SengSo Crazy 3x3 v2

ShengShou Crazy 3x3 V2

At first glance, the SengSo Crazy 3x3 V2 from ShengShou looks like an ordinary 3x3 cube with slightly rounded (pillowed) faces. However, each face has a circle cut into it that does not turn together with the layer. In the second version of this puzzle, the circle is larger than in V1 and is made up of more pieces. Knowing the standard 3x3 method alone is not enough to solve it.

How the Crazy 3x3 works

When you turn a layer, the circle on that face stays in place while the rest of the face rotates around it. The parts of the circles on neighboring faces that lie in the turned layer move along with it. After a few moves, the circles get mixed up between the faces and you have to solve them separately from the rest of the cube. As a result, even someone who solves a regular 3x3 well will run into situations they have never seen before.

How V2 differs from V1

The first version has 5 pieces in each circle. The V2 has 9 on each face, and the circle itself is larger. More pieces in the circles means more possible combinations and harder final stages. V1 is better for getting to know the crazy cube principle at a relaxed pace, while V2 offers a noticeably bigger challenge.

Turning

The cube has no magnets. It is a puzzle for relaxed solving, not a cube for timed speedsolving, so don't expect the feel of a modern magnetic 3x3. According to user reviews, it turns well right out of the box. This version is stickerless in the bright color scheme: the colors are in the plastic, so there are no stickers that could wear off.

Who is it for?

For someone who can already solve a 3x3 and wants a new challenge on a familiar base. Knowing the basic algorithms and being able to move individual pieces without messing up the rest of the cube will help, because that is exactly what the circles require. The cube is also a great fit for a collection of unusual puzzles. As a child's first cube, it is less suitable than a classic 3x3.

Specifications

• Type: Crazy 3x3, a modification of the 3x3 cube with a circular cut on each face
• Manufacturer: ShengShou (SengSo)
• Pieces in the circle: 9 on each face
• Size: approx. 60 mm
• Weight: approx. 124 g
• Magnets: none
• Shape: pillowed (slightly rounded faces)
• Color: stickerless bright