MF8 Son-Mum 4x4 (3x3 Inside)

MF8 Son-Mum 4x4 (3x3 Inside)

On the outside it's a 4x4 cube, but in the middle of each face there's a smaller 3x3 layout. MF8 Son-Mum 4x4 (3x3 Inside) is a shape-shifting puzzle from the Son-Mum series. The name comes from the Chinese for "child mother": the big cube is the "mother" and the smaller one inside is the "child". This version takes the inner part known from the Son-Mum 3x3 and puts it into the outer part of the Son-Mum 4x4. In our shop it's available in black.

How it works

As long as you turn the layers by 90°, the puzzle behaves like a regular 4x4 cube. Things change when you turn one or both middle layers by 45°, which is half a normal move. New turns then become possible, and they scramble the pieces of the inner cube as well. The cube also changes shape, and after a few such moves solving it back is harder than a regular 4x4. You have to keep track of both the outer 4x4 layer and the small 3x3 in the middle of the faces at the same time.

How it differs from other Son-Mum puzzles

The Son-Mum series comes in several versions that differ mainly in what's inside. The Son-Mum 4x4 II has a second 4x4 layout inside. The Son 4 Mum 3 reverses the proportions. In this version, the outer part is a 4x4 and the inner part is a 3x3. If you already know the Son-Mum 3x3, you'll recognize the inner pieces here, but you'll have to combine them with solving the bigger outer cube.

Who is it for?

This puzzle is for people who can solve a 4x4 comfortably and want to try something different from yet another speedcube. It also fits nicely into a collection of mixups and shape mods, especially alongside other Son-Mum versions. It's not a cube for setting times or for your first steps in solving. To start, it's better to choose a classic 3x3 or 4x4 and come back to the Son-Mum once the basics no longer give you trouble.

Specifications

• Manufacturer: MF8
• Type: shape-shifting puzzle (mixup), outer part 4x4, inner part 3x3
• Series: Son-Mum
• Moves: regular 4x4 turns and 45° turns of the middle layers
• Body colour: black
• Official WCA event: no