Secret Level Review – A Journey Through Gaming’s Past, Present, and Future

Secret Level is an animated anthology series that features 15 episodes, each based on different video game franchises. It’s produced by Tim Miller, the creator behind Love, Death + Robots, and aims to capture the essence of gaming in a visually stunning and imaginative way.

The series is an exploration of various games and gaming experiences, each one filled with unique art styles, stories, and concepts that draw from both classic and modern games. For the sake of this review, I will be touching on my personal episode highlights from the series as well as sharing my overall thoughts on Secret Level as a whole after having watched all 15 episodes.

Episode Highlights

Pac-Man

The Pac-Man episode initially threw me off because of its dark, grotesque tone. At first, I couldn’t understand how it was connected to Pac-Man, especially with the heavy and unsettling atmosphere. However, as the episode unfolded, I started to notice subtle references to the game. The story touches on themes of survival, and without giving too much away, let’s just say that the ending introduces a concept that mirrors the “loop” familiar to Pac-Man’s arcade experience. 

While it wasn’t immediately clear to me, after rewatching the episode, it finally clicked. I’d recommend giving it multiple watches—there’s a deeper layer that becomes more apparent once you look closer. This alone is why I have it as one of my highlights; it really stood out for me.

Exodus

This episode was surprisingly emotional. It tells the story of a father who is trying to follow the path of his daughter, who has left him behind in pursuit of her own future. The father’s journey is filled with deep emotions, as he struggles with the idea of letting go. From humble beginnings, we gradually see him adapt to the hardships of his journey. The animation helps to enhance this emotional story, with detailed environments of the sci-fi universe which is compelling as is, and realistic character expressions that draw you into the characters’ feelings. 

Travel through space and time. Enter 3x0du5 @ https://t.co/7bjJpufMyM #SecretLevel #Exodus @PrimeVideo @AmazonMGMStudio @ArchetypeEnt pic.twitter.com/lx3iKMrtGl

— Secret Level (@SecretLevelonPV) December 3, 2024

It’s a touching and emotional story that left a lasting impression on me, and it stands out as one of the more personal episodes in the series. It even made me interested in the upcoming game it’s based on towards the end.

Armored Core

As a fan of mechs, the Armored Core episode stood out for me with its thrilling mecha battles. It creatively uses dynamic shots that intensify the action. The episode also does an excellent job of putting you in the cockpit of a massive robot. 

The visual effects, combined with the fast-paced action, create an immersive experience where you feel like you’re controlling the mech yourself. The fight scenes are choreographed with care, and the whole episode feels like a high-energy battle that fits perfectly with the Armored Core franchise. The fight scenes are what I’ll remember the most from this episode.

Mega Man

Even though I’m not a huge Mega Man fan, this episode did a good job of making me interested in CAPCOM’s iconic blue bomber character. The animation style is sleek and clean, and the story keeps things short and sweet. I was hooked from the beginning because the episode offers a quick dive into Mega Man’s origins without wasting time. By the end, I found myself curious about the Mega Man universe, something I hadn’t considered seriously before. 

For long-time hardcore fans, it’s a nice teaser, and for newcomers, it’s a good way to learn about the character without feeling overwhelmed. Watching this made me wonder why we haven’t seen a full-length Mega Man movie yet—considering the character’s rich history, there’s a lot of potential for a captivating cinematic adaptation. CAPCOM, get on it!

Warhammer Space Marine

The Warhammer episode is full of action-packed scenes, showcasing the toughness of the Space Marines that even newer fans find familiar with, courtesy of Space Marine 2’s popularity this year. The episode does a fantastic job of making the Space Marines feel powerful and larger-than-life. The story itself isn’t too deep, but it’s a fun, action-filled episode that fans of Warhammer will enjoy. The battles are brutal, and the tone of the episode matches the war-like setting of Warhammer perfectly. It’s a great episode for fans of the series, and it’s sure to satisfy anyone looking for high-energy combat.

Overall Impressions

Secret Level brings a lot of creativity and energy to the table. Every episode feels different, whether through visual style, storytelling, or the themes it explores. The team behind the show clearly put a lot of thought into making each game feel unique, and it shows. Some of these key episodes stood out to me, so here’s what I felt about them.

From the emotional depth of Exodus to the intense battles in Armored Core, each episode is a distinct experience. It’s a perfect example of how video games can be brought to life through animation. 

However, not every episode is a home run. The anthology format means that the quality can vary from one story to the next. There are emotionally engaging episodes, like Exodus, and others that feel less impactful, perhaps due to weaker plots or scripts. For instance, the PlayStation episode, which I hoped would feature more cameos from iconic characters, didn’t deliver as much nostalgia as I expected. If you’re a PlayStation fan, you might feel similarly, wishing for more familiar faces from its rich catalog.

The series also has areas where it could improve. One noticeable issue is the sound balance in certain episodes. During intense action scenes, the sound effects often overpower the voiceovers, making it difficult to catch important dialogue. While this didn’t ruin my overall enjoyment, it was a distracting flaw that others might find off-putting.

That said, Secret Level is an exciting and creative series that offers something new with each episode. Its unique art styles and engaging stories make it a fun watch, especially for fans of video games. Whether you’re drawn to the emotional storytelling or the action-packed sequences, there’s something here for everyone. While some episodes may not resonate with every viewer, the series as a whole is definitely worth experiencing for its inventive take on gaming worlds brought to life.

For more information on Secret Level, visit their official website here and if you’re interested to check our other reviews, visit here.

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