Secret Level

I've always wanted a series like this. When watching cinematic trailers or cutscenes for video games I've often thought that some would make for peak television.

I knew the creators of love death and robots would nail another animated anthology series and am glad to be proven right. The Warhammer episode was definitely the highlight for me so far I really hope to see more in the future. My only complaint would to be given more time for certain episodes.

There are so many solid video game stories that this show can delve into and adapt into fleshed out episodes, the possibilities are very exciting and I'm glad they've gone for a more gritty and adult tone throughout. I am very pleased with what's been shown so far and am anticipating what's to come.

A lot of wasted potential, that's how I would define what happened with "Secret Level", I could also say that it was "Love, death and Robots" but bad.

This Amazon bet, which although it turned out fantastic (record viewing and confirmed a second season), did not seem to me to have lived up to expectations.

It bets only on one type of animation, it hardly experiments and we are only left with hyperrealism, which although it works for some chapters, it is not the solution to everything. Although the comparison with the Netflix series can be annoying, I think it is a great point of support when we evaluate "Secret Level" in general.

Another thing that was not right was dividing the episodes into two batches, with a first part that is far superior to the second in terms of quality and variety. Ending with a totally malicious Play Station advertisement.

When one thinks about the possibilities, the limits are infinite, however, in practice, only 4-5 chapters are rescued at most. Warhammer 40000 is the best episode without a doubt and I suppose I breathe a sigh of relief thinking about the series that Henry Cavill will star in in the future. It looks great, it's impressive, just a few minutes are enough to be inside the franchise.

Unreal Tournament was another episode that I liked, in that fight of the machines for survival against the corporation that wants to destroy them. It gives a little more in terms of the philosophical concept of the machines and their feeling.

The Pac-Man episode, although predictable, I also liked, it experiments with animation and is extremely dark, one of the few in that sense.

Honor of Kings, which has nothing to do with the LOL plagiarism game but has a very interesting background and concept. At the same time, it is the only episode of the second batch that is very good.

I hope that the next season is much better than this one and that great intellectual properties are included and that classics like Megaman are respected, which was a shame here.

All the episodes except few felt like game trailers, like what's the point of even making them if it's over before the conclusion. They have no plot elements or any kind of character developments. Few had very well laid out foundations and its execution was also well done. Ex: I was looking something in mega man episode. Maybe the next season they try a different approach.

So far the best ones are Warhammer, Unreal tournament and Armoured Core. These episodes have the best overall narrative which can be enjoyed as a story. Others were not bad but they felt like an afterthought or like a game trailer.

I don't know how they managed to separate the first season into 2 complete separate quality parts. First was pretty good, I would rate it a solid 8, especially the Warhammer 40k episode, that was a 10.

And now we get to the second part, every episode was bad and mediocre. I had to skip the Concorde one, irritating, the last was so cringe that had to skip again. The only watchable episode was the Exodus one. Meh, what a letdown. Finish a season on the lowest quality episode.

I had to change my initial 8 score to 6, and that is even gracious. Do better for season 2!

I had to change my initial 8 score to 6, and that is even gracious. Do better for season 2!

I've always had mixed feelings about anthology series. There's something frustrating about getting invested in an episode only to realize that's all there is to it. You might think the upside is that an anthology won't drag on endlessly, and, well, you'd be right! But still, I find myself craving that deeper connection that longer series offer.

When I heard that "Secret Level" was an anthology based on existing video game IPs, I thought it might be a decent change of pace. I'm a gamer, after all, so I figured I'd feel at home in these familiar universes. And for the most part, I was right - Season 1 of "Secret Level" does a commendable job with its stories, and I found quite a few episodes that really stood out.

The first episode that grabbed my attention featured none other than Arnold Schwarzenegger, who finds himself trapped on an island called Eternia, reliving his demise over and over again. It's a playful twist on the classic "Groundhog Day" concept and has more than a nod to 1950s cinema like "Jason and the Argonauts." I didn't realize which game IP it was based on, but honestly, I didn't even care. Arnold's humor shone through, and the 15-20 minute runtime felt just right. The animation was fantastic too- I could have mistaken it for a high-quality CGI feature.

Another standout was the episode tied to the upcoming game "Exodus." Picture "Interstellar" mixed with rebels in space, and you'll get the idea. The emotional core of this one revolves around a father searching for his daughter over many years, and it left a lasting impact on me. I genuinely can't wait for the game to drop! The voice acting, especially Michael Beach as the father, elevated this episode and added depth to the storyline.

Then there was the segment based on "Armored Core." I've never played it, but wow, I was impressed! It had the makings of a captivating series or movie. Keanu Reeves, typically more stoic, brought out genuine emotion in this role. I couldn't help but feel a nostalgic vibe reminiscent of Renny Harlin or Shane Black films, even if those directors are tangentially related to mechs. The atmosphere was gritty and snowy, adding to the experience.

While a few episodes didn't quite hit the mark for me-like those based on "Sifu" and "Mega Man"-they weren't terrible. They just felt too rushed, particularly "Mega Man." At around five minutes, I expected a punchy story, but it ended feeling more like a tease rather than a satisfying sip of water after a long run.

The finale felt a bit strange, as it seemed to showcase a mix of Sony's IPs, but it also exuded a vibe of uncertainty on how to wrap things up. It was enjoyable, just lacking a smooth conclusion.

Overall, I found "Secret Level" to be a delightful watch. It's the kind of show you can enjoy without needing to dedicate all your attention to it since each episode is a self-contained story. Plus, none of them were outright boring. I give it a solid 8/10 - a fun ride for gamers and casual viewers alike!