So there's four of these, but only the second is numbered?

The previous episode had some fantastic beasts, but this one is set in the century of dragons. That's right, the Xbox Game Pass "Surprise Me" button has selected the fourth title in Bioware's RPG franchise for assessment on this episode! Well, it's the fourth one if you leave out Awakening and that freemium mobile game, but most of the franchise isn't numbered anyway, so is anyone keeping track? Further diverging from its early roots as a tactical RPG, this latest entry in the series is decidedly an action RPG. Unlike previous installments, combat control is focused on just one character and the design team dropped the open world approach for something that's much more linear. Will these changes be embraced by the modern audience? More to the point, will Tom and Chris prefer the mandated hour here over the time they spent with Dragon Age II way back in episode 105? There's no need for additional suspense, the answer is available now in their review, one must simply press play to find out!

What do you think? Let us know!
Hit us up on Twitter at https://twitter.com/tc1h1d
Or on Threads at https://www.threads.net/@tc1h1d
Drop us an email at tc.1h1d(at)outlook[dot]com
Follow us on Goodpods @1h1d
Check out our fancy site: https://quitthebuild.com/1h1d
Watch the video: https://bit.ly/1H1DYT

Thanks for taking this ride with us :-)

Let's get you sorted, doubly so!

The Xbox Game Pass "Surprise Me" button is this show's equivalent of a certain famous sorting hat. It's fitting (pun intended) that it has selected that franchise's action role-playing game developed by Avalanche Software and published by Portkey Games for this numerically significant episode. The game in question puts you in the robes of an unusually late addition to the Hogwarts roster, complete with a special ability and some corresponding intrigue that is sure to add complications to that youngster's schooling. There have been plenty of Harry Potter games created throughout the years, and they have certainly had mixed receptions. Where will this modern entry land in the minds of our two hosts? After the mandated playtime, will they be fully invested or seeking for a way to unenroll? Tom and Chris have played their hour, now let's learn if this title is worth at least one of yours!

What do you think? Let us know!
Hit us up on Twitter at https://twitter.com/tc1h1d
Or on Threads at https://www.threads.net/@tc1h1d
Drop us an email at tc.1h1d(at)outlook[dot]com
Follow us on Goodpods @1h1d
Check out our fancy site: https://quitthebuild.com/1h1d
Watch the video: https://bit.ly/1H1DYT

Thanks for taking this ride with us :-)

Think you can run a better park? Prove it!

Back in 1993, Tom was convinced he could succeed where John Hammond had failed. Fortunately, the Xbox Game Pass "Surprise Me" button has seen fit to give our hosts an opportunity to test that theory with this dinosaur theme park management simulator developed and published by Frontier Developments. The studio is no stranger to the genre and this isn't even their first rodeo with the beloved license, so the odds of a successful sim seem squarely in their favor. Will they deliver on entertainment as promised or will a familiar sense of hubris prove the undoing of this story as well? Join our hosts as they roll up their sleeves to operate their own Mesozoic zoos and see if things will run smoothly or if life will find a way... to create chaos!

What do you think? Let us know!
Hit us up on Twitter at https://twitter.com/tc1h1d
Or on Threads at https://www.threads.net/@tc1h1d
Drop us an email at tc.1h1d(at)outlook[dot]com
Follow us on Goodpods @1h1d
Check out our fancy site: https://quitthebuild.com/1h1d
Watch the video: https://bit.ly/1H1DYT

Thanks for taking this ride with us :-)

Saddle up and pedal forth for adventure!

The Xbox Game Pass "Surprise Me" button spun through its options and landed on a choice that will have Tom and Chris spinning their own tires! Enter the latest game developed by Messhof, this time with publisher support from Annapurna Interactive. In this third person open world racing game, players are tasked with collecting some legendary items to save the world. Sounds pretty standard, except these items are actually stolen parts of a sentient bicycle. If you think the plot sounds unusual for a cycling game, our hosts don't disagree! But will they agree that it is worth your time? Join our dynamic duo as they discuss what they discovered while exploring this world of wheels and learn if it's worth a visit!

What do you think? Let us know!
Hit us up on Twitter at https://twitter.com/tc1h1d
Or on Threads at https://www.threads.net/@tc1h1d
Drop us an email at tc.1h1d(at)outlook[dot]com
Follow us on Goodpods @1h1d
Check out our fancy site: https://quitthebuild.com/1h1d
Watch the video: https://bit.ly/1H1DYT

Thanks for taking this ride with us :-)

Roguelites are our own personal hell.

