Calvins Puzzle Pitcher Insanity Cube

Calvins Puzzle Pitcher Insanity Cube

Pitcher Insanity Cube is a puzzle designed by David Pitcher and mass-produced by Calvin's Puzzle. It is a cube version of his earlier puzzle, Edge of Insanity, which is shaped like a triangular bipyramid. Here the same mechanism is built into a cube. This version has a black body with coloured stickers.

How it differs from a regular cube

The Insanity Cube is a jumbling-only puzzle. Its cut planes are not arranged the way they are on a 3x3, so after a few moves it is not just the colours that get mixed up. The cube also loses its cubic shape. On top of that there is bandaging: one move can block other faces until you restore the right alignment. That means you have to plan every move instead of turning on muscle memory.

There are few ready-made methods. Cubers who have published their solutions perform their algorithms in the cube state, because useful sequences are hard to find once the shape is scrambled. Standard notation doesn't work well here, so video tutorials are often easier to follow than written move sequences. One shop rates its difficulty as 9 on its own scale, which means very challenging.

Build quality and turning

This puzzle has no magnets, so don't expect the feel of a flagship speed cube. According to user reviews, it turns smoothly right out of the box and is solidly assembled. The stickers on the corners are small, and for some people they start to peel off over time. A drop of glue is usually enough to fix this. It is slightly larger than a standard 3x3 but still sits comfortably in your hand.

Who is it for?

For collectors, or for anyone who can already solve a few unusual puzzles and is looking for something that really makes you think. For a first cube, or as a gift for a child who is just starting out, it is better to choose something simpler. The manufacturer recommends it for ages 12 and up. It also looks great on a shelf, even unsolved.

Specifications

• Manufacturer: Calvin's Puzzle
• Designer: David Pitcher
• Type: shape mod, jumbling-only mechanism
• Body colour: black (Black)
• Dimensions: approx. 63 x 61.6 x 61 mm
• Weight: approx. 195 g including packaging
• Magnets: none
• Age: 12+