Unlike Sudoku, Kakuro has origins that begin in programming. The puzzles are actually known as “Cross sums”. They’re basically logic puzzles that look and play a lot like a crossword. A box is divided diagonally and numbers in the bottom triangle are played down and numbers in the top triangle are played across. The objective is to find a set of numbers (between 1 through 9) that will add up to give that number. However, you’re not to have any of the numbers repeat in any row or column. And so there lies the challenge.
Kakuro Unlimited is definitely not short of a challenge even on the easier difficulty levels. However, the package is not quite as robust as the one found in Sudoku Unlimited. The game is still played on a grid and like a crossword, there are squares that have been blacked out. You have a choice of grids, ranging from 7x7 to 16x16. You can have virtually any combination in between that isn’t square, so long as it’s not less than seven or more than sixteen. There are five difficulty levels but even on “Very Easy” the game is pretty damned hard.
This is Kakuro, he's a tough nut to crack
The thought process is quite different in Kakuro when compared to Sudoku. Where as Sudoku is an arrangement of numbers or letters, Kakuro requires you to add up numbers with strategic placement so it is unlikely to appeal to as wide an audience. As with Sudoku Unlimited, Kakuro Unlimited is a budgeted title, that sets you back only $19.95 (Australian). The same comparisons can be made with that of buying a book from a newsagency or a newspaper but the latter two will eventually run out. These Kakuro puzzles keep coming strong and fast and you’re highly unlikely to come across one that you’ve already done before.
The control over the grid is pretty good and virtually identical to Sudoku Unlimited. You pick your number with the mouse and you simply click over the desired box to fill it in. If you have a mouse with a wheel, you can scroll it to choose whichever letters you want quickly. The keyboard can be used as well. Again, you’re up against a clock and potentially against your own best times.
As you can also see on the side menu, there are a reasonable amount of controls and options. They’re all relatively self-explanatory, the options are fairly basic and it’s very easy set up and run a game. The “Auto Pencil” option allows you to draft in a number in case you don’t want to write it in immediately. The options such as “Show Solution” and “Show Mistakes” are handy for when you’re stuck but they will turn your current game into practice – meaning that the finish time won’t count. The “Help” option is particularly useful because there is an in-depth amount of information that allows you to peek into the intricacies of the game. The only option that is missing that would have been handy is an eraser. It would’ve been nice to clear some of our more glaring errors completely.
That's pretty quick
While the package is pure Kakuro, it does allow for a reasonable amount of options. There are a few options that will not seem obvious at first. With the “Undo” and “Redo” options, the entire history is kept, so you can trace all your steps backwards, than forwards again. Another nifty option is that you can create your own puzzles. The computer helps you out by saying whether or not the puzzle has a solution and then you can print it out and pass it onto friends or relatives. Aspects like these make the game much more than just a computer game but the simple truth behind Kakuro is that it is not as universally acceptable to everyone as Sudoku. The package that Kakuro Unlimited offers is certainly robust but a fair bit harder, meaning that not everyone will be up for the challenge.
In terms of presentation, the package is very basic, as can be seen in the screenshots. It’s not technically demanding and it’s not going to blow anyone away. In the very least, the game comes with a few options of being able to change the background colours and settings to your liking. Sound-wise, the game is even more limited, though you get applause when you solve the puzzle. In the very least, the action takes place in a window so that you’re able to go and pick some music from your own collection. Even though the game is not technically demanding, there were no real glitches, problems or hitch-ups.
Personally, I enjoyed Kakuro Unlimited more than Sudoku. However, it doesn’t take away from the fact that it is a harder and more challenging game to play. Given this, people are more likely to choose Sudoku Unlimited. For those who are looking for more of a challenge and a package that is going to give you a lot of puzzles for not a lot of money, Kakuro Unlimited fits the bill. It’s technically unspectacular but the underlying mechanics are rock-solid. It can be argued that some of these puzzles can be found on the net or in the newsagency but neither are likely to provide such a varied or flexible experience as can be found here. Again, an erase button would’ve been nice but is here will suffice. Kakuro Unlimited sets out to provide a lot of Kakuro that can be played by anyone willing to get their head to turn a few gears and it does so successfully.
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