Venturing to the underworld ought to be met with a sense of dread, but for Chris, the dread he's feeling is centered on the roguelite nature of this isometric action RPG developed and published by Supergiant Games. Tom is a bit more optimistic, buoyed by the game's strong reception from both critics and players alike. Which of these two attitudes will rise up to the surface after an hour of escape attempts through a gauntlet of undead enemies? It's frankly impressive that they haven't given this game a try in the years since it launched... heck, there's already a sequel! Either way, the Xbox Game Pass "Surprise Me" button has spoken and, at least around here, its word is law. Join our hosts and see if they'll be returning to hell after the mandated hour is up!

What do you think? Let us know!
Hit us up on Twitter at https://twitter.com/tc1h1d
Or on Threads at https://www.threads.net/@tc1h1d
Drop us an email at tc.1h1d(at)outlook[dot]com
Follow us on Goodpods @1h1d
Check out our fancy site: https://quitthebuild.com/1h1d
Watch the video: https://bit.ly/1H1DYT

Thanks for taking this ride with us :-)

Not the German comedy series.

There seems to be no shortage of cleaning simulators these days, but this one developed by President Studio and published by PlayWay has a different hook. Instead of power-washing someone's driveway or de-cluttering someone's home, this title puts you in the shoes of a former high school janitor that must clean up after criminals so those villains won't be caught for their dastardly deeds. Mopping up blood? Absolutely! Destroying evidence? You betcha! Disposing of victims? Well, you've come this far, no backing out now. Tom and Chris rolled up their sleeves and did some real dirty work during their hour long stint as one of those "Dinner Reservation" folks from John Wick. It certainly was a novel experience, but was it an entertaining one that's worthy of your precious free time? Our hosts have been caught red handed and they're ready to spill the beans!

What do you think? Let us know!
Hit us up on Twitter at https://twitter.com/tc1h1d
Or on Threads at https://www.threads.net/@tc1h1d
Drop us an email at tc.1h1d(at)outlook[dot]com
Follow us on Goodpods @1h1d
Check out our fancy site: https://quitthebuild.com/1h1d
Watch the video: https://bit.ly/1H1DYT

Thanks for taking this ride with us :-)

Take a trip to the 90's... the 2090's.

The Xbox Game Pass "Surprise Me" button delivers on its name with the selection of this retro-anime inspired FPS developed by Hammer95 Studios and published by Epopeia Games. Neither of our hosts had heard of this before it was chosen, so they are going in with zero expectations other than whatever they may associate with mullets. With an hour on their play clocks and just ten seconds to cause chaos and literally earn their (continued) living, will this fast-paced shooter stand out against the many options competing for their attention? Join Tom and Chris as they step into the shoes of Jack Banhammer and race off to score some sweet sneakers. All they need to do is mulch multiple millionaire murderbots on their way to rescue a positively popular princess! Slap this episode in your tape-deck and crunch play to hear if this one is worth your time!

What do you think? Let us know!
Hit us up on Twitter at https://twitter.com/tc1h1d
Or on Threads at https://www.threads.net/@tc1h1d
Drop us an email at tc.1h1d(at)outlook[dot]com
Follow us on Goodpods @1h1d
Check out our fancy site: https://quitthebuild.com/1h1d
Watch the video: https://bit.ly/1H1DYT

Thanks for taking this ride with us :-)

Are we trading rogues or roguishly trading?

Buckle up, buttercup! The grimdark of the Imperium awaits in this turn-based tactical RPG developed and published by Owlcat Games. The studio first cut their teeth translating another tabletop game (Pathfinder) to the digital realm. Despite some early challenges there, they found their rhythm, launched a sequel, and then were tasked with taking on 40k's roleplay system. Tom and Chris previously enjoyed their foray with this franchise on Episode 166 when they reviewed Boltgun, but this is a completely different genre and guaranteed to be a very different gameplay experience. Will they enjoy this RPG as much as they enjoyed that FPS? How many other acronyms will they be able to cram into this bite-sized review? Let's find out!

