Can't get enough of Japanese puzzles? Well, seems like Mastersoft is hooked, too. Only months after the release of Mastersoft Sudoku, Mastersoft releases the new Mastersoft Kakuro. The object of the game is still the same as with the traditional kakuro puzzles, only this time, players solve the puzzles on a cooler interface. Mastersoft designed the game for Microsoft-equipped mobile phones such as the Windows Mobile and Pocket PC. A desktop version of the interactive kakuro puzzles are also released. This is quite a bonus for kakuro fans who own the mobile versions; they simply have to select the "Upgrade" option and download the program on their desktop.
Mastersoft Kakuro offers six levels. Each level features kakuro puzzles from "simple" to "master". The simple puzzles are, obviously, the easiest to do and complete. They usually come in smaller boxes. Master-level puzzles are very difficult which take hours to finish. But Mastersoft provides some neat features and options which make solving the mind-boggling puzzles a wee bit easier and fun. A warning, though: if you think that sudoku is addictive, well, Mastersoft Kakuro is more addicting. This is a game that not only fills up your free time, but eats your time as well, if you don't take care.
The design and features of Mastersoft Kakuro echoes that of Mastersoft Sudoku. However, these features are improved and enhanced to help players tread the more difficult way of being a kakuro master. The game provides an unlimited number of kakuro puzzles. The appearance of the playing area or grid looks much like a traditional kakuro puzzle. A crossword-like box with white and dark spaces with some numbers on it greets players at the start. To remind everyone, the object of the game is to fill out the boxes with the numbers one to nine to get the number or numbers on the dark boxes as sums. The numbers on the upper right of the boxes correspond to the row, while the numbers on the bottom left refer to the column. The challenge is to position the numbers in the proper boxes without repeating a number within a solution. Like with the traditional puzzles, this interactive version preserves the need for cognitive skills and mathematical ability.
Features of the game include a timing system which you can customize. You can hide the timer if you get easily distracted by time. If the game skin bothers you, it is perfectly changeable with several other available skins installed with the game. The sound option is also open for modifications to suit your preferences. Though keeping score is not a feature of traditional kakuro puzzles, this Mastersoft version carries one. Scores are based on how fast you solve the puzzles and the number of mistakes you incurred. If you get panicky with your low score, you can opt to hide it.
To give your game more personality or to reflect your personal style in your kakuro puzzles, the game includes the option of color-coding your answers. Multiple possible answers can be written in a single box with the Tap n Hold One Click Candidates option. Players can use their mouse to select their answers from the number box, or to key in their answers from their keyboards. With helpful tools such as these, advancing and being a Kakuro Master is not an impossibility. However, after completing the required number of puzzles for a certain level, players advance to more difficult puzzles. But there is no need to fret; the tools also get more advance to adapt to the difficulty of the game. Pop-up matrices show you possible answers. At the same time, clicking on the "Hint" button shows you the wrong answers and the possible replacements. There is also a bookmarking option which allows you to mark certain answers that you doubt. No wonder Mastersoft Kakuro is considered as the most advanced and powerful kakuro puzzle game for Windows Mobile and Pocket PCs.
Despite its high-tech appeal, Mastersoft Kakuro is based on the designs of a hundred kakuro puzzles enthusiasts. The makers reviewed the game's prototype and Mastersoft modified the game based on their suggestions. For on-the-go kakuro puzzles, Mastersoft Kakuro is your best bet.
Showing posts with label kakuro puzzles. Show all posts
Showing posts with label kakuro puzzles. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Monday, January 16, 2012
Kakuro Blocks
There is no straight up, easy way in solving kakuro puzzles. You either sweat it out, thinking of possible combinations, or do the tedious paper and pencil method. Usually, people spend more time trying to think of combinations than actually filling in the puzzles. You know the buzz people get after solving kakuro puzzles? It usually comes after a person boasts of solving his puzzle just as his friends pointed out that he got double 8's in a single block.
But there is a way to stop and prevent this kind of frustration. This is not about a miracle kakuro trick; rather, this is an age-old stand-by that few people take care to know. There are numbers in kakuro puzzles that only have a single valid combination and possibly, a limited number of cells. These number combinations and cells are called kakuro blocks. Accordingly, there are people who swear by using kakuro blocks to make puzzle-solving easier. This is not surprising since kakuro blocks shorten puzzle-solving time, thereby allowing players to solve more puzzles.
