Sudoku is the latest in a long line of fads, and thanks to the near limitless number of puzzles and their ease of creation, it's difficult finding a medium that it hasn't penetrated. Just because a game is inherently fun, however, does not mean that it translates well for every type of play experience, and this is Merscom's Xbox Live Arcade game, Buku Sudoku's greatest pitfall.
Let's face it; you can't jazz up Sudoku. Developers can put frilly graphics around the edges of the game board and stream a variety of music in the background, but the game doesn't play differently. Typically, you have a 9x9 grid (nine rows and nine columns), which is further divided into nine 3x3 squares. Each column and row must have every number from one to nine with no repeats, and each 3x3 square must contain every number from one to nine. No two identical numbers can be contained in the same column, row or square. It's a simple premise, really. The game varies in difficulty depending on how many numbers you start with on the board; the more you have, the easier it is to fill in the rest.
Buku Sudoku tries to spice things up by adding extra options and challenges (including larger and smaller game boards), and offers the player a host of lightly animated backgrounds and a nice, soothing soundtrack. However, two major flaws keep it from being a favorite of even the most diehard sudoku fanatic.
The first warning sign is the control scheme. We played Sudoku on our cell phone without any complication, but Buku Sudoku wants to punish players with an overly complex setup. Playing through the tutorial is incredibly confusing, as it offers so many control variations that it made our heads spin. Right-handed only? Left-handed only? Analog sticks or d-pad? Face buttons or d-pad? Just pick one and stick to it. No matter which way you choose, it never feels comfortable, especially when you want to temporarily mark squares with number guesses. It's functional, but it might also give you a headache.
The other major detractor is the fact that this is a Live Arcade game, and a $10 one to boot. There are so many free options on the Internet to choose from that this game seems irrelevant. Sure, it has some flashy backgrounds and music to zone out to, but these don't justify the price tag. Granted, there is both online and offline co-op play, but Sudoku is a game that is best enjoyed when you just want to get away and stretch your mental muscles. Buku Soduku is not a bad game, but there's no reason to purchase it.
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