The words I kept seeing in relation to this DLC from people were "IP Abandonment", and they couldn't be more apt.

It feels like the devs resented the game after the general reception, and decided to just put an end to it, but it's done in such a poor predictable way that it's laughable. A twist you can see coming a mile away because from second one nothing makes any sense and you're told to just ignore it. Even putting a sweet hammer in your hands and letting you pulp enemies can't save this mess.

While I was laughing at how crap the ending was, they tried to get a laugh out of me in the post-credits and I went stony-faced.

Came for the spiritual Wario Land 5, stayed for the best Sonic game in the past decade.

This game was a blast the whole way through. Peppino controls a little loosey-goosey, which is fine for almost all the levels since they have a decent margin for error, but a couple levels at the very end feel a little too demanding for Peppino's tendency to fly off the hinges over a misinput.

I can't think of any flaws otherwise though. I meant it when I said it's the best "Sonic" game I've played in ages cause I've not felt the need to master individual levels and blast through them as quickly as possible to get S-ranks like this since Sonic Unleashed. The shmovement is so slick, getting a good run going is insanely satisfying.

It's also incredibly well-animated with a greasy-ass art style (and I mean that as a compliment) that feels right out of a mid-90s Cartoon Network show. Fantastic sound design to boot, including a banger soundtrack.

Fantastic game. Can't recommend it enough.