But before we get on with kakuro blocks' advantages, let us first define what they are. Kakuro blocks, simply put, is just a list of digits that provide special clues. These clues are often in the form of possible combinations. Also, these are blocks of a definite size and sum that only have a solution in terms of a single choice of digits. These blocks are reserved for a definite combination; only one valid set of digits can fill these in. Kakuro blocks come in cells that require as little as two digits or in blocks that require as many as seven or eight digits. Kakuro blocks base their combinations on the rules of the puzzles. In the puzzles, only the digits 1 to 9 can be used. Also, each number can only be used once in each sum. Consequently, each kakuro block uses only digits less than 10 and assigns each digit to combinations without repetition.
After defining kakuro blocks and their functions, let us examine the advantages of using them in solving kakuro puzzles. Since the blocks follow the rules of kakuro, the risks or possibilities of incurring mistakes are minimized. We all know that an unnoticed mistake in a kakuro puzzle leads to other mistakes, especially if the wrong block is not isolated. Basing other answers on a wrong block or digit often causes problems in solving the puzzles and can eventually lead to redoing the whole thing. Thus, more time and effort are wasted.
Kakuro blocks also save time. Since the blocks provide the only legit combinations for some sums, players only need to identify the digits' correct positions. The blocks also enable the use of techniques such as "unique intersects", "locked values", and "reducing combination". In using "unique intersects", the player only has to look for kakuro blocks with shared cells. Logically, the common number of both blocks is positioned inside the shared box. "Locked values" refer to isolating block values. "Reducing combination" is usually employed if a non-kakuro block intersects with kakuro blocks. Since the non-kakuro block has many possible combinations, crossing kakuro blocks limits the choices. With these tricks, solving kakuro puzzles is a cinch.
Indeed, solving kakuro puzzles is easier with kakuro blocks. They minimize mistakes and shorten solving time. In addition, they are also easy to memorize. In fact, the more frequent you use these blocks, the more you would be familiar with them. Thus, memorizing them takes no time at all. These blocks are also very easy to find; just browse through any site that offers kakuro puzzles and solving strategies.
But there is a way to stop and prevent this kind of frustration. This is not about a miracle kakuro trick; rather, this is an age-old stand-by that few people take care to know. There are numbers in kakuro puzzles that only have a single valid combination and possibly, a limited number of cells. These number combinations and cells are called kakuro blocks. Accordingly, there are people who swear by using kakuro blocks to make puzzle-solving easier. This is not surprising since kakuro blocks shorten puzzle-solving time, thereby allowing players to solve more puzzles.
But before we get on with kakuro blocks' advantages, let us first define what they are. Kakuro blocks, simply put, is just a list of digits that provide special clues. These clues are often in the form of possible combinations. Also, these are blocks of a definite size and sum that only have a solution in terms of a single choice of digits. These blocks are reserved for a definite combination; only one valid set of digits can fill these in. Kakuro blocks come in cells that require as little as two digits or in blocks that require as many as seven or eight digits. Kakuro blocks base their combinations on the rules of the puzzles. In the puzzles, only the digits 1 to 9 can be used. Also, each number can only be used once in each sum. Consequently, each kakuro block uses only digits less than 10 and assigns each digit to combinations without repetition.
After defining kakuro blocks and their functions, let us examine the advantages of using them in solving kakuro puzzles. Since the blocks follow the rules of kakuro, the risks or possibilities of incurring mistakes are minimized. We all know that an unnoticed mistake in a kakuro puzzle leads to other mistakes, especially if the wrong block is not isolated. Basing other answers on a wrong block or digit often causes problems in solving the puzzles and can eventually lead to redoing the whole thing. Thus, more time and effort are wasted.
Kakuro blocks also save time. Since the blocks provide the only legit combinations for some sums, players only need to identify the digits' correct positions. The blocks also enable the use of techniques such as "unique intersects", "locked values", and "reducing combination". In using "unique intersects", the player only has to look for kakuro blocks with shared cells. Logically, the common number of both blocks is positioned inside the shared box. "Locked values" refer to isolating block values. "Reducing combination" is usually employed if a non-kakuro block intersects with kakuro blocks. Since the non-kakuro block has many possible combinations, crossing kakuro blocks limits the choices. With these tricks, solving kakuro puzzles is a cinch.
Indeed, solving kakuro puzzles is easier with kakuro blocks. They minimize mistakes and shorten solving time. In addition, they are also easy to memorize. In fact, the more frequent you use these blocks, the more you would be familiar with them. Thus, memorizing them takes no time at all. These blocks are also very easy to find; just browse through any site that offers kakuro puzzles and solving strategies.
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