Online game diversifications have all the time been contentious topics. Many previously have been disasters or solely mediocre successes, with solely latest ventures like The Super Mario Bros. Movie, The Last of Us, Sonic and Fallout proving to be vital and viewers successes. But, the odd Minecraft and Borderlands nonetheless crop as much as tear down the repute of online game diversifications. But, studios are merely determined for present IPs they’ll flip a revenue on, so the subsequent online game iteration isn’t far-off. Nevertheless, Prime Video might have stumbled onto the easiest way to guarantee this objective in Secret Level.
Secret Stage seems to have been a smash success, with a second season already being greenlit. Nevertheless, even supposing, for my part, their anthological method, just like Love, Death, + Robots, is improbable for bringing distinctive and various diversifications of video video games we wouldn’t usually see, the Armored Core episode, “Asset Administration” is nearly cursed by how good it was, as I now have to see an prolonged season solely primarily based on Keanu Reeves’ character.
Not solely is that this narrative blessed to have already got some nice casting selections made for it, however the themes round habit and obsession really feel like wells of fabric that haven’t been explored to their full potential in a single episode. Lastly, this Secret Stage episode was maybe its best success at adapting an existing property in a unique way that also stays true to the core of Armored Core, arguably solely crushed on this facet by the PAC-MAN episode “Circle.”
‘Secret Stage’ Already Have the Excellent Casting in Keanu Reeves
From the very first body of The Pilot (Keanu Reeves), it’s clear who the facial reference is. Then, for anybody who hadn’t already gotten excited studying the forged checklist in preparation for the episode, listening to Reeves’ gruff is the cherry on high to instantly have you ever engaged. One thing about Reeves’ legendary pop-culture standing simply means precisely what you are going to get on this grim and gritty universe. That being a badass with nothing to lose, together with gripping motion. That’s precisely what’s then delivered. Watching Reeves touch upon the spectacular opponents he faces in their very own cores as they have interaction in a manic dogfight lets you expertise the identical sort of sick enjoyment that The Pilot is getting from this adrenaline spike. We already know Reeves can carry a whole franchise from John Wick and The Matrix, and “Asset Administration” performs to his strengths so properly, it is apparent that he can do it once more with Armored Core.
In fact, a sequence wants a full forged, hardly ever does one identify carry an important present very far, and Reeves just isn’t the one recognizable identify you may spot on this Secret Stage episode. Temuera Morrison, Patrick Schwarzenegger, and Steve Blum are all current on this episode, voicing the remaining characters aside from The Voice (Erin Yvette), a disembodied voice The Pilot can hear in his head and retains him firm. While the remainder of the supporting forged is nice, Yvette virtually steals the present, as her chemistry with The Pilot is an enchanting back-and-forth the place we do not even know her particular origin, which might be fascinating to get into. Yvette may definitely excel in a voice-over position particularly, together with her work on different video video games like Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, Good Night World, and Hades II being of nice service to her, in addition to giving extra overlap between the movie/TV and gaming worlds.
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Is ‘Secret Level’ Streaming? Where To Watch the Groundbreaking Video Game Anthology
All of your gaming favorites in a single animated place.
‘Secret Stage’ Gave Some Improbable Additions to the ‘Armored Core’ Lore
“Asset Administration” makes use of this forged to offer an enchanting commentary on drug habit and psychological well being inside the Armored Core universe. Reeves’ character appears not solely to be hooked on being the perfect however no matter is injected into him seems to be prefer it provides him some sort of stimulation, together with his eyes rolling into the again of his head when he hyperlinks to his core. It’s an effective way of giving your character a flaw, an addictive character, that really impacts him, because it forces him to by no means retreat or again down, in addition to bringing one thing distinctive to the Armored Core universe, as Secret Stage gives us with a protagonist who speaks. In distinction, all of the video video games’ main characters are silent.
Seeing how this might hold pushing him nearer and nearer to oblivion could be an exciting story, and provides us a extra private exploration of the online game’s universe, which is primarily targeted on the evils of capitalism with, in all iterations of the video games, firms taking enormous priority over public pursuits, to the purpose humanity both lives on one other planet or underground. That is the place an Armored Core sequence would fare very properly with viewers who need an prolonged narrative. These concepts of highly effective firms and nihilism would match into current-day society, with many around the globe feeling the squeeze of an ever extra capitalistic world. Taking this on a galactic scale, with billionaires ravaging earth to the purpose we should flee, as we comply with The Pilot’s nihilistic method to this grim universe could be an enchanting journey, as we might surprise whether it is attainable to be optimistic in such a world.
If we’re being utterly sincere, it’s unlikely that we are going to see a Keanu Reeves-led TV present. Merely put, if the intention was a one-shot anthology, that’s most likely the way it will keep. Nevertheless, if there was a wishlist for what Prime Video ought to take from Secret Stage and increase upon, it’s got to be “Asset Administration.” Keanu Reeves, together with Erin Yvette and the remainder of the forged, are nice picks for an Armored Core sequence and would convey basically tv audiences and gaming lovers. Moreover, Secret Stage gave us a novel have a look at the online game’s universe, with slight additions and updates to the sport that will permit a sequence the legs it could want for a full season run, from a vocal protagonist to embracing the core themes of Armored Core.
All episodes of Secret Stage can be found to stream on Prime Video.
An anthology sequence that includes 15 tales, every set inside iconic online game worlds, follows distinctive narratives that delve into a wide range of genres. From action-packed adventures to nostalgic reimaginings, the episodes join via vibrant animation and imaginative storytelling, providing a contemporary tackle beloved video games like Pac-Man, Dungeons & Dragons, and Mega Man.
- Launch Date
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December 10, 2024
- Forged
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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 - Creator(s)
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Tim Miller
