Latkin, a new KenKen-style offering by Kyle Smith, is live in the app store. Fans of Sudoku, Karuko, simple math, and numbers in general, you are now free to rejoice!
At first glance, Latkin most closely resembles a Sudoku puzzle, as its gameplay is very similar with a few important exceptions. You may choose to play a randomly generated puzzle on a grid ranging from 3x3 to 9x9, though most players find anything over 6x6 to be somewhat difficult. The object is to place all of the digits between 1 and the range number of your puzzle (4 if 4x4, 7 if 7x7, etc.) so that each row and column contains every number without repeating. The solving mechanism is the biggest difference here. Each grid is broken into smaller grouped configurations, much like Sudoku’s smaller boxes, though the configurations in Latkin can be a single square, a whole row, an L-shape, or anything in between. Each configuration also contains a number, and any configuration of more than one square contains a mathematical operator, such as a plus or minus sign. The numbers contained within the configurations must all use that mathematical operator to arrive at the answer. So, for a two-box configuration with the number 4 and a minus sign, the two digits could be a 5 & 1, 6 & 2, or another combination that would result in a 4 if the smaller number is subtracted from the larger. In this way, the game takes bits of several popular puzzles and rolls them into an exciting new game.
The interface is simple and clean. Numbers are easy to read, and configurations are clearly marked. There is no soundtrack, so you’ll have to rely on your own music collection if you want to hear something while playing. Touch controls work well. Highlight a square to bring up the range of numbers available for the grid size. Touch the one you want and it’s placed in the square. Not sure if that square is a 2, 4, or 5? Highlight the square and hit the “Notes” button. A smaller set of numbers appears. Select your possible answers (as many as you like) and the square will fill with tiny digits to remind you of your options. When you determine which number should go in, simply highlight the square again, touch the “Answers” button, and select the appropriate number. Dead simple! Icons adorn the bottom of the screen, allowing you to quit, restart, pause, or save (although the game will autosave and allow you to resume in the event you accidentally exit). Each game is timed, though it appears this is just for statistical purposes. Kyle Smith also included a detailed explanation of how to play.
A few other KenKen-style games have recently hit the market, as well. KenKen by Capcom costs nearly twice as much as Latkin, which is well-priced at $1.99. IKenDoku undercuts Latkin by a dollar, but you can only play grids of 4x4, 6x6, or 8x8, so you are somewhat limited. 2DOKU is $3, but only offers 100 puzzles and contains no puzzles over 6x6. In all, Latkin, with over 20,000 unique puzzles, appears to be the best value for the money. Latkin scores a 5-Dimple seal of approval.
LatKin gets our AppSmile 5-Dimple rating:
