VeryPuzzle C1O3-M5

VeryPuzzle C1O3-M5

A spherical puzzle from VeryPuzzle that combines two axis systems in one mechanism: those of a cube and an octahedron. In practice, the VeryPuzzle C1O3-M5 is a face-turning and corner-turning puzzle at the same time, just shaped like a ball. It was designed by Leslie Le and released by VeryPuzzle in 2020. The available version has a black body.

How the C1O3-M5 works

Some moves feel just like on a regular cube: you turn layers around axes that pass through the centers of the cube's faces. The second set of axes comes out of the cube's corners, which correspond to the faces of an octahedron. This lets you also turn sections around the corners, just like on corner-turning puzzles. Both cut systems run through the same pieces, so after just a few moves they get thoroughly mixed together.

Thanks to its spherical shape, the puzzle doesn't change its silhouette when scrambled. You can only see your solving progress by the colors, not by the shape as with 3x3-based shape mods.

Is it a difficult puzzle?

Yes. You can't apply a ready-made method from the 3x3 or the Skewb to the C1O3-M5. Each piece type has to be worked out separately, usually with the help of commutators and short sequences you come up with yourself. For some that's a drawback, for others that's exactly what puzzles like this are all about.

Who is it for?

For collectors and people who can solve the 3x3 with ease, have already tackled a few unusual puzzles and want a face- and corner-turning hybrid in their collection. This is not a speedcubing cube or a first puzzle, including for a child who is just starting out. In that case, a classic 3x3 cube makes more sense, and the C1O3-M5 can wait until later.

Specifications

• Manufacturer: VeryPuzzle
• Designer: Leslie Le
• Type: spherical face-turning + corner-turning hybrid puzzle
• Axis system: cube and octahedron axes
• Body color: black
• Magnets: none
• Release year: 2020