Warning! This aritcle contains spoilers for Secret Level episode 14.
Secret Levelepisode 14 explores the world of the popular MOBA game,Honor of Kings, with incredible attention to detail. Prime Video has expanded into the world of video game adaptations withSecret Level, an anthology TV seriesthat features several short episodes which are each inspired by video games. While the episodes draw inspiration from the game’s source material, they also expand and explore the wider world of the games, examining hidden aspects that could be viewed as ‘hidden levels’ within the games.
InSecret Levelepisode 14, the gameHonor of Kingsis the central focus, but deeper than that, the episode hones in on an adventure had by one character, Yi Xing (Yixing in the game). Yi Xing seeks to challenge the tyrannical machine that rules over the city of Chang’a, Tiangong. This machine gives the city life, and is supposed to help those living there to move around freely and smoothly. However, due to the machine deteriorating, the city is beginning to suffer, andYi Xing wants to get answers to why things are going wrong, and what happened to his parents when he was a boy.
Yi Xing Defeated Tiangong
With A Skillful Game Of Weiqi
Yi Xing lived in Chang’an with his parents when he was a young child. While this should have been a happy and positive experience, an intense earthquake allowed demons to climb up to the city. His parents tried desperately to fight them back and protect their son, but they were overwhelmed, and eventually sacrificed themselves to protect their son.Yi Xing grew to become a skilled Weiqi player, and when he was old enough, he decided to challenge the powerful Tiangong in order to get the answers he sought. And, despite Tiangong’s powerful machine mind, Yi Xing won.
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Initially, Tiangong appeared to have the advantage in the strategy game, but once Yi Xing understood that the game was not the same version of Weiqi he was familiar with, and instead, it led to major changes in the city, he refined his tactics. Yi Xing adapted, learned, and responded in a way thatled to Tiangong conceding defeat. And, as seen in the episode, this had major implications for the city as Tiangong relinquished control, and Yi Xing assumed those forfeited powers to make the city stronger and more agile than before.
Freeing The City Of Chang’an From The Iron Grip Of Tiangong
Chang’an Was Rejuvinated Thanks To Yi Xing
Tiangong is not a character from the Honor of Kings video game, though most of thesurrounding details inSecret Levelepisode 14 do have a foundation in the games. In terms of the timeline, it is also unclear if there is any accurate placement of these events in the context of the game. Instead, it appears to be an alternate history for the character of Yi Xing, with their powers and position in the game altered to fit in with the story in the episode. Thebattle which takes place between Yi Xing and Tiangong is also very differentfrom the games, but it is compelling and visually interesting.
Following this conflict, Yi Xing frees the city of Chang’an from Tiangong’s tyranny, with the machine choosing to forfeit and hand over their power to Yi Xing. However, at the end of the episode, it is also made clear that Tiangong continues operating in much the same way, with his fortress in the hillside, and players approaching to challenge him. This could be indicative of a game format in the games where players go against a rival andattempt to win by destroying the crystal at their base. In the context of Secret Level, it’s just a fun and intriguing story mechanic.
What Is Tiangong And Where Did It Come From?
Tiangong Is An Original Character For Secret Level Episode 14
There are two ways to look at Tiangong in the context ofSecret Levelepisode 14. First, they could be a representation of the computer that players may fight against, providing a challenge and pushing them to refine their skills. Second, it could be a unique character who is used to give more of a backstory to Yi Xing. In either case, they are a creative and unique way to convey the story.Tiangong is a supercomputer which can change its form, control an entire city, and alter reality and perception for those within its circle of power. In this way, the people of Chang’an rely on it to protect and preserve them.
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However, when Yi Xing enters the temple of Tiangong, he is warned by others in the city that he will go mad like them. This seems to indicate thatnone of them were able to defeat the machine, and that the loss drove them into utter despair. Despite all of this, when Yi Xing wins, he seems to gain control of the city, and fortify it with his new-found powers. But, another player challenges the computer a short time later, showing that the game simply repeats, and each game is unique and separate.
How Does Secret Level Episode 14 Connect To Honor Of Kings
The MOBA Game Is Unique And Episode 14 Highlights That
Theconnections betweenSecret Levelepisode 14 andHonor of Kingsare more subtle than many of the other episodes and their links. The MOBA game features a large roster of characters, arena-style battles, and a simple repetitive format with a strategic game at the heart. As players progress in each match, their characters level up, which allows them to access new abilities and gain an advantage in the fight. However, the depiction inSecret Levelis a much larger and more ambitious undertaking, focusing on the story of just one character from the game, Yi Xing.
The connections betweenSecret Levelepisode 14 andHonor of Kingsare more subtle than many of the other episodes and their links.
The city of Chang’an does appear in the games, but there is no reference to Tiangong. Likewise, the lore that expands the story for each character does state that Yixing is a masterful Weiqi player, who swiftly learns to defeat grandmasters, but the actual characters he is linked to do not appear in the show. Overall, the episode is a great tribute to the game, but it does take liberties with the storytelling, and it may be completely unfamiliar to those familiar with the games despite using the game as inspiration forSecret Levelepisode 14.
Secret Level
Cast
Secret Level is an adult animated series exploring original short stories set within the worlds of popular video games. Each episode introduces new adventures, delving into iconic gaming classics and forthcoming titles to unlock captivating narratives and immersive experiences. Created by Tim Miller, the series celebrates gaming culture.
