MF8 Crazy Octahedron II Plus Saturn

MF8 Crazy Octahedron II Plus Saturn

An eight-sided puzzle from the Crazy Octahedron Plus series, released by MF8 together with DaYan. It is based on the face-turning octahedron (FTO), an octahedron in which each of the eight faces turns. In the MF8 Crazy Octahedron II Plus Saturn, every face has a circular piece that divides the face center into additional parts. We stock the stickerless bright version. The colors are in the plastic itself, so there are no stickers to wear off or peel.

How the "planetary" versions differ

The Crazy Octahedron II Plus comes in several variants: Standard, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn. The planet names refer to different arrangements of circles on the faces. Standard is essentially an FTO with center pieces, while Saturn has circles on all faces. In Crazy series puzzles, a circle can either turn together with the face or stay in place while the face turns. This determines how the pieces inside the circle move and which algorithms you need. That is why each version in the series solves a little differently, even though they look similar.

How it solves

This puzzle is more about thinking than TPS. Standard FTO methods alone are not enough here, because the pieces in the circles have to be placed separately, usually with commutators. Users of the Plus series report that the puzzle turns fairly smoothly but can catch. With careless turning, popping can also happen, or a piece can get twisted so that the puzzle cannot be solved until you fix it by hand. So it is best to turn calmly and align the layers carefully. The puzzle is fairly large and weighs about 220 g, noticeably more than a typical 3x3 cube.

Who is it for?

For those who already solve the FTO or other Crazy series puzzles and want a tougher challenge. It is also a great addition to a collection if you are collecting the "planetary" versions. For a first puzzle, including for a child who is just starting out, it is better to choose something simpler, such as a Pyraminx, Skewb or a regular octahedron.

Specifications

• Type: face-turning octahedron (FTO) with circles on the faces, Crazy series
• Manufacturer: MF8 (series released jointly with DaYan)
• Version: Saturn, circles on every face
• Color: stickerless bright
• Weight: approx. 220 g without packaging