What do you think? Let us know!
Hit us up on Twitter at https://twitter.com/tc1h1d
Or on Threads at https://www.threads.net/@tc1h1d
Drop us an email at tc.1h1d(at)outlook[dot]com
Follow us on Goodpods @1h1d
Check out our fancy site: https://quitthebuild.com/1h1d
Watch the video: https://bit.ly/1H1DYT

Thanks for taking this ride with us :-)

Anthropomorphic Orange is the New Black?

The Xbox Game Pass "Surprise Me" button is sending our hosts directly to jail. They won't be passing go and they won't be collecting $200 on the way. Thankfully it's just part of the experience of playing the pixel-art RPG developed by Metal Head Games where the player takes on the role of a humanimal that must set things the wrong things right from behind bars! With nothing to go on but a title and some key art, Tom and Chris really have no idea what to expect from their hour-long experience with this very indie title. Will it be a break-out hit or deserving of incarceration? Join our dynamic duo as they discuss their time in this digital clink and see if it's a place they will recommend you visit of your own recognizance!

What do you think? Let us know!
Hit us up on Twitter at https://twitter.com/tc1h1d
Or on Threads at https://www.threads.net/@tc1h1d
Drop us an email at tc.1h1d(at)outlook[dot]com
Follow us on Goodpods @1h1d
Check out our fancy site: https://quitthebuild.com/1h1d
Watch the video: https://bit.ly/1H1DYT

Thanks for taking this ride with us :-)

Wait, isn't that the character from Arcane?

Still completely oblivious to League of Legends outside his love for the animated show, Tom (and his pal Chris) must engage with another spin-off property, this time thanks to the Xbox Game Pass "Surprise Me" button. For this episode, the team will be investigating the digital collectible card dame developed and published by Riot Games. This game has been around for years, but thanks to its genre, it has sailed completely under the radar of our hosts. But there in lies both of the bane and the beauty of random game selection, nothing is off the table... even when that table is digital. As per usual, our hosts will play for a full hour and then report back on whether or not it's worth your precious time. Will their inherent bias (against card games) leave this destined for deletion or will some newfound appreciation (for the art and lore) grant this particular title a fair shot at a stable spot in play rotation? We've heard that... sometimes taking a leap forward means leaving a few things behind.

What do you think? Let us know!
Hit us up on Twitter at https://twitter.com/tc1h1d
Or on Threads at https://www.threads.net/@tc1h1d
Drop us an email at tc.1h1d(at)outlook[dot]com
Follow us on Goodpods @1h1d
Check out our fancy site: https://quitthebuild.com/1h1d
Watch the video: https://bit.ly/1H1DYT

Thanks for taking this ride with us :-)

Serve the public trust, protect the innocent, uphold the law.

If you grew up in the same era as our hosts, the source material for this first-person shooter developed by Teyon and published by Nacon is well known to you. If you are a bit younger, perhaps you caught the remake that came out in 2014. If neither of those apply, just imagine if Darth Vader was a police officer in a dystopian Detroit. Now that you understand the basic premise, it's time for our hosts to discover if this is a faithful adaptation of that source material and (more importantly) if it translates into a fun gameplay experience. Tom and Chris loaded their guns, strapped on their armor, and set their timers for an hour. Now, you have the right to remain silent... as our hosts debrief you. Thank you for your cooperation.

What do you think? Let us know!
Hit us up on Twitter at https://twitter.com/tc1h1d
Or on Threads at https://www.threads.net/@tc1h1d
Drop us an email at tc.1h1d(at)outlook[dot]com
Follow us on Goodpods @1h1d
Check out our fancy site: https://quitthebuild.com/1h1d
Watch the video: https://bit.ly/1H1DYT

Thanks for taking this ride with us :-)

It's like playing doctor, but just the administrative part.

Have you ever dreamt of being an intergalactic hospital administrator? Well that dream can now become reality thanks to this business simulation title developed by Brightrock Games and published by Cult Games. Do you want to build rooms, hire staff, and satisfy the needs of alien patients? Well that's all packed in to this quirky sim. As usual, our hosts have been tasked by the Xbox Game Pass "Surprise Me" button to give it a whirl for an hour and see how it all shakes out. Does playing an hour of a video game count as "becoming a doctor" or "becoming an architect"? Yeah, probably not, but maybe now Tom and Chris can bluff it when they next talk to their parents... they'll just need to leave the alien bits out.

