Secret Level (Amazon Prime Video) – Review

The history of video games runs rich and deep, with various trailblazers leaving their mark on the concept of play over the years. Whether it’s the era of 16-bit pixel glory, or the future in mocap (short for motion capture) realism, there will always be new milestones that spring up, begging to be surpassed by another creative force. 

While it’s easy for the general crowd to dismiss the significance of an entertainment medium, the enduring presence of beloved titles in pop culture says otherwise. Characters and mascots have become household names, while timeless classics act as a bridge between generations, and it’s moments like these where one revisits the reminder that video games are a form of art. 

Secret Level, the adult animated anthology from Love, Death + Robots creator Tim Miller, looks to celebrate the undervalued craft and its various elements, from visual flair to voice acting. The 15-episode series strings together standalone short stories based on several well-known video game titles and franchises – Armored Core (FromSoftware), Concord (Sony Interactive Entertainment), Crossfire (Smilegate), Dungeons & Dragons (Wizards of the Coast), Exodus (Archetype Entertainment), Honor of Kings (TiMi Studio Group), Mega Man (Capcom), New World: Aeternum (Amazon Games), Pac-Man (Bandai Namco Entertainment), PlayStation (SIE), Sifu (Slocap), Spelunky (Mossmouth), The Outer Worlds (Obsidian Entertainment), Unreal Tournament (Epic Games), and Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 (Games Workshop) – to deliver an enjoyable time. It doesn’t necessarily add value to existing lore, but there’s some genuinely interesting and bold exploration of ideas here, albeit inconsistent across the board. 

Like most anthologies, the show’s isolated format allows for a certain degree of freedom, as viewers can choose which episodes to watch or skip depending on personal preference. The lack of a connected narrative also offers a quick and easy watch, with runtimes running anywhere from seven to 18 minutes. The flip side, consequently, is the likelihood of missing out on a compelling or entertaining jaunt due to disinterest, lack of awareness and other considerations, which is unfortunate. 

Take, for instance, Concord. The first-person hero shooter game succumbed to the wretched fate of permanent closure even before Secret Level was out, but its episode shows a glimmer of what it could have been. Although far from a masterpiece, the vibrant art style and natural camaraderie between the characters, highlighted through playful banter, pack infectious energy that, at the very least, proves to be entertaining. The presence of established voice actor Laura Bailey (Critical Role, The Last of Us Part II) certainly helps matters, bringing some star power into the mix – despite not playing the lead role. 

To that end, an eclectic mix of novelty and familiarity can be expected. Where some stories are an extension of canonical elements, others feature an original spin that wouldn’t feel out of place in a new setting. The Pac-Man animated short, starring Aleks Le (Tokyo Revengers, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba) and Emily Swallow (The Mandalorian, Supernatural), is the most prominent example, presenting a gritty, twisted reimaging of the classic arcade game with a clever twist on the character’s voracious appetite. In fact, it’s easily one of the more gripping stories, topped off with painterly aesthetic, crisp scene transitions, considerable bloodshed, and gothic influences. 

The yellow gobbler joins other iconic faces in Secret Level, including the Space Marines from the Warhammer 40,000 franchise, Mega Man, and various characters in a special episode dedicated to PlayStation properties. Not all of them stick the landing fully, however – the first delivers on its action set pieces, lore references, and atmospheric immersion, but Mega Man runs a little too short and is comparatively weaker in execution. As for the PlayStation outing, the reliance on nostalgia and Easter egg excitement borders on overindulgence, without a strong enough hook to retain interest and accompanied by the occasional cheesy, awkward dialogue (“The world used to feel like that,” really?).

Instead, it’s the more niche works that take the spotlight. The Sifu entry clings to the striking flair of the original title, pairing neon-soaked visuals with a cel-shaded stylisation, and employs a mixed artistic direction that sets up an opening transition to a black-and-white sequence. More importantly, it doesn’t forget its roots and dishes out high-octane, hard-hitting martial arts choreography, even sneaking in a reference to the character’s pendant in the source material (if you know, you know). 

Spelunky, led by up-and-coming star Ariana Greenblatt (Barbie, Borderlands), also charms with its humour-laced treatment of repeated deaths – a common occurrence in the source material – and a lively hand-painted look. Elsewhere, the Honor of Kings and Outer Worlds episodes are a deft exploration of themes like determinism and free will, as well as morality. The latter, in particular, plays well into its choice-based gameplay and proves adept at replicating the game’s distinct colours and dieselpunk design. 

The variety in genre storytelling and animation styles is welcome – considering that some series will naturally receive more love and attention than others, bringing more attention to lesser-known and indie titles makes for a nice little gesture. Even so, Secret Level tends to lean into shooter IPs, which while ideal for quenching the thirst for tense, adrenaline-filled action, can lead to overly familiar and generic story beats. Certain picks may also come across as bizarre or unexpected, especially with many beloved franchises missing from the list, but something’s got to give in the face of constraints. 

The greatest draw for non-gaming enthusiasts and newcomers, though, is its accessible nature. Backed by a star-studded voice cast that includes Keanu Reeves (John Wick, The Matrix), Arnold Schwarzenegger (The Terminator, Total Recall), Temeura Morrison (The Mandalorian, Aquaman), and more, the anthology series eliminates the need for prior knowledge of all source material, chronicling each tale in a highly digestible, jargon-free manner. Sure, “Cult of the Dragon” may be referenced in the Dungeons & Dragons episode, but the lack of context won’t influence the understanding of events in any way. 

If there’s one nitpick to highlight, it’d be the end-slate treatment. While there are rare exceptions to the rule, Secret Level is fond of the cut-to-black technique, which can be anticlimatic and in specific cases, comes across as lazy. This, coupled with uneven execution and the occasional uninspiring narrative, chip away at an otherwise solid and commendable attempt of combining both old and new, hewn together by artistic diversity, respect for the original inspiration, and action thrills. 

Is it necessary? Not really. The sub-20-minute runtime of each episode doesn’t leave much room for fleshing out existing lore and worldbuilding elements meaningfully, with the bite-sized outings acting more like a filler of sorts. However, the show has plenty of heart, making it easy to enjoy the ride. 

Secret Level premieres worldwide on 10 December, with two episodes released every week.

Si Jia

Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.