You can select a particular theme from among the ones provided, which sets your puzzle in a different environment. These include an office-like setting with graph paper as the playfield and a scratchy sort of font for the numbers, to the Underground Hardware setting, which is more like playing on an electronics workbench in the basement, where the game looks like its being displayed on a green-screened monochrome monitor.
Unlike the normal paper sudokuunless you have nosy people around youBuku Sudoku is also set up to support multiplayer for up to four puzzle solvers, either on the same game system, over Xbox Live or a mix of them both.
And achievement hounds will be happy to know that Buku Sudoku comes with the standard mix of goals, with a dozen milestones that need to be hit in order to rack up the full 200 points that are offered. The list is included at the end of the preview, though with the game not being final, you should realize that they might not match whats in the game when it comes out.
The games helpers can make solving the puzzle easier.
Finally, its clear that the option exists for Merscom to add new puzzle packs and themes that can be purchased and installed, much like other XBLA titles have done. Surely, well get more information on those additions after the game releases. Buku Sudoku is expected to hit Marketplace sometime this spring. If youre a sudoku fan, put away your pencil sharpener and get your controlleror dance padwarmed up, because youll have hours of entertainment ahead of you on your Xbox 360.
Achievements
Beat the BasicsComplete lessons 1-5 in tutorial 1 and lessons 1-3 in tutorial 2. (10 points)
Time BanditBeat the time limit for 10 puzzles in Timed mode. (15 points)
SamplerComplete 1 puzzle in each of the 3 difficulties. (10 points)
Super SizesBeat a puzzle in each grid size: 6x6, 8x8, 9x9 and 12x12. (20 points)
NaturalSolve 10 puzzles with autopencil and show errors off. (10 points)
Friend and FoeComplete 1 puzzle in Co-op, Team Battle and Duel in Xbox Live mode. (10 points)
Buku BankEarn 2,500,000 Buku Score any way you want. (10 points)
Too FastComplete a single-player 9x9 puzzle in 1 minute and 20 seconds. Hint: you can turn autopencil on. (20 points)
MasterComplete 200 puzzles in total across the game. (20 points)
WiredComplete 20 games over Xbox Live. (20 points)
Grand MasterEarn 10,000,000 Buku Score any way you want. (30 points)
SocialiteComplete 25 Multiplayer Games, in either Online or Local Multiplayer game play. (25 points)