The Backstage succeeds more as a directional improvement than a fully self-contained chapter, refining gameplay systems and introducing a strong new protagonist while deliberately holding back on narrative closure. Its biggest strengths lie in mechanical innovation and atmospheric design choices that push the experience forward, even if its short length and restrained storytelling prevent it from reaching a higher tier. The result is a DLC that feels confident in its ideas but aware of its role as a stepping stone, making it more exciting for what it sets up than what it fully delivers.