Secret Level Review: Video Game Anthology Has Too Many Losers

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As a seasoned gamer with decades of pixel-pushing under my belt, I must confess that “Secret Level” left me feeling more like a level boss defeated than a victorious player. Coming from Tim Miller, the mastermind behind the captivating “Love Death + Robots,” this new adult-oriented animated anthology series seemed like a promising blend of my two favorite pastimes: gaming and animation.

As a devoted admirer, I’m thrilled to share that the adult-oriented animated anthology series, “Secret Level,” hailing from Prime Video, bears the signature of Tim Miller, the mastermind behind Netflix’s “Love Death + Robots.” Remarkably, Blur Studio, under Miller’s guidance, handles a significant portion of the animation for both shows. Intriguingly, several talented writers and directors from “Love Death + Robots” have contributed to the creation of “Secret Level.

A key distinction lies in the fact that “Love Death + Robots” is generally excellent (you can check out some top-notch episodes here), while “Secret Level” tends to be mediocre to poor. It’s important to note that anthology series often exhibit inconsistency, so I must allow for some flexibility when evaluating them. However, the strong aspects of “Secret Level” are more akin to the mid-tier episodes of “Love Death + Robots,” and the weak points are both too low and occur far too frequently. As a fan of “Love Death + Robots,” I found “Secret Level” reminiscent of what critics wrongly claim about “Love Death + Robots”: a collection of dull tech demonstrations and video game cutscenes, prioritizing violence over compelling narratives.

Regardless of your opinions on its controversial themes, Miller’s past works were primarily fueled by a deep affection for art. His latest series may stem from similar passions, yet it appears that the pressures of marketing too frequently compromise the artistic goals.

Journey into the underlit uncanny valley

10 out of the 15 episodes in Season 1 of “Secret Level” share a near-photographic visual style. The rest, including “Sifu,” “Spelunky,” and others like “Mega Man” and “Honor of Kings,” have distinct styles reminiscent of “Arcane.” The “PAC-MAN” episode, however, offers the animators an opportunity to experiment with unique stylistic choices. I find myself drawn more to the diverse styles in “Love Death + Robots” compared to “Secret Level,” as it pushes the boundaries of photorealism even further while showcasing a wider range of artistic styles.

I attribute the limited variety in style to the current state of the video game industry, which tends to emphasize visual complexity over aesthetically pleasing design. Although some realistic episodes of “Secret Level” manage to pull off the style effectively, many others become either monotonous or even discomforting to watch. The first episode, inspired by “Dungeons and Dragons,” is particularly problematic: the dim lighting often makes it difficult to discern what’s happening, and when one can see the characters, the CGI falls into the unsettling uncanny valley. The “The Outer Worlds” episode doesn’t struggle with darkness, but its character animations in the uncanny valley are so poor they diminish an otherwise intriguing narrative.

Among all episodes, “Crossfire” seems the least engaging due to the lack of fantastical or futuristic elements typically enhanced by CGI, and also because it doesn’t seem to exploit animation’s potential for exaggeration or stylistic flair. Instead, it appears that live-action adaptation would have been more suitable. “Warhammer 40,000” came quite close in terms of boredom, though fans might find something appealing there; however, I found myself struggling to find any hooks and the gritty, dusty environment made it difficult to truly appreciate the combat scenes. The “Unreal Tournament” episode felt like watching someone else play a video game, with some unremarkable dialogue about revenge and rebellion interspersed throughout.

Does anything work in the show?

In simpler terms, I didn’t dislike all of “Secret Level.” My preferred episode, modeled after the MMORPG “New World,” presents Arnold Schwarzenegger as a self-absorbed king who discovers he’s not the best at everything, stuck in a loop of death and resurrection similar to “Edge of Tomorrow.” It’s entertaining, violent, and surprisingly heartwarming. Another standout episode is “Armored Core,” where Keanu Reeves, our second major celebrity casting, plays a mecha pilot grappling with the voice within his cybernetic mind. The action is thrilling, and the conclusion is appropriately gloomy.

The “Honor of Kings” episode stands out as exceptional, blending striking visual effects with a thought-provoking narrative exploring the themes of free will versus determinism.

Later on, we encounter several episodes that seem more like previews than self-contained shorts with real substance. Most of these are harmless. The “Sifu” one piqued my interest about the game, while the “Mega Man” one, surprisingly heartwarming for a mature series, appears to be trial footage for a potential full-length film adaptation. “Spelunky,” written as if it’s a player’s personal thoughts on the roguelike experience, is charming but definitely feels like an advertisement.

The short for “Exodus” is definitely selling you something — a video game that isn’t even out yet. The voiceover-heavy storytelling and brief introductions to a bunch of planets feels like checking off marketing boxes rather than offering a satisfying experience in its own right. The worst offender, however, is the “Playtime” season finale, a cheesy “Ready Player One”-esque short with the sole purpose of triggering your memberberries for … the concept of the PlayStation (‘member Kratos? ‘member Sackboy? ‘member Shadow of the Colossus?”). This final episode solidified my overall feelings of annoyance with “Secret Level.” And with the rise of genuinely good-to-great shows like “Arcane,” “The Last of Us,” and “Fallout,” I can no longer even damn it with the faint praise of being “one of the best video game adaptations on TV.”

“Secret Level” premieres on Prime Video on December 10.

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2024-12-05 18:31