Sudeki

About

"Sudeki is a single-player Fantasy RPG set in a world torn apart by deceit and betrayal. Control any of the four champions to engage in real-time, bone-crunching combat with incredible spells and combos. Despite some grinding, the game boasts good graphics, a compelling soundtrack, and plenty of humor, although it can be full of bugs."

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

89%

Audience ScoreBased on 431 reviews

story76 positive mentions

stability19 negative mentions

Truly amazing RPG with cinematic storytelling and engaging combo-based combat.
Advanced selling system enhances the experience of trading items with specific buyers.
Well-built characters and hours of hidden items to discover, making it a fun and immersive experience.

The PC port has glitches and bugs that can disrupt gameplay.
Combat can feel clunky and unresponsive at times, leading to frustration during battles.
Lack of a new game+ feature limits replayability and exploration of overpowered gear.

story
196 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
39%
55%
6%
The story of Sudeki is a mixed bag, with many players appreciating its engaging characters and nostalgic charm, while others criticize it for being clichéd and lacking depth. Some found the narrative to be entertaining and filled with twists, despite its linear progression and occasional plot holes, while others felt it was underdeveloped and poorly executed. Overall, the game offers a decent storyline that, while not groundbreaking, provides enough intrigue to keep players invested throughout their journey.
- “The story is truly amazing, and I'm almost sure most people who played it loved it.”
- “The story is interesting enough, and it moves along at a tidy pace, with the difficulty ramping up fast enough that you never feel too secure but not so fast that you get overwhelmed.”
- “Sudeki is a visually appealing game with fun side quests and an interesting story.”
- “The story is nonsensical and fails to set up the mood most of the time, with very unlikeable characters (our protagonist never even mourns the guys killed at the start and just complains about his father, while our main heroine would rather risk the chance of her maid getting killed with no bodyguard on the way back than the chance of being alone with said bodyguard in case she can bang him), and a twist that introduces a massive plot hole as the doomsday device is being built intended to be a defense against an attack that is happening due to people turned crazy by the effects of the doomsday device.”
- “The plot is on rails, there is no player agency at all.”
- “Overall not that much happens in Sudeki story-wise, so if you’re only looking for a deep plot, you’ll need to find it somewhere else.”
graphics
118 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
53%
11%
The graphics of Sudeki, while showing their age, are generally regarded as surprisingly solid for a game from the early 2000s, with a charming art style that evokes nostalgia. Many players appreciate the colorful visuals and unique aesthetic, likening it to a blend of anime and Western design sensibilities, though some note that pre-rendered cutscenes do not hold up as well. Overall, the game is considered a hidden gem, with visuals that still manage to captivate despite being outdated compared to modern standards.
- “The graphics are still beautiful even compared to modern advancements, and the storyline is well thought out and fun.”
- “The graphics are surprisingly good for the time period also.”
- “For a game made in 2005, this game is a breath of fresh air, in the present world where games focus on skins, loot boxes, graphics, and looks this game brings a smile for its amazing art and unique atmosphere.”
- “The only real issue I can give is that the graphics are outdated, but are not unplayable.”
- “The graphics are hideous artistically.”
- “Though the art style holds the graphics up well, you can see its age through all those blurry textures.”
gameplay
80 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
39%
53%
9%
The gameplay is generally solid and engaging, featuring a mix of melee and ranged combat mechanics that allow players to switch between characters seamlessly. While the graphics have aged, the gameplay itself remains enjoyable, with fun combat mechanics and a decent leveling system, though some players note a lack of challenge and occasional clunkiness. Overall, it offers a nostalgic experience for fans of early 2000s RPGs, despite some technical issues and repetitive elements.
- “Definitely an underrated sleeper, it's got an actually fun team combat mechanic, an immersive fantasy setting, some surprisingly memorable music, and of course, hilarious original Xbox voice acting.”
- “The gameplay is the most important element in this game: it's fluid and it gives you a few choices, you can play an action hack-and-slash type of character or a first person shooter type.”
- “It has interesting characters, a solid storyline, some fun puzzle mechanics, and fun combat mechanics that are challenging but not over the top hard.”
