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 :-)

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 :-)

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 :-)

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 :-)

What does that even mean?

Well, when you let a randomizer pick your next game, you sometimes end up with something completely unexpected. Apparently this title is a multiplayer competitive platformer that was developed and published by Clever Endeavour Games out of Montreal, Canada. Our hosts are unfamiliar with this game and its indie developer, so they get a blank slate and an hour to make their first impression count. Will it have the mass appeal of similar online party games? Will building and racing through levels with strangers prove to be an absorbing activity? Will there be anything for Tom to do solo offline? Join him and Chris as they talk about their individual hours and any hijinks that ensued, then learn if they would recommend this strange title to family, friends, and listeners like you!

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

Thanks for taking this ride with us :-)

The original is still there under the hood!

If you thought the last episode was a throwback, get ready because this episode covers a remake of a beloved point and click adventure game that was originally released by LucasArts in 1993! Would you believe that despite his love of the aforementioned studio, Tom has never actually played the original game? Gasp! Well this remaster developed by Double Fine was released in 2016, so it may be old enough to be considered a classic on its own. In any event, the Xbox Game Pass "Surprise Me" button has determined that it's time for our hosts to give this game the old college try, so they have booted up their respective devices and given it a go. Will it deserve its cult classic status? Will they keep playing after the mandated hour is complete? Join them as they make their decisions!

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

Thanks for taking this ride with us :-)

This legend began three decades ago!

When our hosts challenge the Xbox Game Pass "Surprise Me" button, sometimes it responds with a deep cut! Behold this side-scrolling platformer developed by Ubisoft Montpellier and released way back in 2013! Did it age gracefully over the past decade? Did the trials and tribulations of the initial launch and plenty of post-launch support lead to a solid finished product? Fortunately our hosts were not kept waiting like the fans of the prior entry in this long-running franchise. Will their lack of nostalgia prove to be a blessing or a curse? Tom and Chris have each spent an hour playing and now they join forces to discuss and decide if this quirky platformer is worth more of their time... or any of yours!

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

Thanks for taking this ride with us :-)

Ryu Hayabusa, where are you?

With assistance from the Xbox Game Pass "Surprise Me" button, our dynamic duo returns to Team Ninja's third person action series, but of course it's the sequel to another sequel they didn't play! Adding to the complexity, though Team Ninja was involved, this entry was primarily developed by PlatinumGames. This actually sets expectations a bit higher, at least for Tom. Will he get the same enjoyment he derived from their Korra, Transformers, and TMNT... or will he be disappointed a decade later? The basic formula should be the same, but with a 4 in the title and the main protagonist of the series absent, there are a lot of questions our hosts hope are answered in this first hour of gameplay. Will Tom and Chris be satisfied with the mix of gameplay and exposition? Join them as they discuss their time and let's learn if this sequel to a sequel to a sequel of a reboot is worth some of yours!

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

Thanks for taking this ride with us :-)