XBLA – Buku Sudoku Review

Your favourite puzzler has finally hit XBLA!

By DarkArmada

© 2008 Lee Edgerton

“`What takes next to no mathematical skill, appears in the puzzle section of almost every print media out today and drives everyone mad? That’s right, it’s Sudoku! And this week Absolutist has brought their own iteration of this classic mind bender to XBLA. So grab a coffee, tuck yourself in and get into Buku Sudoku.

“`If you’ve always wondered what all those boxes meant, never fear. Included is a straight forward tutorial starting off with the various control sets and moving onto the basic of the game. Once you’ve finished this training, you’ll be set to get straight into the various modes that Buku has to offer.

“`On your own you’ve got the option of two gametypes, casual and timed. Both fairly self explanatory, the casual modes allow you to chill out with a game or two (or more if you’re game) while the timed modes set you against the clock in a race to finish the puzzle within a specific time.

More review and pics after the jump:

“`The puzzle sets available come in various flavours – 6×6, 8×8, 9×9 and the ever challenging 12×12. Each type offering different levels of challenge on top of the standard “Easy/Medium/Hard” difficulties. Of these there are some 15 books of puzzles (about 1200) currently available, plus with future DLC packs available, chances are you’ll never run out of original puzzles.

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But enough with sitting all on your lonesome, Buku Sudoku comes with a range of multiplayer modes included. Locally, up to 4 players can work at the same puzzle together, aptly named the “Couch Co-op”. Then once you head online, you can work at puzzles co-operatively or go head-to-head in both 1v1 and team matches.

But I don’t think it’s the amount of puzzles available, nor how many people you can join in with online that really appeals to me. Buku Sudoku is a far cry from the ol’ 9×9 box in the puzzle section of the Sunday paper. A far far cry. And for that I’m thankful. Traditionally Sudoku games have been fairly straightforward, both graphically and gameplay wise and that’s where Buku really shines…

It’s in HD. The backgrounds and themes are all clearly rendered, easy on the eyes, very original and suits the genre to a T. The game is just so easy to play and enjoy, you don’t have to worry about battling an archaic game engine just to complete a puzzle. Also, you can customise nearly every aspect of the game, including the themes, the lettering, the marking and all the way down to the controls.

On that note, I’d like to point out what I think is an excellent idea had by Absolutist – the control schemes. With up to 8 different ways to control the game, whether it’s the stock standard, 1 handed (left or right), advanced control (an all round faster control scheme), with the Xbox 360 Media Remote or even with a Dancemat, you’re given the option depending on the mood you’re in!

With puzzle games such as this, generally the audio is the main gripe had by players, generally being turned down or switched off in favour of an iPod or your favourite CD. Although the same could be said for Buku Sudoku, you have the ability to switch the in game music on the fly, meaning that god-awful ringing music can be flicked to something you haven’t been listening to for the past hour.

I can’t say that I’m a Sudoku fanatic. I don’t own any Sudoku books, I don’t spend my free time at work trying to solve those incessant 9×9 squares and I don’t consider myself all that good at them. But there is something about Buku Sudoku that sucks me in, something that tells me to load up my saved 12×12 puzzle and work my way through it, something that I can’t quite put my finger on…

For 800mp, go and give it a try. If you’re a Sudoku nut, then 800mp is nothing in comparison to what you’ve probably spent on Sudoku puzzle books in the past and as such, this would be a no brainer. If not, then set aside some time to give this a try, you won’t regret it.

“9.1/10

© 2008 Lee Edgerton

Media Blowout:

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