Though the base game technically has more stages, Shadow's campaign is more than qualified to be considered a full-fledged speed platforming experience with vastly superior level design, visuals, and overall presentation versus Sonic Frontiers. Though it can't compete with the sheer size and scale of Frontiers, it does seem to improve upon the "open zone" design and actually has fully realized levels (finally).

It's not as blistering fast as the base game, but it's uniquely "Shadow", offering different kinds of play-styles and tons of ideas that are executed surprisingly well. The story is pretty light (and only fans will really pick up on the tiny details sprinkled about), but it's meaningful for those who have followed Shadow for a long time, waiting for his character to be done right.

Honestly an impressive feat from Sonic Team, they nailed it. Fun set-pieces, solid level design all-around, and lots of replayability. Gets me even more hopeful and excited for the direction of future Sonic games. Shadow's campaign really just sweetens the deal of this remaster, which is definitely worth getting if you never got the chance to play the base game.

Though if you want a nitpick, it's probably that there are moments where the hub world and 2D levels can feel a bit too cluttered, but maybe that's because I've been looking at the barren emptiness of Frontiers for a while now.