It’s genuinely surprising how enjoyable Secret Level’s Concord episode turns out to be. The characters are not only likable but could have potentially boosted the game’s success if it had been released earlier, rather than two months after the game’s unfortunate demise.
The episode, called “Tale of the Implacable,” penned by sci-fi and fantasy author Rachael K. Jones, brings a lot to the table. It showcases a straightforward heist story filled with unexpected twists, centered around a group of mercenaries, the Freegunners, who didn’t actually make an appearance in the main Concord game. Serving as a prologue, this episode sets the stage for space exploration’s future, delves into the perils of faster-than-light travel, and follows a band of outcasts who manage to snag a map of the universe from the powers at be. This cosmic roadmap underpins Concord’s narrative but in “Tale of the Implacable,” it simply fuels the escapades of a rogue crew.
As a prequel, “Tale of the Implacable” does a remarkable job of fleshing out the sci-fi world and its eccentric inhabitants, much better than the game managed. While players had to endure weekly animated cut scenes or explore an in-game map to uncover lore, this Secret Level episode beautifully lays the groundwork for Firewalk’s game. It’s a missed opportunity that it wasn’t available sooner.
Concord suffered from multiple challenges: its price, uninspired game mechanics, and character designs that fell flat. In contrast, the Freegunners from “Tale of the Implacable” are more endearing and relatable than the game’s actual characters, who seemed to lack charm and were overly compared to the Guardians of the Galaxy.
Still, this episode highlights another of Concord’s pitfalls. The intrigue, action, humor, and teamwork seen in “Tale of the Implacable” were never a part of the game’s experience. Concord was more of a basic shooter with some experimental elements that didn’t resonate with players. The thrilling, movie-like action in the episode was, unfortunately, never going to translate into the game.
Even though Concord didn’t succeed as a video game, at least it gave us a fantastic piece of television. Secret Level’s episodes are now available for streaming on Prime Video.
