Warning: This article reveals significant plot details from the “Pac-Man” episode of Amazon Prime Video’s “Secret Level.”

For the creators, turning video games into a TV series felt like a natural fit.

“Secret Level,” currently available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video, is an animated anthology series inspired by several video games, including Mega Man, Pac-Man, and Unreal Tournament. The series is the brainchild of Tim Miller (known for Netflix’s “Love, Death & Robots” and 2016’s “Deadpool”) and executive producer Dave Wilson (“Love, Death & Robots” and “Bloodshot”). It features a noteworthy cast, including Keanu Reeves, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Emily Swallow, and Kevin Hart.

“Our studio, Blur, has been around for nearly three decades, and we’ve spent most of that time working in the gaming industry, producing cinematics and trailers. So, it was practically a given that this would be a great match,” Wilson shared with YSL News.

How the video games were transformed for ‘Secret Level’

The creators relished the chance to experiment with various storytelling approaches related to the different video games.

“I really enjoy how we can explore various forms of storytelling from the art to the overall tone,” Miller remarked. “Our goal is to provide something appealing for everyone.”

The episodes draw from both contemporary titles and timeless classics, spanning various game genres, including sci-fi, fantasy, and horror. According to Miller, they aimed to incorporate a broad spectrum of games such as adventure titles, first-person shooters, and 8-bit classics.

The journey to craft each standalone episode from extensive gaming universes was intricate yet straightforward, Wilson explained.

“Initially, we meet with the game developers and distill either their extensive franchises or newer titles into what we call a creative guide,” Wilson elaborated. “We discuss which characters to include and identify any aspects of the franchise that shouldn’t be adapted or are no longer relevant. These creative guides are then given to the writers, who come up with pitches based on them. We select the best pitch, which is then transformed into a short story that becomes a screenplay.”

The gaming companies they collaborated with served as invaluable assets since “they possess in-depth knowledge of their games,” Miller noted.

Many of these companies employ a person known as a Lore Master, described by Miller as “a fantastic title for an intriguing job that involves knowing everything about the game.” They provide insights into interesting characters and storytelling paths to explore, forming the foundation of their work.

A unique Pac-Man and a new game

The visual approach, tone, and themes of the “Secret Level” episodes vary just like the games they represent, yet many explore common themes.

Among them is episode 6, titled “Pac-Man: Circle,” which offers a horror-inspired twist on the beloved character. This chilling and at times gruesome narrative follows a warrior trapped in an eerie environment, compelled by a floating golden orb named Puck to consume numerous enemies to grow stronger.

Creating such a distinct version of Pac-Man was a “clear directive” from Bandai Namco, the entertainment and gaming firm behind the Pac-Man franchise, according to Wilson.

“I’m not sure if viewers will think we went too far with it, but their directive was ‘We want people to ask: what has happened to Pac-Man?'” Wilson stated. “We tried several times to generate a storyline that captured that feeling, but it wasn’t until J.T. Petty, our head writer, returned from a weekend at home with the concept for the episode that we struck gold.”

Recently, Bandai Namco also revealed “Shadow Labyrinth,” a 2D action platformer that offers a darker interpretation of the Pac-Man universe.

Why the ‘Secret Level’ team kept the Concord episode

One of the segments in “Secret Level” adapts content from Concord, a highly awaited game that experienced challenges at launch.

PlayStation suspended the online first-person shooter game in September, shortly following its release on August 23, with Sony issuing refunds to all who bought the game. The game’s developer, Firewalk Studios, was also shut down after the game’s removal.

However, the creators of “Secret Level” never entertained the idea of eliminating or altering the Concord episode.

The episode was finalized prior to the game’s troubled release.

“Removing the episode would be the worst decision,” Wilson stated. “It would create a gap in the series instead of celebrating the hard work of the many individuals who collaborated to produce it.”

“It’s important to acknowledge the efforts of those who put themselves into this project,” remarked Miller. “The episode from Concord is very enjoyable, featuring great characters and stunning visuals. Not showcasing the creative work of all the artists and animators involved would be quite disappointing and an insult to their dedication.”

The “Secret Level” episode based in Concord will debut on Prime Video on December 17.