- “Even the dialogue in this game has this habit of repeating itself; as for the bosses, some are very memorable to fight against while others feel like a tedious chore. The fighting mechanics also have a tendency to allow players to cheese some of the bosses to win; even the final boss has this 'spin to win' exploit.”
- “In all honesty, I feel like the game is a very 5/10 from a gameplay perspective. It's fine, but nothing that'll blow your mind.”
- “The world has so much potential, but the game mechanics are just boring.”
music
36 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
53%
39%
8%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some praising its unique blend of orchestral and electronic elements that enhance the fantasy setting, while others find it inconsistent, with sections lacking music and some tracks feeling generic. Notably, standout pieces are highlighted as memorable, contributing positively to the overall experience, though some players feel the soundtrack could have been more impactful. Overall, the music is appreciated for its charm and ability to evoke nostalgia, despite some criticisms regarding its execution.
- “The music deserves praise -- it's one of the few fantasy RPGs that dare to use electronic music with some acoustic instruments thrown in to balance it out.”
- “The music is really nice.”
- “I sometimes just sit and listen to the music, it’s that good.”
- “Finally there's the myriad of issues, like the several sections without music (including the final battle), an area with sound effects so deafening you can't hear voice lines, camera glitching in endgame cutscenes, sound effects not playing during cutscenes, the haste skill glitching the transition between the animation and the return to first person camera, weird hit detection for aoe skills (works in your favor, but still), unnecessary party separation and solo battles, the fps mode having the opposite y-axis direction as the first person camera, and many more I can't recall at the time of writing this.”
- “- the music isn't great: at worst, you feel like you're in a department store playing bad easy listening tracks.”
- “The music is nothing special.”
stability
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
15%
95%
The stability of Sudeki, particularly in its PC port, is a mixed bag; while some players report smooth performance and nostalgic enjoyment, many encounter significant glitches, including camera issues, audio problems, and occasional freezes that can disrupt gameplay. Although the original Xbox version is noted for being more stable, the Steam release has been criticized for its numerous bugs, which can lead to frustrating experiences, especially with save data loss. Overall, while the game can be entertaining, its stability issues may deter new players unless they are willing to navigate these challenges.
- “Once I worked out some graphical bugs, the game runs great.”
- “Despite some initial graphical issues, the overall stability of the game is impressive.”
- “After resolving a few minor bugs, the game has been running smoothly without any major issues.”
- “The PC port is very basic and buggy (especially the camera) with clunky controls to make things worse.”
- “To my disappointment, the game so far has had a lot of bugs, constantly getting stuck in combat without anything to attack, freezing, and I recently lost my save due to a freeze while the game was saving.”
- “Regardless of choices, after the opening video about the two brothers, the game completely freezes up.”
humor
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by a mix of intentionally cheesy dialogue and unintentional hilarity, often stemming from broken English and poor voice acting, which adds to its charm. Players find the antics of the characters and the absurdity of certain situations genuinely funny, with memorable lines and quirky NPCs contributing to the overall comedic experience. While some aspects, like the graphics and voice delivery, may detract from the humor, the game still manages to evoke nostalgia and laughter through its lighthearted storytelling and amusing interactions.
- “Definitely an underrated sleeper, it's got an actually fun team combat mechanic, an immersive fantasy setting, some surprisingly memorable music, and of course, hilarious original Xbox voice acting.”
- “> One minute it's hilariously cheesy, the next, surprisingly deep 🎭”
- “Dialogue is hilarious and the gameplay is fast and fun.”
character development
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
36%
21%
Character development in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players praising it as a strong aspect alongside the story and combat, while others feel it lacks depth and customization. The character designs are generally well-received, noted for their uniqueness and aesthetic appeal, though some critiques point to an over-the-top anime influence. Overall, while many appreciate the character development, there are calls for it to be more nuanced and engaging.
