MOVIE NEWS – Gamers, it’s time to celebrate and get ready to level up! The highly anticipated Secret Level, an animated anthology series, is set to premiere next week on Prime Video. Each episode will explore a different iconic video game franchise, with this season including Mega Man, Armored Core, and Dungeons and Dragons. As video game adaptations like The Last of Us and Sonic the Hedgehog continue to garner praise, Secret Level promises to deliver multiple captivating adaptations in a single series.

The concept is undeniably thrilling, and the exceptional talent behind the show only adds to the excitement. Directed by Tim Miller of Deadpool fame and developed by Blur Studio—the team behind the underrated Love, Death & Robots—the series also features an impressive voice cast, including Arnold Schwarzenegger, Ariana Greenblatt, and Keanu Reeves. With such a strong foundation, the show has the potential to become a long-running hit. Although a second season has not been officially announced, one video game franchise stands out as a must-have for the future: Dark Souls.

Dark Souls Is a Masterpiece of Dark Fantasy

To put it simply, FromSoftware’s critically acclaimed and notoriously challenging Dark Souls series offers a rich, atmospheric world that would make an ideal setting for Secret Level. The franchise debuted with Demon’s Souls in 2009, but it was Dark Souls in 2011 that cemented its legendary status among gamers.

Released the same year as Game of Thrones began airing, Dark Souls and the HBO series both pushed the fantasy genre into darker, more morally ambiguous territory. The game takes place in a world teetering on the edge of collapse, where humanity is plagued by an undead curse that traps people in a cycle of resurrection, leading to madness. Unlike the optimistic realms of Middle-earth or Hogwarts, the world of Dark Souls is defined by despair and decay.

The opening cinematic of Dark Souls provides a haunting backstory: the discovery of the First Flame, a primordial fire that introduced life and death into the world. Four powerful Lords claimed the Flame’s power, overthrowing ancient dragons and establishing dominance. As the Flame begins to fade, Gwyn, Lord of Cinder, sacrifices himself to extend the Age of Fire. Players are thrust into this bleak world as the Flame weakens again, ultimately tasked with deciding whether to prolong the cycle or end it forever.

This sense of bleak futility is what makes Dark Souls so distinctive, challenging players to question their choices in a world where nothing seems to matter. A Secret Level adaptation could bring this existential depth to life, showcasing the franchise’s philosophical themes to a broader audience.

Dark Souls Offers Endless Narrative Possibilities

Although Dark Souls is renowned for its gameplay, the depth of its lore is equally compelling. The minimalist storytelling approach allows players to uncover an intricately detailed world through item descriptions, environmental clues, and cryptic dialogues with non-playable characters.

A Secret Level episode could explore countless facets of the Dark Souls universe. It might focus on the original Age of Fire, delving into the lives of Gwyn and his companions, or it could center on a cursed undead protagonist who serves as a guide for newcomers to the franchise. The series’ iconic bosses, such as Artorias the Abysswalker or Ornstein and Smough, could also take center stage, offering rich material for standalone stories. The open-ended nature of the lore provides unlimited creative potential, making Dark Souls a perfect fit for the series.

FromSoftware’s Other Games Deserve Attention Too

If Dark Souls doesn’t make it into a potential second season, other FromSoftware titles could easily fill the gap. Bloodborne, with its gothic horror and Lovecraftian influences, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, a brutal samurai tale, and the acclaimed Elden Ring all align with Secret Level’s aesthetic. Each game offers unique storytelling opportunities, ensuring that Secret Level could continue to captivate audiences for seasons to come.

Secret Level launches on Prime Video on December 10, with two new episodes released every Tuesday.

Source: MovieWeb