool as they do in the games. The action is fast with frenetic movements that occasionally use the in-game camera setup to make you feel like you’re controlling things. The story itself is weak, with an unsatisfying ending.  I’m sure it hits some key lore points that fans will appreciate.

Score – 6.5 out of 10

The Outer Worlds: The Company We Keep

I had high hopes for this one, and they were mostly delivered. Featuring Amos, a space orphan with unbelievable luck (at times) who is looking to earn a buck. He finds that Auntie Cleo’s company is looking for test subjects and he volunteers. Felicity was his friend who went to work for them, and he was hoping to finally see her again.

It’s The Outer Worlds, so capitalism has run amok and these tests kill most of their subjects.  Amos’ luck holds out (a bit) and we get an emotionally satisfying ending. The CGI takes the style of the game and dials it up to 100, with really weird-looking human characters that are just a bit off. I dug it, along with how well it felt like the IP.

Score – 7 out of 10

Mega Man: Start

That name “Start” should have been a warning. This episode looks so good.  I love the hyper-quality CGI look pulled straight out of the latter games. We meet Dr. Light, Rock, and a few robots in what is essentially an origin story for Mega Man. It’s incredibly short, clocking in just around 6 minutes.

Unlike Sifu, however, it’s not a complete story. Just as things start to kick off and we will finally get to see “Mega Man” it’s over, and my wife and I were kinda pissed off. It was amazing to see these iconic, decades-old characters in such a fantastic CGI look. To have it be one of, if not the shortest episodes of the season feels like a crime.

Score – 4 out of 10

Exodus: Odyssey

Exodus is a game I am highly interested in. A science fiction world that adheres to the laws of physics when it comes to light-speed travel and time dilation is my jam. That is the central tenant of this episode, featuring a father searching for his daughter after she takes off to find her purpose in life. The CGI looks good here, though it is so varied in locations that none of it stood out to me in the end.  There is a ton of travel, meaning lots more assets to create.

I am curious to see how much of what is in this episode becomes a part of the game itself. The lore is interesting, though fighting to not have aliens seem a bit generic is one of the toughest things in sci-fi. By the end, both my wife were a little bored, if they had been able to shave a few minutes off I think it might have served the pacing better. Still, I enjoyed the ending.

Score – 6 out of 10

Spelunky: Tally

I love the art style here. Spelunky has a distinct look and they match it well here. Featuring Ana, the protagonist of Spelunky 2, and Liz Mutton, it is essentially a murder montage. Spelunky is a roguelike game, which means no meta-progression. Every run has you trying to get through and defeat the final boss. This episode is about how that can wear one down, and so we see a little girl die dozens of times, played comedically.

It wasn’t really a story, which I guess makes sense for Spelunky. The growth of the character is obvious from the start.  She’s cocky, then fails, then gets propped up.  It was short yet still felt long, and seemed mainly focused on cameoing in as many in-game items/traps as possible. Unlike some of the other games it didn’t feel like they had a specific story to tell that worked for this IP so they just went with a life lesson.

Score – 4 out of 10

Concord: Tale of the Implacable

I felt bad when this one started up. It looks like their in-game cutscenes, but again dialed up a bit as it had more time and budget. This seemed to be an origin story for the game, though I never played it so I am not sure. Its main crime is featuring a group of pirates/smugglers who, of course, have hearts of gold.

You see they’re only shooting and killing because the big bad corporation makes them do it!  My wife said “This felt like wannabe Guardians of the Galaxy” as the credits rolled, and I couldn’t help but laugh. It is as painfully generic as the game was, and as painfully well-made but boring.

I can’t tell you if this pulled a lot from the game, but it definitely pulled a lot from Marvel’s styling. It looks beautiful, with a boring art style. It is utterly predictable and felt more like an ad for the game than most of the other episodes.

Score – 5 out of 10

Honor of Kings: The Way of All Things

I had no clue what Honor of Kings was, turns out it’s a mobile MOBA title. This was one of the better episodes of the series and should have been the finale. In this world, there are living cities that are controlled by something known as the TianGong. It deals with fate vs. choice and has a beautiful mix of ancient and modern looks that flows well.

This is a more cerebral episode that deals with choices, consequences, and responsibility. I am going to imagine that the living city is a part of the MOBA, and they used it as a springboard to tell a tale of revenge. It worked really well, having this lore used to tell a good story instead of using an IP to try and set up a game.

While it was a bit predictable on what would happen the way it got there was thoroughly satisfying. It isn’t easy to blend classic architecture with sci-fi-level technology. They did a fabulous job making this living city and its story make logical sense.

Score – 8 out of 10

Playtime: Fulfillment

Every episode before this finale took place in a game world, using that IP to tell a tale. Whether that tale was a new one, retelling a game’s plot, or being a little bit of an ad (Concord) they all took place inside a game.  Playtime is a long, cameo-focused advertisement for the PlayStation brand. It is pointless, and I do not understand why it exists in this show.

The protagonist is a hapless, useless, delivery driver who is constantly saved by a glowing being with deus ex machina powers. She delivers packages to get points, with a little robot flying above her head. None of this is a PlayStation game, it’s all real world with pixel graphics projected over things by the robots or her glasses.

At one point a mysterious figure hands her a special package which eventually leads to a lot of pointless PlayStation IP cameos. If you saw Kratos in the trailer, just know that is all he does.  He slams his axe into the ground, freezing it before our protagonist jumps over him on her bike.  There’s a Colossus from Shadow of the Colossus, some Helldivers show up and shout DEMOCRACY! And at one point Sackboy floats around for literally no reason.

In the end, she ends up in PlayStation world and it turns out those characters were just other ‘players’ taking on avatars?  I don’t know, I don’t want to know, it was awful. For a series dedicated to stories “only games can tell” this wasn’t one. There is no PlayStation video game that this is set in, it was a maddening inclusion and a disappointing ending.

Score – 2 out of 10

Wrapping Things Up

That’s our Secret Level review. The show featured some incredible highs I would love to see given a proper movie treatment. Most of it was just OK and I’m fine with it being done in this format, and a few were disappointing because they were far too short (I’m talking about you, Mega Man). A massively disappointing final episode that broke the setup of the 14 ones before doesn’t help. Still, if you have Amazon Prime and any interest in the premise I think it’s worth your time.