All aboard another loony locomotive!

The Xbox Game Pass "Surprise Me" button surprised our hosts by selecting a sequel to a title they have actually played! For this episode, Tom and Chris return to the world of roguelike deckbuilders crafted by the folks over at Shiny Shoe. The fundamental gameplay remains the same, but the premise this trip is that titans have taken over the tracks, so angels and demons need to team up to take down this new threat. With new clans, new cards, and new modes, fans of the original are sure to be pleased... but are there enough mechanical changes to make this experience unique for more casual players? Following the established rules, Tom and Chris have each spent an hour investigating this very question. Hop aboard to hear how it went, there's no ticket required for this ride!

What do you think? Let us know!
Check out all our links here:
https://linktr.ee/tc1h1d

Thanks for taking this ride with us :-)

1H1D #272: Monster Train 2

This will have you swearing!

If it's a rogue-like, you know that the Xbox Game Pass "Surprise Me" button is the one that picked it. Developed by Windwalk Games and published by Team17, this game takes a different approach to established Arthurian legends and asks "What if Arthur and his knights were the villains?" You'll step into the boots of a nameless hero and, with the help of blessings from a familiar cast of characters, you'll do your darnedest to liberate Camelot from their corrupt king's clutches. Now that you know the premise, you're probably wondering if it will be an entertaining thing to experience. Well, fortunately for you, we have two hosts that each spent an hour making a go at it and now they're here to share their stories. Let's learn if they've sworn to continue...

What do you think? Let us know!
Check out all our links here:
https://linktr.ee/tc1h1d

Thanks for taking this ride with us :-)

1H1D #271: SWORN

You just know this will be an odd one.

From slot machines to stolen potatoes, the Xbox Game Pass "Surprise Me" button maintains control of game selection and has our hosts playing this indie adventure title developed and published by StudioBando Inc. The player steps into the shoes of a child tasked with fetching some ingredients for his grandma's soup, but the pantry is a portal to another world, so adventure ends up on the menu instead. It's inspired by Spirited Away, The Little Prince, and Coco, so if you think you'd enjoy the blending of Pixar and Ghibli, this title may tantalize your taste buds. It smells appetizing to our hosts, so they'll each dedicate an hour to unraveling its puzzles and unlocking its songs and finally determine if this game is a recipe for disaster or one they'd recommend you try for yourself!

What do you think? Let us know!
Check out all our links here:
https://linktr.ee/tc1h1d

Thanks for taking this ride with us :-)

1H1D #270: SOPA - Tale of the Stolen Potato

Simulating debt for fun?

Alright "Surprise Me" button, what are you trying to tell us with your selection of this rogue-lite gambling sim developed by Panik Arcade? Do you want Tom and Chris to literally fall into debt? Or is this perhaps a cautionary tale so that we all learn a painful lesson virtually in order to avoid experiencing that fate in the real world? Admittedly, we think it's highly unlikely either of our hosts, or even any of our listeners, will find themselves locked in a room with a slot machine suspended over a deadly pit. But, as a metaphor, perhaps it works. Will it be successful in teaching Tom and Chris about the pitfalls of gambling, or will they find themselves booking trips to the casino? Let's lean on this lever to learn!

What do you think? Let us know!
Check out all our links here:
https://linktr.ee/tc1h1d

Thanks for taking this ride with us :-)

1H1D #269: CloverPit

Artifacts so nice they stole them twice!

Even the "Surprise Me" button is entitled to a few days off, so Chris has stepped in and selected this action-platformer developed and published by South African studio Nyamakop. Like the studio, the game is also set in South Africa, but not in the present or even the past, but the future... 2099, more specifically. In this future, precious pieces of African history and culture are being disappeared by the museums that possess them, so the player must conduct heists to liberate and preserve these artifacts for future generations to enjoy. It's certainly a novel setting and a novel premise, but is it an entertaining excursion for our players? Well, each of our hosts has been heisting for an hour and now they'll debrief and decide if you should join this crew!

What do you think? Let us know!
Check out all our links here:
https://linktr.ee/tc1h1d

Thanks for taking this ride with us :-)

1H1D #268: Relooted

Coulda called it cudgel cat.

The Xbox Game Pass "Surprise Me" button has an indie title picked out for our hosts this episode. More specifically, we are talking about the third-person (or should we say third-cat) adventure game developed by Kyle Thompson and published by Top Hat Studios. As you may have guessed from the name of the developer, this is the product of a solo operation! Using GameEngine, this is the third concept Kyle's crafted and he's not showing signs of stopping soon. His previous works have granted him a following and we wonder if their time with this third title on Thompson's resume will turn Tom and Chris into true believers too. Our rules are simple, they play an hour and then they decide if the game warrants more. Let's learn how this spirited feline fares.

