Secret Level review: Amazon’s gaming series doesn’t understand the assignment

2.0 out of 5 star rating

As a long-time gamer and enthusiast of all things digital entertainment, I must say that “Secret Level” has left me with a mixed bag of emotions. On one hand, the visual spectacle and action sequences are truly impressive, reminiscent of some of the most iconic video games brought to life on screen. The episodes based on Concord and Dungeons & Dragons, in particular, were stunningly beautiful and filled with moments that had me on the edge of my seat.

At the heart of Secret Level lies an impressive concept: this Amazon Prime Video anthology series aims to provide a platform for popular video game franchises to thrive on television. A variety of well-known brands have agreed to participate, ranging from Pac-Man to God of War and many others in between.

The project comes to us from Blur Studio, a creative production company full of animators and artists, which was founded in 1995 by Tim Miller. Years later, Miller directed the first Deadpool film, showing just how well he can handle action.

Over the past several years, gamers from all corners of the earth have grown accustomed to the outstanding creations of Blur Studio. Their groundbreaking CGI trailers have earned a legendary status in the gaming community.

2009 marked the moment I stumbled upon them, and it was none other than their awe-inspiring cinematic trailer for Star Wars: The Old Republic – Deceived. Frankly, it was so spectacular that some might say it raised the bar a tad too high for the game itself!

For quite some time now, they’ve been involved in various projects, ranging from Call of Duty to Dark Souls II. Consistently, they produce thrilling, visually impressive trailer and cinematics that truly ignite excitement.

Year after year, I’ve found myself echoing the sentiment that’s been consistently shared: Your work is stunning, it feels as if it could be transformed into an engaging television series!

In fact, Secret Level isn’t even their first stab at something like this. They’ve already made three seasons of the sci-fi anthology Love, Death and Robots for Netflix, picking up plenty of awards and acclaim along the way. They’ve also worked on the Sonic movies and their Knuckles spin-off show.

As I delve into the realm of cinematic experiences, I find myself captivated by the upcoming production titled “Secret Level”. This project, in my humble opinion, appears to be a stellar fit for the company, given its grandiose budget reminiscent of Amazon and an impressive array of gaming brands eagerly awaiting their chance to collaborate. If all goes as planned, this collaboration could serve as an exceptional platform for Blur Studio to showcase their creative prowess at its fullest extent.

In contrast, this critic contends that Secret Level may have missed the mark and not fully grasped the task at hand.

Is an anthology series truly the most fitting response when the feedback suggested creating a TV show instead?

The TV show called “Secret Level” consists of fifteen total episodes. For this evaluation, four out of these fifteen have been provided. Among the four given, the longest episode runs slightly over 18 minutes, while the shortest one is less than 15 minutes in length, considering opening and closing credits.

This issue arises because, although it’s a television series, each episode seems more like a teaser for a larger storyline yet to come.

The initial installment, focusing on Warhammer 40K, has an atmosphere that seems perfectly suited for a theatrical teaser of this year’s Space Marine 2 video game.

Evaluating an anthology series can be challenging as each episode presents a unique story. However, despite their differences, certain common themes or qualities can be identified across them.

Right off the bat, I must say that the action is simply outstanding in every aspect, and it’s no surprise coming from Blur Studio. Be it armored Warhammer characters battling aliens or robotic Unreal Tournament characters subduing their human oppressors, each fight scene is nothing short of breathtakingly impressive.

The voice acting is always high quality. The cast boasts some really big names like Arnold Schwarzenegger, Kevin Hart, Keanu Reeves and Gabriel Luna, so you know you’re in good hands there. Try not to get too distracted trying to tell who is who.

The visuals are equally stunning. The show centered on Concord (a recently discontinued multiplayer game for PlayStation, produced by Sony), is nothing short of breathtaking, featuring a vibrant universe reminiscent of Guardians of the Galaxy, providing an engaging adventure filled with charm and personality.

It’s a shame Concord isn’t still about, because this might have made you want to download it!

In a similar vein, the episode centered around Dungeons & Dragons boasts some truly captivating scenes when it comes to action and aesthetics. They’ve opted not to incorporate the widely recognized Baldur’s Gate 3 characters, but what they’ve substituted is equally impressive.

What these episodes share is a lingering sense of dissatisfaction; you’re left yearning for more, but it’s not the satisfying kind of longing. It’s disheartening to recall that since these are part of an anthology series, there won’t be any additional installments.

Each installment of Warhammer, Concord, and D&D seems to present only half of the tale. The characters are only beginning to reveal themselves, yet their narrative suddenly concludes, frequently in a suspenseful manner that leaves one puzzled about the fate of these characters, eagerly awaiting resolution.

Sometimes, it may guide individuals towards a similar game for further exploration, making for an exciting learning adventure. However, on occasion, there isn’t a game available that delves into the same narrative, leaving one feeling somewhat let down.

Giving Blur Studio a TV series offers them ample space for creative exploration. This extra time allows them to delve deeper into character development, evoke emotions from the audience, construct intricate narrative arcs, and ultimately resolve those arcs in fulfilling manners.

envision a series that manages to incorporate everything you’re describing, while maintaining the thrilling action and stunning visuals that Blur Studio is famous for – this could potentially become the most captivating program on television!

Instead, what we receive are extended trailers, some of which are more successful than others in creating engaging characters and narratives that manage to sustain your interest for roughly fifteen minutes.

In my opinion, the Warhammer episode seemed overly dark and lacked sufficient dialogues. Being relatively unfamiliar with this series, I struggled to understand the plot despite enjoying the majority of the intense action sequences, particularly the impactful fight scenes.

start, development, and conclusion. However, due to its brevity, those unfamiliar with it might find it hard to connect with the characters or appreciate why the outcome matters.

In a delightful twist, the Concord installment turned out to be an unexpected treat, brimming with humor and memorable scenes. Despite the possibility of getting confused about the numerous characters, you’re sure to have a fun time experiencing this journey. And if only that game it’s inspired by was still around, wouldn’t we all wish!

Watching the D&D episode is akin to peeking into a brief scene from a film. If given the chance, I’d gladly invest an hour or more to find out how the story unfolds further in this adventure. Unfortunately, it’s not possible to continue watching. I’m sorry.

In essence, it seems more like a series of lengthy previews masquerading as a television program. However, with eleven episodes left to view, it’s uncertain if the broader public will find it engaging.

Absolutely, we’re planning on reconnecting with Prime to catch the Pac-Man, God of War, and PlayStation-themed shows. Additionally, Sifu, Armored Core, and The Outer Worlds are all intriguing options for us too.

I’m crossing my fingers that by the end of the entire season, this will seem like a hidden truth that was worth sharing. At the moment, though, it may not appear that way.

2024-12-05 18:36

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