If ‘Secret Level’ Gets a Second Season, We Need It to Tackle ‘Dark Souls’

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  • ‘Dark Souls’ Is a Hugely Unique Work of Fantasy
  • ‘Dark Souls’ Has Extensive Lore That ‘Secret Level‘ Could Delve Into
  • ‘Dark Souls’ Is Perfect For ‘Secret Level,’ as Are FromSoftWare’s Other Games

As a long-time gamer and fan of FromSoftware’s masterpieces, I can wholeheartedly say that “Dark Souls” is a perfect fit for “Secret Level.” With its intricate lore, open-ended storytelling, and challenging gameplay, it offers endless possibilities for creative adaptation.

Gamers, get ready to rejoice and level up. Next week sees the official premiere of Secret Level, an animated anthology series that will be streaming on Prime Video. Each episode is set to take place in a different popular video game franchise (the season’s lineup includes Mega Man, Armored Core, and Dungeons and Dragons), telling a standalone story within each world. Borderlands aside, video game adaptations have finally started to see more acclaim in recent years, and this show may give us several different adaptations in one.

It’s a hugely promising premise, made even more enticing by the talent on display. The show was created by Deadpool director Tim Miller and developed by Blur Studio, which was behind the underrated Love, Death, and Robots, and the voice cast includes Arnold Schwarzenegger, Ariana Greenblatt, and Keanu Reeves. On paper, all the ingredients are in place for a hugely enjoyable anthology series, and it has the potential to last several seasons. But while Secret Level has yet to be confirmed for a second season, there’s one popular game franchise in particular we’d love to see it tackle in the future.

‘Dark Souls’ Is a Hugely Unique Work of Fantasy

It’s clear that the challenging Dark Souls series by FromSoftware, initially introduced through Demon’s Souls in 2009 and further popularized with Dark Souls two years later, offers an ideal backdrop for a Secret Level game.

The game was launched during the same year as the debut of “Game of Thrones,” and it’s fair to assume that these two creations significantly shifted mainstream fantasy towards a more ominous tone. The days of pristine, morally upright worlds like Middle-Earth and Hogwarts were behind us, as “Dark Souls” was characterized by a devastated realm where many humans were cursed with undeath, resulting in their relentless resurrection upon death, which eventually led to their mental deterioration.

In the prologue of Dark Souls, the world’s origins were detailed: an ancient fire called the First Flame, which ushered in the coexistence of life and death, was found by four rulers. Encircling the Flame, they discovered “Lord Souls,” granting them the ability to vanquish dragons and assert control over the world. As the Flame weakened, one of these Lords, Gwyn, sacrificed himself before it in a bid to preserve the “Age of Fire” and stave off the impending demise of the world. The main storyline takes place as the waning Flame threatens to expire once more, leaving the player with the decision to prolong the Age of Fire or end it for good.

The profound sense of hopelessness that characterized Dark Souls set it apart from other dark fantasy titles during its time and continues to make it distinctive even amidst widespread subgenre proliferation. By compelling players to ponder the significance of their decisions in a universe devoid of meaning, it was strikingly innovative within the realm of video games. If Secret Level can successfully capture this essence in a hypothetical second season, it would offer immense creative opportunities.

‘Dark Souls’ Has Extensive Lore That ‘Secret Level’ Could Delve Into

It’s clear that dedicated gamers would agree that what makes Dark Souls stand out is its gameplay, with nothing quite matching the thrill of conquering seemingly insurmountable odds and defeating a challenging boss. In line with the preferences of hardcore players, the narrative in these games is intentionally sparse. However, while the tales of the Dark Souls series might appear straightforward initially, they actually hide rich lore that’s accessible to those who wish to delve deeper.

In this game, players discover various items that contain text about the characters’ histories, including major ones and even bosses. Additionally, there are chances for deeper exploration through dialogues with non-player characters who share information about significant events in the world, or by examining the structures within the levels. Consequently, what initially appears as a simple narrative unexpectedly unfolds into an elaborate and meticulously crafted backstory. Moreover, the worldbuilding across all three Dark Souls games, set centuries apart from each other, is remarkably rich and complex, comparable to J.R.R. Tolkien’s development of Middle-Earth in its level of detail.

When it comes to remaking Dark Souls, there’s an abundance of creative avenues to explore. I might decide to weave a narrative within any of the three games’ settings, or delve deeper into the original Age of Fire, unfolding the tales of Lord Gwyn and his comrades. It could be intriguing to present the plot from the viewpoint of a cursed undead, using the character as a surrogate for the audience, offering a gateway into the series’ mythology.

The endless potential that Dark Souls offers makes it an ideal fit for future episodes of Secret Level. Similar to Dungeons & Dragons, there are numerous narrative paths or thematic perspectives you could delve into when exploring the world designed by Hidetaka Miyazaki. Given Dark Souls’ intentionally ambiguous storytelling style, it can serve as a creative sandbox where artists can make their unique imprints.

‘Dark Souls’ Is Perfect For ‘Secret Level,’ as Are FromSoftWare’s Other Games

If the dark fantasy genre appears to be overused, there’s a chance that other games from FromSoftware could benefit from a “Hidden World”-style makeover, considering they all share a similar narrative approach. For instance, Bloodborne offers a tantalizing mix of gothic and Lovecraftian horror elements, Sekiro presents a brutal take on the samurai era, and Elden Ring needs no introduction. If the “Hidden World” concept manages to deliver on its potential, it could breathe fresh life into all these titles.

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2024-12-08 05:04