What do you think? Let us know!
Check out all our links here:
https://linktr.ee/tc1h1d

Thanks for taking this ride with us :-)

1H1D #267: Crypt Custodian

Is it more than a well done pun?

We have another guest! This time it is Jake aka Zulgeek that joins Tom and Chris to review a randomly selected game and decide if it is worth your time. For this episode, the Xbox Game Pass "Surprise Me" button has selected the puzzle adventure game developed by Dogubomb and published by Raw Fury. The plot follows the "protagonist inherits a mansion, but there are strings attached" trope, and that wrinkle is that the player must find the 46th room of the 45 room manor. It seems straightforward, but the mansion itself is randomly generated as you encounter each new door, and you explore until you're out of options or tuckered out, whichever comes first. It's certainly a novel premise, but will it be a fun game to play? Fear not, our trio has each invested an hour and they'll discuss their findings to help you decide if it's worth at least one of yours!

What do you think? Let us know!
Check out all our links here:
https://linktr.ee/tc1h1d

You can find Jake here:
https://bsky.app/profile/zulgeek.bsky.social

Thanks for taking this ride with us :-)

1H1D #266: Blue Prince

Are they better than big ones?

The Xbox Game Pass "Surprise Me" button takes control and doesn't surprise us at all by selecting the middle game of a trilogy. Developed by Tarsier Studios and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment, this title is chalked up as a puzzle-platform horror adventure game. What this means in practice is up to our hosts, who are joined by Adam from the "Spectre Approved" podcast, to learn by diving in and playing just the first hour. Will that be a rewarding use of their precious time? Will jumping into the second game in the series leave them utterly befuddled? Will they decide to keep playing when their time is up... and (most importantly) will they recommend you do the same? Let's find out, shall we?

What do you think? Let us know!
Check out all our links here:
https://linktr.ee/tc1h1d

You can find Adam's content here:
https://redcircle.com/shows/spectre-approved
https://x.com/RandEPod
https://www.instagram.com/spectre.approved/

Thanks for taking this ride with us :-)

1H1D #265: Little Nightmares II Enhanced Edition 

Tom thumbs the scale for this title.

Move over "Surprise Me" button, the only thing surprising about this not-so-randomly chosen game is that Tom hasn't already played it. Fortunately Xbox Game Pass has rectified that oversight by adding this third person action-adventure game developed by Massive Entertainment and published by Ubisoft. At this point, the game has been out for a while and has received numerous patches that solved some early issues, so perhaps the wait will prove warranted. On the other hand, Tom's love of Star Wars could make him an easy fan or a very harsh critic... which one will it be? How about Chris, who was dragged into this by his buddy and has a lot less skin in the game? Join our heroes as they embark on the first hour of their journey in a galaxy far, far away and find out if it's destined to be a grand adventure or a very short trip!

What do you think? Let us know!
Check out all our links here:
https://linktr.ee/tc1h1d

Thanks for taking this ride with us :-)

1H1D #264: Star Wars Outlaws

Perhaps a garden for growing grandiose gods?

For this episode the Xbox Game Pass "Surprise Me" button has selected the indie adventure developed by LimboLane and published by Fellow Traveller. These developers have some experience making strange and quirky games and it sure looks like this title is in that wheelhouse. In it, the gods are upset and the world is in peril, so the player needs to work with the citizens of the grove to solve the dilemma. Unlike a traditional adventure game, however, the player really need to use their words... or technically, other character's words, to save the day. Suck up key phrases and spit them back out at other characters to hopefully make things better and not tragically worse. Will these novel mechanics prove fun and engaging? Will they keep our hosts itching to continue after the hour is up? Tom and Chris have each done their due diligence and now they team up to debate and decide if this indie adventure is worthy of your time!

What do you think? Let us know!
Check out all our links here:
https://linktr.ee/tc1h1d

Thanks for taking this ride with us :-)

1H1D #263: Great God Grove

Tom and Chris are college buddies and life-long gamers. Unfortunately, responsibilities of middle-age life are hindering their opportunities to try many of the great games out there! With the help of Xbox Game Pass and its "Surprise Me" button, they play just 60 minutes of a random game and decide if they will keep at it or trash it.

1 Hour 1 Decision (1H1D)