Apple Thoughts: Astraware Sudoku: Fun For Beginners And Experts Alike

Product Category: iPhone/iPod Touch Game
Developer: Astraware
Where to Buy: iTunes Store
Price: $4.99
System Requirements: iPhone or iPod Touch
Specifications: Requires about 2 megabytes for install.

Pros:

• Has a downloadable Puzzle of the Day;
• Has an excellent hint system.

Cons:

• The auto Pencil Marks feature makes easy puzzles too easy.

Summary:
Astraware Sudoku is a good game for Sudoku fans. It provides plenty of help for beginners, and has challenging puzzles for experts.

Sudoku

Figure 1: Astraware Sudoku showing the hint mode.

Sudoku is a popular puzzle game and there are many versions of sudoku for the iPhone. Astraware's version is good for beginners and experts alike. There are five difficult levels from Beginner to Fiendish.

Entries are made in the Sudoku board by tapping on the cell you want to edit. Then you can enter a number by tapping in the first row of numbers below the game board. You can also enter pencil marks by using the second row of numbers. The pencil marks can be used to help you figure out numbers when multiple possibilities exist.

Plenty of Assistance

Figure 2: The Auto Pencil Marks feature.

There's plenty of help available for beginners. There's a tutorial to explain how the game is played for new players. The game can also provide hints. When you press the hint button, a row where you should make you next entry will be highlighted. If you press it again while this row is highlighted, the single cell where you should make your next entry is highlighted. If you press it a third time, the game will tell you the value that should be entered in that cell.

There's also a mode where pencil marks are entered automatically. This can be helpful on the more difficult puzzles. I don't recommend using it on the simpler puzzles because it will reveal some of the answers.