It’s somewhat surprising just how enjoyable the Secret Level’s Concord episode turns out to be. The characters are so likable, and you can’t help but wonder if releasing it before the game’s launch—rather than two months after its untimely demise—could have potentially changed the trajectory for this sci-fi shooter.
“Tale of the Implacable,” part of Secret Level’s lineup, really has a lot working in its favor. Penned by the renowned sci-fi and fantasy author Rachael K. Jones, the episode unfolds as a straightforward heist with plenty of unexpected twists. What’s intriguing is its focus on the Freegunners—a mercenary crew that never made an appearance in Concord itself. Acting as a prelude, “Tale of the Implacable” eloquently explores the future of space exploration, the perils of faster-than-light travel, and how this group of misfits managed to swipe a map of the known universe from the big wigs. This interstellar highway map serves as the backbone of Concord’s storyline, although here, it’s simply the objective for these marauders seeking a place in the universe.
As a prequel, “Tale of the Implacable” introduces its sci-fi world and the oddball characters within it far more effectively than the actual game did. Concord’s players had to sift through weekly animated scenes and delve into in-game maps to piece together its lore. Secret Level’s episode serves as the perfect introduction to Firewalk’s game universe—it’s unfortunate we were given it so late in the timeline.
Concord was up against numerous challenges: a steep price, gameplay mechanics that failed to engage, and characters that just didn’t click with the players. By contrast, the Freegunners from “Tale of the Implacable” are way more appealing than those you got to play as in the game. They have a charm that’s hard to resist, and they aren’t just carbon copies of characters from the Guardians of the Galaxy universe, which was an issue Concord’s characters couldn’t shake off.
Yet, “Tale of the Implacable” also highlights another flaw in Concord’s offering. The heist’s cunning strategy, the camaraderie, the humor, and the action scenes of the Implacable crew’s escapade were never part of the game. Concord ended up being a typical shooter trying some new tweaks that never hit the mark. The cinematic spectacle in “Tale of the Implacable” was something the game never captured.
While Concord didn’t succeed as a game, it did leave us with a fantastic TV episode to enjoy.
You can now catch all episodes of Secret Level streaming on Prime Video.
