First Encounter

These days, roleplaying games are a dime a dozen, but the really good ones are few and far between—a source of endless frustration for many gamers. When a truly rich and full-featured RPG does come along, we rejoice. Some dance, some may cry, and some faint on the spot. Luckily, those who do pass out are usually near a comfy sofa or bean-bag chair, so they’re all right—but I digress. My point is simply this: after spending a few hours withSudeki, I’m beginning to get that warm and fuzzy feeling in my tummy all over again.

The crucible of deepest fear.

While many of the story elements are still closely guarded secrets (I wouldn’t be surprised to hear of some poor sap driving around the country in a Winnebago, incognito, with the full contents of the story handcuffed to his wrist), I was able to get a solid glimpse of a few different gameplay elements. Interested? Read on then! No one’s stopping you.

Wow, That’s Bright
I play games at work, I play games at home, and I play games between work and home. The more I play, the harder it is for me to be floored by any fanciful graphical trickery. That being said, I’m more and more impressed with the few games that have style all their own. You can show me the most technically impressive game out there, but without good art direction, I don’t care! Mix all that crazy technology with a rich, unique style, though, and you’re on your way to achieving what Sudeki has in bountiful amounts. The vibrant colors, the unique—yet cohesive—architectural styles, the character models that exude their own individual attitude, and even the overall look of elegance—these are the things that immerse me in a world—which is critical to an RPG. You’ll need visuals to truly appreciate this aspect, so go check out more screenshots on the main Sudeki page.

Bewitching indeed.

Turn-based Is for Pansies!
Okay, the above statement might be a little strong, but I think we’ve all had our fair share of turn-based RPGs. It’s time to try a little something new, and Sudeki does. Any combat or action in Sudeki takes place in real-time, or what I’ve cleverly dubbed “slow-time.” You can hack, slash, bludgeon, cast spells, and do any number of other actions exactly when you want to, in real-time, and you can bring up a menu to choose specific actions during combat. But, instead of pausing the game completely, bringing up the menu only slows down the game. If you pull up the menu next to an enemy, you better think quickly about what you want to do, lest you get smacked upside the head. It’s this seemingly simple technique of slowing down time that allows for a decidedly different experience. It adds a degree of urgency to the proceedings. In turn-based RPGs, I could grab coffee with some friends of mine, go see a movie, hit the clubs, come back home, make a sandwich, and still have infinite time to make my decision. It’s not that there’s anything wrong with that, but I’m relieved to be experiencing something new while playing an RPG.

Um, Yeah, That Was Cool
Tadow! That’s the noise my brain makes when I see such freakishly cool things as the skills available in Sudeki(with names like Shin Splitter, you can’t go wrong) or the jaw-dropping, tongue-lolling splendor of Spirit Attacks. These skills and Spirit Attacks are gained through your progression in the game and offer a bevy of support (often healing) and combative powers that not only liven up the game, but also add a great degree of strategy. The Spirit Attacks are especially impressive; not only are they gorgeously presented (so … many … particle … effects), but they pack quite a wallop as well. At times, you can even combine two characters’ Spirit Attacks to create one massive attack. The effects, both visual and tactical, can be staggering.

Maybe with eight good swings …

The time I spent with Sudeki was a blast, but now my curiosity is burning, and I can only hope that I will soon be able to satiate it with another build of the game. I’ve seen so many interesting elements of Sudeki, but now I must know how they fit together. I want to know the background for the characters and how skills and Spirit Attacks are obtained. I want to know about level progression and what threat of cataclysm is forcing our characters to march boldly into so much danger. In time, I shall get my answers, and when I do, you can be assured that I’ll hand them off to you.

By Alex McLain