SengSo 4x4 Magic Tower

SengSo 4x4 Magic Tower

SengSo 4x4 Magic Tower is the four-layer version of the 3x3 Magic Tower from ShengShou. On the outside it looks like an enlarged Pyraminx or Mastermorphix, but inside it runs on a 4x4 cube mechanism. It is a shape mod, a shape-shifting puzzle: the shape has changed, but the rules of movement are the same. The pieces come in different shapes and sizes, so once scrambled, the puzzle clearly loses its shape. In some shops you may also find it as Pyramid Tower 4x4 or Tetrahedron Fourth Magic Tower.

How to solve it

The 3x3 version became a 4x4 in the same way a regular 3x3 cube becomes a 4x4. The reduction method works here too: centers first, then edge pairing, and finally solving it like a 3x3. You also need to be ready for parity, just as on a 4x4. The hardest part at the beginning is orientation. The shape gives you fewer hints than the colors, and the middle pieces are easy to mix up. That is why experience with a 4x4 or other shape mods makes things easier.

Mechanism and feel

The puzzle turns smoothly right out of the box, without the catches you sometimes get with cheaper shape mods. Reviewers describe it as stable with a smooth feel. It is a collector's puzzle for solving just for fun, not a cube for setting times: it has no magnets and is not legal in official WCA competitions. Layer tension is adjusted with tension screws.

Who is it for?

For people who can already solve a 4x4 and are looking for a new challenge on a familiar mechanism. It also fits nicely in a collection next to the 3x3 Magic Tower and the larger versions from this series. For a child's first puzzle, a simpler one will work better, e.g. a classic Pyraminx or the 3x3 Magic Tower.

Specifications

• Manufacturer: ShengShou (SengSo series)
• Type: tetrahedron-shaped 4x4 cube shape mod
• Color: stickerless bright
• Size: approx. 82 mm
• Weight: approx. 91 g
• Adjustment: tension screws
• Release year: 2021
• WCA competition legal: no
• In the box: puzzle, solving instructions