Concord’s Secret Level Episode Serves as the Ultimate Game Trailer

It’s quite a surprise just how enjoyable the Concord episode from Secret Level really is. The characters are endearing, and if this had been released well before the game made its debut—rather than two months after the untimely end—there’s a genuine chance it might have boosted the sci-fi shooter’s fortunes.

The Secret Level episode, “Tale of the Implacable,” has plenty of strengths. Written by sci-fi and fantasy author Rachael K. Jones, this episode springs to life with a straightforward heist peppered with unexpected twists. Interestingly, it features a ragtag group of mercenaries called the Freegunners, who never actually appeared in Concord. This prologue cleverly sets the stage, laying out the future of space exploration, the perils of faster-than-light travel, and the escapades of misfits and scoundrels who seize a map of the known universe from the powers that be. This interstellar roadmap forms the backbone of Concord’s storyline, yet here, it’s merely a tool for these marauders to make their mark.

As a prequel to Concord, “Tale of the Implacable” manages to capture the essence of its sci-fi universe and its quirky inhabitants better than the game itself. Players often had to wait for weekly animated cutscenes or sift through an in-game map to unlock its lore. However, Concord’s Secret Level episode perfectly sets the table for Firewalk’s game, leaving one to wonder why we didn’t get to experience this sooner.

Concord faced several challenges: a steep price, dull game mechanics, and character designs that failed to connect with audiences. In contrast, the Freegunners from “Tale of the Implacable” come across as much more engaging than their gameplay counterparts. They’re not as sassy and are refreshingly distinct from Guardians of the Galaxy characters, which couldn’t be said for the characters actually playable in Concord.

Yet, “Tale of the Implacable” highlights another issue with Concord. The intrigue, the camaraderie, the humorous back-and-forth, and the dynamic action of the Implacable crew’s heist—none of that was ever part of the game’s formula. Concord instead leaned into a formulaic shooter model, dabbling with new ideas that didn’t quite resonate. The exciting, cinematic action showcased in “Tale of the Implacable” was never going to take place within the game.

While Concord might not have succeeded as a game, it certainly left us with some stellar TV content to enjoy.

All episodes of Secret Level can be streamed now on Prime Video.