Remember when the Rubik’s Cube took America by storm? In the early 80s, it was impossible to go anywhere without seeing someone twisting a colorful cube as they tried to match the colors back up on each side. Putao has introduced Cube-tastic!, an updated 3-D puzzle cube that takes the idea behind the Rubik’s cube to a whole new level.
Perfect for ages 3 and up, the Cube-tastic has 6 sides, each composed of 12 cubes with one of six different color circles on each side. Unlike the Rubik’s Cube, Cube-tastic is largely white, and rather than the color on each square being a sticker, it’s a slightly raised and lightly textured plastic bubble. And also unlike the Rubik’s Cube, Cube-tastic! uses augmented reality technology to help you solve the puzzle with step-by-step tutorials on either its iOS or Android app.
- Use AR technology to solve a puzzle cube with step-by-step tutorials
- Countless combinations exercise the hands and brain
- Master the cube and solve in under one minute
- Fun for all ages, product is safe and BPA free
- Compatible with iPhone / iPad / Android Device
One of the first things I realized about the Cube-tastic! when I removed it from its box was how smoothly the segments moved and how interesting the textured plastic domes felt under my fingertips. There happens to be a pleasing tactile feel that was never present when I was playing with a Rubik’s Cube.
The first thing you’ll want to do when you get yours is scramble it up as much as possible. All of you readers who are slightly obsessive about order might want to look away now …
I have to admit that I was never able to solve a truly scrambled Rubik’s Cube. Were you able to? I could get as many as two sides properly color-aligned, but I could never do all six. That frustration is gone with the Cube-tastic!
Scramble the cube, and try your hardest to solve it. When you finally get to the point where you are ready to put the Cube-tastic! on the shelf and never play with it again (which is exactly what happened to my Rubik’s Cube), you have an app that will help you solve the puzzle.
Using the Cube-tastic! app, you’ll be asked to show the app each side of your puzzle cube, by turning the cube so that the color shown in the middle ring is facing up on your cube. You’ll do this six times.
The app will tell you which middle dot to place right side up, and it will tell you to line the cube so that the corresponding middle dots show on the left and right, like this …
Now comes the fun part; the app will walk you through the proper twists and turns to return your cube to it’s original matching sides.
Check me out!
While most of us will still try to solve the Cube-tastic! Puzzle without having to use the app, I love having the option of being able to get a solution once I’ve hit a frustrating puzzle-solving wall.
If you remember the Rubik’s Cube fondly, but you hated that you could never return the cube to its original pristine solution for another go, you’ll really appreciate the Cube-tastic! 3-D Puzzle Cube. It’s great for all ages (3+), and because it is solvable, you’ll want to keep playing with it.
The Cube-tastic! 3-D Puzzle Cube retails for $7.99, and it is available from Amazon [affiliate link].
Source: Manufacturer supplied review sample
What I Like: Great gift for kids (3+) and adults; You can try to solve the puzzle on your own, but when you get stuck the app is there to save the day; Made with non-toxic, BPA-free plastic; The center dots have a nice textured and raised tactile feel;
What Needs Improvement: Nothing
Eh, personally I preferred my way to solve a Rubik’s Cube: I took it apart and put it back together the right way. 😉
Jeez, Carly — I just saw this comment. I’ll have to see why I’m not getting notifications. Anyway! I have taken more than my fair share of Rubik’s Cubes apart because it was the only way I could solve them! 😉