Peter Watts Discusses the Original Tale Behind 'Armored Core's Hidden Level'
With the release of "Secret Level", there's been plenty of chatter about it, including from Peter Watts, the author who initially penned the story for the Armored Core segment.
Peter Watts is a captivating creative character. He's a gifted writer and, if you're a regular reader of his blog, he's also a downright hilarious chap. He's best known for his sci-fi novel "Blindsight", which is definitely worth checking out.
As for "Secret Level", Watts was brought on board to create the original concept for the Armored Core episode. He spoke at length about this in a recent blog post.
The intriguing part for me is that this episode was originally designed as a direct prequel to Armored Core VI, blatantly referencing Handler Walter and Coral. However, this was later toned down to be more vague, but the setting and enemy mecha still leave no doubt that it takes place before the game, even if the story elements are less specific now.
I also enjoyed learning that the name for the armored core Keanu Reeves pilots was originally intended to be CHICXULUB, but was changed to Shrieker due to dialogue reasons. It's understandable why they changed it, but having a seasoned author pen the story means we get more meaningful names for things like the mecha.
Watts also pointed out a significant plot hole regarding why the enemy pilots didn't communicate their intentions with Keanu's character, which is a valid point. This is something that happens often in the games, even in Armored Core VI, but it's understandable that this episode was meant to be more visceral and action-packed.
It's interesting to see that Watts has been dipping into the Armored Core subreddit (where I'm also a moderator), picking up on the cockroach/beetle reference from the opening of Armored Core Last Raven. He may not have known about it, but it's amusing to see that he's keeping tabs on what longtime fans are saying.
It's clear that Watts isn't a mecha gaming enthusiast or even particularly interested in mecha, and that's perfectly fine. He made a valiant effort to stay true to the source material, and I respect that. While he may not be overly fond of modern mecha combat, it wasn't his role, and the team at Blur handled it well.
As I mentioned in my initial review, it was a commendable attempt to depict the world of Armored Core in a more overt narrative style than we've seen before in the games. It would have been even better if the episode had been longer and if they'd brought in someone like Shoji Kawamori to handle the mecha design, but it was still well executed.
In any case, as someone who's played and completed every Armored Core game since the 1997 original, the fact that this episode exists is still a significant and delightful development for me.
"Secret Level" is now available to watch on Prime Video, and Armored Core VI is playable on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC.
Thanks to teslawhaleshark for the heads up on this.
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Watts mentioned in his blog that he was brought on board to create the original concept for the Armored Core episode on "Secret Level".
If you're a fan of mecha and video games, you can watch "Secret Level" on Prime Video and play Armored Core VI on various platforms like PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC.
Despite not being a mecha gaming enthusiast, Watts made a valiant effort to stay true to the source material in "Secret Level".
Some fans have noticed that Watts has been active on the Armored Core subreddit, engaging with longtime fans' comments and discussions.
For fans of anime and mecha, "Secret Level" features a unique blend of storytelling and action, making it an exciting addition to the Armored Core series.