What do you think? Let us know!
Hit us up on Twitter at https://twitter.com/tc1h1d
Or on Threads at https://www.threads.net/@tc1h1d
Drop us an email at tc.1h1d(at)outlook[dot]com
Follow us on Goodpods @1h1d
Check out our fancy site: https://quitthebuild.com/1h1d
Watch the video: https://bit.ly/1H1DYT

Thanks for taking this ride with us :-)

The original hits keep on coming!

Before Warcraft and the massive online world it would spawn, Blizzard Entertainment had a trio of hits in the early 1990s that established them as a creative force in video games. Those games are collected here (each in multiple incarnations) for modern players to enjoy. With just an hour to harness a healthy helping of highly-regarded games, how will our hosts spend their time? More importantly, will these classics live up to the hype or will nostalgia prevent an unbiased review? The stage is set, the green flag drops... let's find out!

What do you think? Let us know!
Hit us up on Twitter at https://twitter.com/tc1h1d
Or on Threads at https://www.threads.net/@tc1h1d
Drop us an email at tc.1h1d(at)outlook[dot]com
Follow us on Goodpods @1h1d
Check out our fancy site: https://quitthebuild.com/1h1d
Watch the video: https://bit.ly/1H1DYT

Thanks for taking this ride with us :-)

Tempogoo didn't sound as catchy.

The Xbox Game Pass "Surprise Me" button is at it again with this quirky puzzle game developed by Witch Beam and published by CULT. Tom and Chris have been tasked with spending an hour conducting the pink slime creatures that give this game its name. Will the result be music to our ears or a discordant mess? Will we watch their gardens grow or will these fruits shrivel on the vine? Join our hosts as they talk tempo and learn if they feel these puzzles are worth solving for many more hours to come!

What do you think? Let us know!
Hit us up on Twitter at https://twitter.com/tc1h1d
Or on Threads at https://www.threads.net/@tc1h1d
Drop us an email at tc.1h1d(at)outlook[dot]com
Follow us on Goodpods @1h1d
Check out our fancy site: https://quitthebuild.com/1h1d
Watch the video: https://bit.ly/1H1DYT

Thanks for taking this ride with us :-)

Fast Baked Chicken or video game?

This acronym could stand for anything, but what it truly stands for is Federal Bureau of Control. Developed and published by Remedy Entertainment, this is simultaneously the debut multiplayer first-person shooter developed by the studio and also the first game published by them. That said, these folks are no strangers to making games and have previously brought you the likes of Max Payne, Alan Wake, and (surprise!) Control. Set six years after the events of that single-player title, the developers have allegedly crafted this game to stand on its own. Will it be a salve for those feeling fatigue with the genre or is multiplayer not an illness this studio can cure? Tom and Chris have ventured out to contain an extradimensional incursion... will you join them?

What do you think? Let us know!
Hit us up on Twitter at https://twitter.com/tc1h1d
Or on Threads at https://www.threads.net/@tc1h1d
Drop us an email at tc.1h1d(at)outlook[dot]com
Follow us on Goodpods @1h1d
Check out our fancy site: https://quitthebuild.com/1h1d
Watch the video: https://bit.ly/1H1DYT

Thanks for taking this ride with us :-)

Even more random than the original.

The Xbox Game Pass "Surprise Me" button is regularly deployed to randomly select games for this show. It is indeed fitting that it randomly selected this title developed by Stormteller Games and published by Thunderful Publishing that has much randomness seeded throughout its mechanics. From the cards and boosts you receive to the way the levels flow, many things are left to chance, making for a unique experience each time. But after a few passes through the game loop, will consistency emerge? We hope so... otherwise Tom and Chris are about to compare notes on two very different games! Let's roll the dice and join our hosts as they chat about their first hour with this title and learn if they have decided to wager even more hours to come!

What do you think? Let us know!
Hit us up on Twitter at https://twitter.com/tc1h1d
Or on Threads at https://www.threads.net/@tc1h1d
Drop us an email at tc.1h1d(at)outlook[dot]com
Follow us on Goodpods @1h1d
Check out our fancy site: https://quitthebuild.com/1h1d
Watch the video: https://bit.ly/1H1DYT

Thanks for taking this ride with us :-)

Out on the street? Get on the beat!