- “One of the best classic Xbox games I've ever played. If you like a good story, a good combat system, and great character development, you will love this and want more and more.”
- “Pretty good story, great character development, and good voice acting.”
- “Yes, it's a little dated, but so are the great classics (Baldur's Gate anyone?). I recommend Sudeki wholeheartedly for the story, gameplay, discovery, and character development.”
- “The game is hot garbage, with a cringe-inducing script, budget barrel anime character designs, shocking voice acting, and not much to do outside of the 20ish hour story.”
- “If you're looking for story and character development, you should look somewhere else.”
- “The character development could've been a bit more in-depth and customizable.”
grinding
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and unrewarding, with repetitive combat and excessive backtracking for side quests and loot. Many reviews highlight that battles become drawn out and frustrating, often requiring players to use specific characters against their will, leading to a lack of engagement and enjoyment. Overall, the grinding experience detracts from the game's potential, making it less appealing for those seeking a deep RPG experience.
- “Grinding isn't well-rewarded in this game.”
- “As the game progresses, the fights get more drawn out and tedious; you end up just running around avoiding enemies, hitting them to remove tiny amounts of health until you finally wear them down.”
- “Side quests and hidden loot require a lot of tedious backtracking.”
optimization
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
43%
The game's optimization is a mixed bag; while it runs smoothly on some machines and is impressively optimized for PC, players have reported issues such as camera glitches, audio problems, and occasional slowdowns that can disrupt gameplay. Overall, the port performance has received positive feedback, particularly for those who follow recommended setup steps.
- “Of course this is mostly a review for the port performance, which I am very pleased and impressed with.”
- “One other note: the game is amazingly optimized for PC.”
- “If you did your steps right as mentioned, your game will run smoothly.”
- “It's very old, and the game was originally for Xbox, so it's not optimized very well, but it's rather nostalgic.”
- “Of course, this is mostly a review for the port performance, which I am very pleased and impressed with.”
- “Various styles of combat, AI optimization/control.”
replayability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game's replayability is mixed; while some players find it highly replayable due to the variety of characters and skills that enhance the challenge, others feel it lacks significant replay value despite being an enjoyable experience. Overall, opinions vary, with some recommending it on sale for those seeking replay opportunities.
- “It is very replayable!”
- “Get it on sale; you may or may not find replay value, but I did.”
- “It is an action RPG, and as you get more playable characters and skills, things become more challenging.”
atmosphere
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere of the game is characterized by a lively and entertaining environment, highlighted by playful interactions among characters like Mario, Luigi, Bowsette, and Booette. Reviewers appreciate its unique art style and nostalgic charm, especially in contrast to modern games that prioritize graphics and monetization over immersive experiences. Overall, the game's atmosphere is celebrated for its ability to evoke joy and engagement, reminiscent of classic titles.
- “For a game made in 2005, this game is a breath of fresh air. In a world where games focus on skins, loot boxes, graphics, and looks, this game brings a smile with its amazing art and unique atmosphere.”
- “The group shares a round of laughter as Mario and Luigi prepare for the next challenge in the game, with Bowsette and Booette's playful antics keeping the atmosphere lively and entertaining.”
- “I found out about Sudeki on the Fable disc (which I also enjoyed back then) on my original Xbox way back when and awaited its release just for story and atmosphere reasons.”
emotional
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game evokes nostalgia, particularly for players who associate it with their childhood, though the story is perceived as more lighthearted and cartoonish than deeply impactful. While it attempts to engage players emotionally, frustrations with clunky controls and combat mechanics can detract from the overall experience.
- “Because nostalgia is a hell of a drug, and I'm being held hostage by my emotional cortex that is falsely associating the first time I played Sudeki with the positive connotation of being a child.”
- “Its story will prepare you for others of its time, but it's more Saturday morning cartoon than heartfelt epic.”
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's monetization strategy is criticized for poor advertising, which may have contributed to its lack of success and the absence of a sequel.