From the moment I first laid eyes on Pac-Man as a kid, weaving that little yellow guy through a maze of ghosts, I was hooked. Video games have been a constant presence in my life, evolving alongside me from the pixelated sprites of the ‘80s to the photorealistic worlds we now explore. So when I stumbled upon Secret Level on Amazon Prime, it immediately captured my imagination. A series dedicated to telling cinematic, thought-provoking stories within the universes of video games? That’s exactly the kind of thing that speaks to someone like me—someone who has journeyed through countless digital worlds, from Pac-Man to Cyberpunk 2077, from Doom to New World.
This anthology series, created by Deadpool director Tim Miller, taps into the rich lore of some of the biggest gaming franchises, giving us fresh, compelling narratives that go beyond button-mashing and high scores. It’s the kind of storytelling that validates gaming as an art form, weaving together action, philosophy, and imagination into something truly special. And no episode encapsulates this better than New World: The Once and Future King—a breathtaking tale of ambition, power, and the price of eternity.
New World: The Once and Future King – A Warrior’s Struggle Against Time Itself
This episode takes us into the world of New World, Amazon’s MMO set on the mysterious island of Aeternum. In this tale, we follow King Aelstrom—voiced by none other than Arnold Schwarzenegger—who washes up on Aeternum’s shores after a brutal storm annihilates his fleet. Aelstrom is a man who has spent his entire life conquering and expanding his empire, but now, in a land where no one can truly die, he’s faced with a paradox. How do you conquer a kingdom where war has no end and death is meaningless?
Opposing him is King Zimah (Gabriel Luna), a ruler who has long since embraced the island’s eternal nature. Unlike Aelstrom, Zimah has come to understand the futility of endless war. Time after time, Aelstrom charges into battle, only to fall and rise again, unable to escape the cycle he himself created. Through his encounters with Zimah, he’s forced to confront the true nature of his ambition—was it ever about ruling, or was it simply about the fight itself?
The episode is visually stunning, capturing the ethereal beauty and haunting isolation of Aeternum. But more than that, it’s a masterclass in storytelling, using the lore of New World to explore deeper themes of purpose, pride, and the search for meaning beyond power.
Why You Should Watch Secret Level on Amazon Prime
If you’ve ever lost yourself in the worlds of video games, Secret Level is something you need to check out. Each episode is a deep dive into a beloved gaming universe, but you don’t need to have played the games to appreciate the stories. These aren’t just rehashed plots or cutscene compilations—they’re thoughtful, beautifully crafted narratives that stand on their own.
For me, New World: The Once and Future King was a standout, blending action, philosophy, and a touch of mythic grandeur. But the whole series is a love letter to gaming history, from retro classics to modern epics. If, like me, you grew up watching video games evolve from simple dots on a screen to fully realized worlds, this show will hit that sweet spot between nostalgia and discovery.
So grab your controller—or in this case, your remote—and dive into Secret Level, streaming now on Amazon Prime. You won’t regret it!
