Ooh, I got a side ...
Written: Feb 07 '07
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Pros: Tons of fun & a great demonstration of spatial reasoning
Cons: New cubes are more cheaply constructed than the originals
The Bottom Line: A classic toy which will provide hours of fun, unfortunately in a less durable version than before.
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| autoamerican's Full Review: Hasbro Rubik's Cube |
What can you say about the Rubik's Cube that hasn't already been said? The root of hours of joy (and hours of frustration), I became a "cubist" when I was a kid and found one at a yard sale. I picked up the horribly scrambled cube and twisted it around in my hands for a little while, browsing the other junk for sale, and then noticed I had somehow solved a whole side of the cube. I was hooked, and for only $0.50, I had to own it.
I'm not sure what happened to my faithful old cube, but when I saw this new one for sale at the toy store, I couldn't grab one & get my wallet out fast enough. The cube itself is easy to solve once you know the trick (I believe I read online that any cube can mathematically be solved in 20 moves), but still provides hours of fun for both young and old. Even as a grown man, I've really enjoyed twisting and observing the cube, watching how different movements shift the patterns in different ways.
As far as this new version of the cube, I'm seeing some things that I don't like:
1. The new cubes are much more cheaply constructed. They're lighter weight, which I found out is because their center core cylinder is now plastic instead of metal, and the facets of the cube themselves seem to be less substantial than before.
2. The new decals seem to be less durable than the older ones. Mine are holding up well, but I'm noticing the edges starting to catch my fingers. Replacements can be purchased online, but who wants to go through that. Mine are holding up better than some people have reported, though.
3. The rotating mechanism isn't as smooth as the old ones, but that may just be my perception. Maybe it'll loosen up with time, my original cube was second-hand when I got it.
If you remember these cubes from your childhood, or have never seen one before, I encourage you to go out and grab one ASAP. The fun of these little toys will never be matched by any video game out there today - which seems to be all kids want to play with anymore.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 9.99
Type of Toy: Puzzle
Age Range of Child: Whole Family
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Epinions.com ID:
autoamerican
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Reviews written: 132
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I like whining, so epinions is a natural outlet for me.
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