1 Hour 1 Decision (1H1D)

Does he bend or clink?

The Xbox Game Pass "Surprise Me" button has picked another indie title for this episode. Developed and published by Scotland-based Stormcloud Games, this platformer has players building the literal platforms they need to proceed. The protagonist is a retro robot named UM-13 that's definitely not an orange reskin of a similar robot from another animated IP. Suffice to say, Tom and Chris had not heard of this game before it was chosen, and we're guessing you haven't either. At this point, our dynamic duo have each spent an hour solving puzzles and platforming their way through levels styled after graphic novels and they are ready to give you their (comic)book report. Will they decide it is a hidden gem or a pile of scrap that's not even worth the salvage? Hit play to find out!

What do you think? Let us know!
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It's time to get to work!

When it comes to our show, the job of the Xbox Game Pass "Surprise Me" button is to pick a title, and then our hosts must do their job of playing for an hour and reporting back on the experience. Perhaps our cyber companion was feeling a bit meta, because it has chosen one of those job simulators for this episode, specifically the Japanese convenience store simulation developed by Nagai Industries and published by Beep Japan Inc. Tom and Chris are thus honor-bound to spend an hour stocking shelves and assisting customers in a virtual space inspired by 90's era Japan. Will this elicit fond memories or uncover trauma for Tom, who spent many years working a retail counter? How about Chris, who has distinctly less emotional baggage in this area? Either way, will this be a fun experience worthy of your time? Our clerks have punched in and are ready to share stories from their shifts. Let's hear how it went!

What do you think? Let us know!
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It's not on Game Pass, so it doesn't count!

We haven't done a bonus episode in a while, but for a turn-based tactical Star Wars game, both of our hosts are willing to make an exception. Developed by Bit Reactor in collaboration with Respawn Entertainment and published by Electronic Arts, this title has been on the radar for both Tom and Chris for different reasons. For Tom, the Star Wars license makes playing this game inevitable. For Chris, combining the skills of X-COM developers with Respawn Entertainment makes this attention-worthy. So they both wanted to try it, but it wasn't on Game Pass, and neither wanted to waste "good content" so here we are! If you're a Game Pass diehard, we didn't number it so you can skip this one... at least until it turns up on the service sometime in the future!

What do you think? Let us know!
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Thanks for taking this ride with us :-)

It's the abbreviation for Professional Bowlers Association.

The Xbox Game Pass "Surprise Me" button has indeed surprised our two hosts with an obscure sports title. Ages ago it exposed them to the video game version of cricket and now it has selected this skill-driven bowling simulation developed and published by FarSight Studios. Simulating sports via video games has always felt like a strange choice to Tom, but he's also known to enjoy time at the lanes, so maybe those will just cancel each other out and allow him to approach his hour with an open mind. We have to acknowledge that Nintendo brought bowling into countless households two decades ago, but this title is certainly more serious and thankfully a whole lot less likely to cause you to accidentally break your television. That said, will it make you want to throw your controller on purpose instead? Tom and Chris have taken all the risks, so now you just sit back and reap the reward!

What do you think? Let us know!
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Thanks for taking this ride with us :-)

It sounds better than baby boomer babies too.

In a surprise twist, the Xbox Game Pass "Surprise Me" button has returned! It will come as no surprise that it seized control of game selection immediately upon its resurrection, so Tom and Chris must either thank or blame their longtime partner in crime for its choice of this sci-fi turn-based deck-building role-player from Cococucumber. Now that's a lot of hyphenated terms, so this sequel that's a prequel better demonstrate all those elements as our hosts collect cards and take turns dishing damage in a retro RPG. It turns out this team has plenty of experience with voxel-based games, but this will be Tom's first foray into their library, so he'll be entering empty of expectations. How will that compare with Chris and any baggage he's carrying from his time with the first in the franchise? Hit play and you'll discover if it was worth their time and yours!

What do you think? Let us know!
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Thanks for taking this ride with us :-)

Some of these monsters look very familiar.

Tom saw that this Third Person Action RPG was developed by Game Freak and he immediately put his thumb on the scale, forcing Chris along for the ride. Apparently it's published by Fictions, which was formerly known as Private Division, but neither of those names inspire interest like the developer. Monster battles are clearly on the agenda here, but it doesn't look like any of these creatures is fitting into anyone's pockets. We can tell at a glance that the graphics and plot are aimed at a more mature audience, but will that bold departure from their usual offerings result in a game that's worth your time? Our hosts have each invested an hour of theirs, so let's learn what they think!

What do you think? Let us know!
Check out all our links here:
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Thanks for taking this ride with us :-)

A superhero story in legendary Persia!

While both of our hosts have experience with this prolific franchise, neither has touched this modern 2D platformer from the folks at Ubisoft Montpellier. Tom and Chris have, however, reviewed another of the studio's platformers back in episode 260 of 1H1D. While this is indeed a 2D platformer like Rayman Legends, these levels were built in three dimensions, giving them a depth and perspective that is uncommon for the genre. When you combine that base with a comic book art style, combat mechanics reminiscent of a fighting game, and a diverse set of other creative influences, you have the makings of a very unique return to this beloved franchise. Will these ingredients mix well together, or will all those flavors clash? Our hosts rewind time to review their first hour of gameplay and decide if it's worthy of more!

What do you think? Let us know!
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Thanks for taking this ride with us :-)

Shouldn't her sister be named Reddy?

All things considered, it's surprising that Tom and Chris aren't tasked to play more kiddie content as a result of their random game selection. Well, that certainly gets corrected with this episode covering the licensed Australian Cattle Dog adventure developed by Artax Games and published by Outright Games. Each of our hosts has some exposure to this family of cartoon canines and other colorful edutainment games too, so neither is going in totally blind. Will it be a faithful adaptation of the popular show? Is it even remotely possible that Tom and Chris want to continue playing after the mandated hour is up? There's only one way to find out, and that's by giving this a go!

What do you think? Let us know!
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Thanks for taking this ride with us :-)

The title is a clever double entendre!

After a brief sojourn, we are back to random game selection! For this episode, our hosts have played the interactive adventure developed by Supermassive Games and published by Behaviour Interactive. Set in the Dead by Daylight universe, this entry departs from that franchise's formula to tell an immersive single-player story instead. Fortunately, the developers were chosen for their experience in that style, and our hosts even have played some of their prior work! Will Tom and Chris enjoy this "interactive horror drama" more than The Quarry? Will they get hooked during their mandatory hour and want to continue to see it through to the bitter end? Time to find out!

What do you think? Let us know!
Check out all our links here:
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Thanks for taking this ride with us :-)

Yeah, that's definitely not a real word.

Ever want to do a series of high speed stunts with a train? No, that never crossed your mind? Well, that's the premise of this action-adventure platformer developed by Undercoders and published by Fireshine Games! We admit that doing ollies and kickflips with a Japanese locomotive is a peculiar premise, but if you can picture the train as a skateboard and train tracks as rails, you can see the seed that grew into this fantastical fruit. With an unapologetically vibrant palette and an anime-inspired story, this title sure checks a lot of boxes... but will that make for a cohesive recipe or leave players dazed and confused? Hop aboard with Tom and Chris as they embark on a nostalgia-fueled ride through a possible but improbable future!

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

Thanks for taking this ride with us :-)