Episode Shadow DLC Review Summary

A solid premise with challenging levels is let down by weak writing, reused assets, and a very short playtime.

Shadow playable and enjoyable: Players enjoy playing as Shadow in the main story, with his own episode and backstory, which adds excitement and depth.

Challenging and well-designed levels: The levels are challenging, well-designed, and require skill, with three new stages that are considered the best in the game.

Great backstory and plot: The DLC provides backstory on Shadow, Rouge, Infinite, and the Phantom Ruby, improving the plot and character interactions.

Free or cheap DLC: The DLC is free or very cheap, making it accessible and a good value for players.

Better than base game: The DLC is considered better than the base game, with improved writing and level design.

Weak story and writing: The story is widely considered weak, poorly paced, and uninteresting, with cringe-worthy writing that portrays Shadow as an emo teenager. It fails to properly explain or develop the character Infinite.

Reused assets and levels: A major criticism is that the levels are reused from the base game with only minor changes, essentially being reskins. This leads to a perception of laziness and lack of new content.

Too few levels: Players consistently complain that the DLC contains only three levels, making it feel very short and lacking in content. Many reviews mention the short playtime of around 15 minutes.

Shadow lacks unique abilities: Shadow is described as essentially a model swap of Sonic, with no unique abilities like a chaotix homing attack or double boost. This makes playing as Shadow feel underwhelming and samey.

Very short playtime: The entire DLC can be completed in about 15 minutes, leading to widespread disappointment about its length. Many feel it offers insufficient content for the price or even as free add-on.

Very short three-level DLC: The DLC is very short, consisting of only three levels that can be completed in about 15 minutes. Players control Shadow the Hedgehog in these stages.

Prequel story for Shadow: The DLC ties into the main game story as a prequel, setting up the rivalry between Shadow and Infinite. It explains how Infinite became edgy and provides story content for Shadow.

Free DLC requiring base game: The DLC is free and accessible from the main menu separately, but it requires ownership of the base game.

Challenging VR level design: The DLC includes a Virtual Reality level that tests the player's skill. The level design requires actual skill to achieve S Ranks, and the stages have a roller-coaster ride style.

Reused level assets: The levels are reskins of existing stages, with one level appearing multiple times. Optional stages use the same level layout.

Stage selection crash: The game crashes or freezes when the player selects a stage in Episode Shadow, making it unplayable for that content.

Recommended for Sonic Forces owners: Many players recommend Episode Shadow, especially for those who own Sonic Forces, as it is free, adds lore, and offers good level design and fun gameplay.

Music remixes for fans: Fans who enjoy music remixes from older Shadow levels may find value in Episode Shadow, as it features such remixes.

Monetization: User feedback focuses on a DLC that appears to be provided free of charge to base game owners. Despite some comments about its value or intended pricing, there is no evidence of real-money microtransactions, predatory monetization, or pay-to-win mechanics. The game's monetization is limited to a free DLC, which is not considered predatory.