Sudoku Party

Genre: Sudoku Puzzle

Players: 1-2 Co-Op (Local)

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Review:

Sudoku Party is a Sudoku Puzzle game released on mobile devices in 2012 and ported to Nintendo 3DS and Wii U in 2017.

The presentation here feels both amateurish and confused. The game’s mostly simple visuals are accompanied by cartoony balloons in menus, undoubtedly trying to underline the “party” in the game’s title. However, the game itself isn’t especially colorful and doesn’t feel like a party, it’s… well, Sudoku. Squares, numbers, and an overall minimalist look. And then completely clashing with the game’s name and theme is the traditional Japanese-style instrumental melody that plays in the background. If this game is trying to evoke the feeling of a party, it is a very strange party.

The “party” in the title likely refers more to this game’s support of multiplayer, and in this regard the Wii U version of the game feels inferior to the Nintendo 3DS version. Players can opt to have a second player jump into the game using a controller, but there’s no online option. It seems odd that a console release would have even less to offer than its handheld counterpart, yet here we are.

However, what little multiplayer has survived in this version reveals another issue the Wii U version of Sudoku Party has. See, even though a second player can opt to join in with an additional controller, the first player does not have that option – they can only use the Wii U gamepad, and additional controllers will not work unless you’re in two-player mode. I suppose one could always just piggyback off of the multiplayer mode to get around this, but even the game’s menus don’t recognize these additional controller inputs. This omission seems strange and unnecessary.

This issue aside, the controls here are good, with players being given their choice of either touchscreen or traditional gamepad controls. The gamepad controls take some getting used to, but both work fine. The core gameplay here also gives players the ability to undo a move or check the puzzle for mistakes, with players only able to complete all of a puzzle’s challenges if they finish the puzzle within a time limit and without using this check.

Another place where this game stumbles is in its options. Players cannot change whether placing numbers clears notes, cannot alter the visuals or music (aside from muting the music altogether), can’t change the button assignments… While the core experience here is good, much of what surrounds it is underwhelming.

Having said that, $5 for 1000 puzzles is an exceptionally good deal, and even if Sudoku Party is lacking in its features and presentation, and feels like a lesser version of the Nintendo 3DS game, that solid core gameplay and excellent content still makes this a decent choice for players looking to play Sudoku on their Wii U, though it’s frustrating to know that it could have easily been better. The Nintendo 3DS version of the game is proof of that.

tl;dr – Sudoku Party is a Sudoku Puzzle game with a confused and underwhelming presentation, as well as a disappointing amount of options. In fact, there are fewer options here than in the Nintendo 3DS version, with no online multiplayer. However, this game delivers where it counts – excellent gameplay and an absolute wealth of content for the tiny $5 price tag. If you’re craving Sudoku on your Wii U, this is a decent choice.

Grade: C+

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