SengSo Q-Platypus Puzzle

SengSo Q-Platypus Puzzle

The Q-Platypus is one of the more unusual-looking puzzles from ShengShou (SengSo brand). Cylindrical "tips" stick out of every side, and at first glance it's hard to tell how it turns. The SengSo Q-Platypus Puzzle is the first, basic version of this series. It's easy to solve and works well as your first puzzle outside the WCA events. We offer it in the stickerless bright version: the colors are in the plastic, so there are no stickers to wear off.

How to solve the Q-Platypus

The faces turn, and the cylindrical tips can also be rotated on their own. Cubers compare the solving approach to Jing's Pyraminx or the Redi Cube. If you know either of these puzzles, you'll quickly find your way around the Platypus. Others usually work out the solution intuitively, without learning algorithms. The difficulty comes mainly from the unusual shape, not from a complicated mechanism. According to the distributor, the puzzle has magnets that help the pieces snap into place after each move. There are reportedly tension adjustment screws under the four center caps.

V1, V2, V3 or Mirror?

The Q-Platypus series comes in several versions that look similar but differ in difficulty:

• Q-Platypus (V1), i.e. this product: the simplest version, a good place to start.
• Q-Platypus V2: has an extra layer around the tips. You have more pieces to keep track of, but the overall solving method is similar.
• Q-Platypus V3: the tips are split into many pieces around the center, so the scrambled puzzle becomes much harder.
• Mirror Q-Platypus: comes in a single color, and you recognize the pieces by their shape and size, not by color.

Who is it for?

For anyone who can already solve a 3x3 and wants to try something different, without the risk of being unable to solve the puzzle once it's scrambled. The Platypus also makes a great gift for a child who loves cubes, and it looks nice in a collection. Speedcubers looking for a real challenge should go for the V3 instead.

Specifications

• Manufacturer: ShengShou (SengSo)
• Type: shape mod puzzle, non-WCA
• Version: Q-Platypus V1
• Color scheme: stickerless bright
• Weight: approx. 101 g
• EAN: 6923039179117