Prime Video
‘s new Anthology Series, Secret Level, started out as a mixed bag thanks to the divisive response from critics. Whether it was the episodes’ runtime or the expectations surrounding the treatment of the IPs the series adapts, the reception hasn’t been entirely positive. But now, things seem to be turning in Secret Level’s favor, as the Rotten Tomatoes Audience score has hit 83%, indicating that the show has resonated with most fans in one way or another.
Released on December 10, Secret Level was developed by Tim Miller (Director of 2016’s Deadpool) and is in the vein of the previous anthology project he worked on under the production company Blur Studios for Netflix, Love Death and Robots. The standalone narratives of each episode range anywhere from 10–19 minutes and include major names such as Keanu Reeves and Arnold Schwarzenegger, giving Secret Level an air of prestige. Moreover, episodes based on games like Pac-Man and Unreal Tournament take an unorthodox approach to bringing the titles to life, which keeps the series unique.
Despite the short runtimes, Secret Level boasts varying perspectives in each episode, creating an entirely new context for fans wanting to see their favorite video games brought to life through stunning computer-generated animation. With the rise of quality in video game adaptations, it’s refreshing to see that audiences continue to be receptive to a genre that’s struggled with producing worthwhile projects in the past.
‘Secret Level’ Still Has Several Episodes Left to Go
While this positive audience score for Secret Level is encouraging for the series, the second half still awaits. Expected to adapt select PlayStation titles and gaming icon Mega Man, there’s plenty to look forward to in the upcoming episodes of Secret Level. However, there’s a chance that the audience score may dwindle should viewers not be as receptive to the last seven episodes. And this could very well be the case, as some critics have said that the realistic animation style was a disservice to some titles. Still, there is a level of enjoyment to be had in Blur Studios’ aim to deliver a new perspective on classic video games.
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Secret Level seems to have succeeded with the first half of Season 1 thanks to its delicate balance of reverence for the source material (in some episodes, if reviews are to be believed) and willingness to create something unique to whatever game it brings to life. The high-quality animation undoubtedly played a role in its high audience score as well. Even for those who aren’t a fan of the video games being adapted, the short-form storytelling has the benefit of appealing to general audiences.
Fans of the series can check out the rest of the season when the new episodes are released on December 17. Between Secret Level and Fallout, released earlier this year, Prime Video is setting its catalog up with exciting video game adaptations done across two different mediums. Whether the streaming service continues this momentum with another project remains to be seen. For now, gamers and casual fans alike can enjoy the short bursts of storytelling that Secret Level offers. Even if the series doesn’t stick the landing, there’s always potential for future seasons to better and more creatively adapt other famous (and less known) video games.
- Release Date
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December 10, 2024
- Cast
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Keanu Reeves
, Parry Shen
, Ping Wu
, Lydia Look
, Nelson Lee
, Feodor Chin
, Rae Lim
, Erin Yvette
, Temuera Morrison
, Patrick Schwarzenegger
, Steve Blum
, Noah Manzoor
, Madeleine Knight
, Laura Wohlwend
, Delroy Atkinson
, Umulisa Gahiga
, Paul Ridley
, Rita Estevanovich
, Tracy Wiles
, Arnold Schwarzenegger
, Steven Pacey
, Gabriel Luna
, Arazou Baker
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