MF8 Son-Mum 4x4 Cube II

MF8 Son-Mum 4x4 Cube II

MF8 Son-Mum 4x4 Cube II (also known as Son-Mum 4x4 V2) is the second version of the 4x4 from MF8's Son-Mum series. At first glance it looks like an ordinary 4x4 cube with a black body and stickers, and you can solve it just like a classic 4x4. The real fun starts when you turn one or both of the inner slices by half a move, that is by 45°. This unlocks completely new moves, and pieces from the inside of the cube get scrambled too.

How this puzzle works

The Son-Mum series works similarly to Mixup-type cubes. 90° moves give you a regular 4x4, while turning an inner slice by 45° shifts the pieces so that some of them take on a different role in the puzzle. That is why knowing a 4x4 method is not enough. You need to understand how the pieces behave after half moves, and only then adapt your algorithms. It is more of a puzzle for working things out at your own pace than a cube for chasing fast times.

Mechanism and turning

This cube does not turn like modern speed cubes. With 45° moves there are many moving pieces, so you have to align the layers carefully before each turn. The cube is fairly stiff, and forcing it may result in popping or a damaged piece. Tension is adjusted with screws, which lets you loosen a cube that feels too tight. The triangular stickers are small and may peel off with heavy use.

Who is it for?

For people who can solve a 4x4 comfortably and are looking for something new: collectors of unusual puzzles and fans of Mixups and the Son-Mum series. For your first 4x4, a regular magnetic model is a better choice. The Son-Mum 4x4 II is not allowed in official competitions.

Specifications

• Manufacturer: MF8
• Type: 4x4 puzzle with Mixup-style moves (Son-Mum series)
• Version: II (V2)
• Size: 67 mm
• Weight: approx. 188 g
• Body colour: black, with stickers
• Adjustment: tension adjustment screws
• Release year: 2020
• Official competitions: no