Any game with generated hype and high production values is going to cause some debate when the reviews don't meet the expectations of fans. I believe Sudeki can be an enjoyable game, but it depends on the gamer at hand. Those who feel they have experienced some of the best RPGs ever, are probably going to ignore Sudeki, and for them, that's probably best. For those who don't normally play RPGs, or dislike JRPGs with turn-based combat, Sudeki will probably have some appeal. I've noticed a trend among these reader reviews, where most reviews were written within moments of starting the game, in some sort of effort to give the game a good boost. It's understandable that patient fans, and Xbox owners want Sudeki to be a great game, but since I own all three systems, I can find a lot better to choose from. From a technical standpoint, the graphics in Sudeki are pretty crisp, colorful, and are presented well. From a design standpoint, I feel the game suffers tremendously from unispired ideas, and borrowing too heavily from other games. From the first screenshots, to the final game, I have always felt that the main characters suffered from poor design. If they made a CG cartoon starring anime characters that were made by americans, and aired it on Fox television, I would expect something like Tal and Ailish, minus the large chests on the females. I find their generic faces and cliche' hair color/design to be offputting, which made it hard for me to enjoy playing through as any of the four characters. The music isn't bad, but like many games, it's pretty forgettable. The voice acting is horrendous. Maybe it's not so bad to others, but after playing games like KOTOR and Chronicles of Riddick, it just isn't passable by my standards. The voice acting should add an element of immersion to the game, making it far more enjoyable than expected. In Sudeki, the loud, boisterous, and cheesy dialogue only tarnishes the story and overall experience. In terms of gameplay, perhaps Gamespot was a bit harsh about the whole "babysitting" complaint, but the whole setup isn't very impressive, or convenient. Another reviewer mentioned that the slow down during menus isn't that bad, and that pausing the game to drink a potion is unrealistic. I'm sorry but slowing down time is no more realistic than stopping it completely. It reminds of when the developers of The Getaway thought it would be cool and different if they didn't use health bars, or on-screen indicators. While they were trying to make Sudeki's combat system unique, they should have just made it perform flawlessly, even if they had to blatantly copy another game. The puzzles are inferior to most modern games, and to most games made over 5 years ago. A recent play through the Zelda Oracle games on GBC, made me realize what good puzzles really are. They are fun, rewarding, and don't throw the answer in your face everytime you come across one. I realize that many gamers are different. Some are casual, don't play often, and only own one system. I believe that these gamers, and Xbox owners who are starving for a RPG, will be less critical and more apt to enjoy what Sudeki offers. Gamers like me, who have been gaming since childhood, own almost every game system, and have played some of the most amazing games ever made, will see Sudeki for the average game it is. I strongly recommend that every gamer rent it first, or buy a used copy.. We sell used games at my work and I've already had 3 copies come through, sold back by dissapointed gamers. I had to check it out for myself, since hyped games have a tendency to be aweful, and great, at the same time. The main advantage that Sudeki has, is that it's an RPG, and it's on Xbox. If there were a large selection of quality RPGs on the system, Sudeki would be less accepted by those who try to save it from the bargain bin. It arrives at a convenient time in the market, with Microsoft's reluctancy to supply reviewers with a playable copy. It's not a coincidence, it's a dissapointment that a year long delay couldn't save.
I kinda liked Sudeki, but I was also frustrated with it too. The combat was shallow, the worst parts of action rpgs and the worst parts of First Person shooters. I never felt comfortable with using either hack and slash... Read Full Review
Sudeki was a fun game when I played it back in 2004 and gave Xbox owners the chance to play a Japanese style RPG(which is a rarity on the Xbox)while also being a good one. The story is about how the light world and da... Read Full Review