We've reviewed a number of simulation games, but never one where you take on the role of a police officer. That changes on this episode with a title developed by Aesir Interactive and published by Astragon Entertainment. Strap on the boots of a new officer of the law and take on important daily duties like issuing parking tickets! The good new is that's apparently the real world equivalent of fighting rats in a dungeon, so you'll level up and accept increasingly challenging and diverse responsibilities as you endeavor to keep your fictional neighborhood safe from all manner of felonies. Will it be a faithful simulation of the life of a real cop? If so, will it actually be fun to play? Join Tom and Chris as they discuss their experiences during their very first hour of gameplay and see if it will warrant further investigation!

What do you think? Let us know!
Hit us up on Twitter at https://twitter.com/tc1h1d
Or on Threads at https://www.threads.net/@tc1h1d
Drop us an email at tc.1h1d(at)outlook[dot]com
Follow us on Goodpods @1h1d
Check out our fancy site: https://quitthebuild.com/1h1d
Watch the video: https://bit.ly/1H1DYT

Thanks for taking this ride with us :-)

You survive by crafting more people.

Here's a fresh one off the line! For this episode, Tom and Chris have been tasked with playing the newest survival game developed and published by 11 Bit Studios. The studio may be familiar to you if you are a fan of the Frostpunk franchise or if you checked out our previous episode about This War of Mine. This new title definitely builds on the Polish developer's prior experience with the survival and management genres, but it also adds an important sci-fi element through its exploration of cloning. Will there be enough novel material there to differentiate it from others in the genre? Will an hour be long enough for our hosts to get to the bio-engineered meat and potatoes of the experience? Hit play to learn if their hour was one optimally spent and if it leaves them craving more!

What do you think? Let us know!
Hit us up on Twitter at https://twitter.com/tc1h1d
Or on Threads at https://www.threads.net/@tc1h1d
Drop us an email at tc.1h1d(at)outlook[dot]com
Follow us on Goodpods @1h1d
Check out our fancy site: https://quitthebuild.com/1h1d
Watch the video: https://bit.ly/1H1DYT

Thanks for taking this ride with us :-)

Does the T stand for Tom?

The advantage of using the Xbox Box Game Pass "Surprise Me" button to chose games is that it will invariably select niche games that probably wouldn't be on your radar. Such is the case with this puzzle adventure title created by uvula and published by Annapurna Interactive. You've probably never heard of the studio... because this is their first and only game... but you may be familiar with Keita Takahashi, most famous for creating and designing the Katamari Damacy series. If you are indeed familiar with that quirky franchise, you can start to make some fairly accurate assumptions of the art style and tone of this game. If not, just know you are in for something unlike most other things you've played. Will Tom and Chris appreciate this sojourn into the silly? Will it have meaty mechanics that keep them clamoring for more after the first hour is up? Time to take this title for a spin and see if it takes off!

What do you think? Let us know!
Hit us up on Twitter at https://twitter.com/tc1h1d
Or on Threads at https://www.threads.net/@tc1h1d
Drop us an email at tc.1h1d(at)outlook[dot]com
Follow us on Goodpods @1h1d
Check out our fancy site: https://quitthebuild.com/1h1d
Watch the video: https://bit.ly/1H1DYT

Thanks for taking this ride with us :-)

Is the planet also forbidden?

The Xbox Game Pass "Surprise Me" button is back in control and it has chosen the one-and-only game that will ever be developed by Typhoon Studios. Published by 505 Games, this first-person title is billed as "action-adventure" but feels a bit more like "exploration-survival" to us. If you start with inspiration from Far Cry, add comedy science fiction films, and then mix that with Metroidvania elements, you may start to form an idea of what playing this game could be like. Fortunately for you, Tom and Chris have each dedicated an hour of their busy schedules to do some real reconnaissance on this wild world and are ready to determine if this interstellar investigation warrants increased investment. Join our duo as they discuss and find out if this savage planet is worth your time!

What do you think? Let us know!
Hit us up on Twitter at https://twitter.com/tc1h1d
Or on Threads at https://www.threads.net/@tc1h1d
Drop us an email at tc.1h1d(at)outlook[dot]com
Follow us on Goodpods @1h1d
Check out our fancy site: https://quitthebuild.com/1h1d
Watch the video: https://bit.ly/1H1DYT

Thanks for taking this ride with us :-)