Info about Episode Shadow DLC:

Official game description:
Get EPISODE SHADOW to uncover the untold story of the new villain, Infinite, and rediscover three updated stages playing as Shadow. Plus, play as Shadow in over 10 Modern Sonic based stages!  
Experience the full story behind the new villain's rise to power and as you find renewed replayablity across Modern Sonic stages. The fate of Sonic the Hedgehog's world is in your hands – Join the Uprising.

Release date: Nov 7, 2017

Categories: 3D Platformer, Speedrunning, Single-player Story, High Score Chasing, Boss Fights

Feature scans:
- MTX: score 5; verdict: Fair; summary: 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.

- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price: No data
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: N/A
  - Story completion: N/A
  - Session length: N/A
  - Endgame: N/A
  - Reasoning: Multiple reviews state the DLC takes about 15-30 minutes to complete the three levels and story, so game completion, story completion, and session length are all approximately 0.5 hours. One review mentions 'countless hours' for speedrunning, but no specific endgame hours are given, so endgame is null. The evidence is consistent but limited to a few reviews, hence moderate confidence.
- Time-to-fun: No data
- Player Archetypes: No data


Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category.
Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews.
What players like:
- Shadow playable and enjoyable (weight 0.82): 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 (weight 0.65): 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 (weight 0.63): The DLC provides backstory on Shadow, Rouge, Infinite, and the Phantom Ruby, improving the plot and character interactions.
- Free or cheap DLC (weight 0.48): The DLC is free or very cheap, making it accessible and a good value for players.
- Better than base game (weight 0.4): The DLC is considered better than the base game, with improved writing and level design.
- Great remixed music (weight 0.39): The remixed music from older Shadow levels, like Westopolis and Supporting Me, is highly praised.
- Ties into main game (weight 0.33): The DLC ties into the main game, providing information and context that enhances the overall story.

Common complaints:
- Weak story and writing (weight 0.84): 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 (weight 0.7): 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 (weight 0.65): 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 (weight 0.52): 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 (weight 0.46): 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.
- Not worth the price (weight 0.44): Even when free, the DLC is considered a waste of money and time due to its brevity and reused content. Some question why it wasn't included in the base game or see it as a failed expansion.
- Infinite portrayed poorly (weight 0.42): The villain Infinite is handled badly, being defeated too easily and having a weak backstory that makes him appear pathetic. The DLC fails to give him depth or explain his motives.
- Game bugs and crashes (weight 0.25): Some players report bugs, including game crashes when selecting a stage in Episode Shadow, and issues with jumping controls. This affects the overall experience.

Gameplay feedback:
- Very short three-level DLC (weight 0.75): 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 (weight 0.44): 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 (weight 0.4): The DLC is free and accessible from the main menu separately, but it requires ownership of the base game.
- Challenging VR level design (weight 0.33): 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 (weight 0.3): The levels are reskins of existing stages, with one level appearing multiple times. Optional stages use the same level layout.

Performance notes:
- Stage selection crash (weight 0.13): The game crashes or freezes when the player selects a stage in Episode Shadow, making it unplayable for that content.

Recommendations:
- Recommended for Sonic Forces owners (weight 0.95): 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 (weight 0.09): Fans who enjoy music remixes from older Shadow levels may find value in Episode Shadow, as it features such remixes.

Other player notes:
No miscpoints

Emotions:
- Disappointment (weight 0.3): Players are disappointed because the DLC is extremely short with only three levels that are lazy rehashes of existing content. The story fails to properly explain Infinite's backstory, making the villain feel weak and pathetic, while the narrative is poorly paced and uninteresting.
- Frustration (weight 0.23): Frustration stems from the DLC being a lazy reskin with reused assets, bugs, and no unique mechanics like chain homing for Shadow. The portrayal of Infinite as petty and whining ruins the story, and unanswered questions about the character add to the annoyance.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.18): Satisfaction comes from the DLC being free and providing a playable Shadow with backstory, despite its short length. Players appreciate the improved story depiction and level design compared to the base game, with some achieving high ranks in challenging levels.
- Excitement (weight 0.13): Excitement is driven by the DLC being a free bonus that adds Shadow as a playable character with three skill-requiring levels. It is considered the best part of Sonic Forces, offering fun gameplay and lore.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.08): Enjoyment arises from the well-designed levels that are tough but fair, and the fun of playing as Shadow the Hedgehog. The content is engaging and better than the base game's levels.
- Gratitude (weight 0.05): Gratitude is expressed because the DLC is free of charge, offering good remixes and additional content without extra cost.
- Appreciation (weight 0.05): Appreciation is for the free DLC that adds backstory to Infinite, with more thoughtful level design, balanced difficulty, and good OST remixes.
- Amusement (weight 0.05): Amusement comes from Shadow's indifferent reaction to Infinite and the irony of Infinite's boast leading to immediate defeat, as well as the DLC's very short length being its best part.
- Surprise (weight 0.05): Surprise is due to the quick escalation to three stages and the unexpected finding that the Shadow episode is more fun than the main game.
- Slight disappointment (weight 0.03): Slight disappointment is because the DLC is too short, and despite slight improvements, it still feels like a reskin.
- Nostalgia (weight 0.03): Nostalgia is triggered by the DLC making players miss Team Dark and desire a sequel to Shadow the Hedgehog.
- Admiration (weight 0.03): Admiration is for the DLC being really good overall.
- Positive (weight 0.03): Positive sentiment is because the game is meant to be short and is considered better than the base game.
- Impressed (weight 0.03): Impressed by the challenging levels that are considered the best in the whole game.
- Indifference (weight 0.03): Indifference stems from the DLC being free but consisting of reused content.
- Regret (weight 0.03): Regret is for the missed opportunity with Shadow's story.
- Mild satisfaction (weight 0.03): Mild satisfaction comes from the music remixes for fans, despite the short length.
- Fascination (weight 0.03): Fascination is with the tragic and dark backstory of Infinite.
- Sarcasm (weight 0.03): Sarcasm is directed at the DLC's only saving grace being that it is free.
- Happiness (weight 0.03): Happiness is from three well-designed and fun stages, and the ability to play as Shadow again.}