Before we get started I should let all the Xbox owners know that even though the term 360 is being used, this does not refer to the Xbox 360.  This is the first time in my writing career (so far) that I’m reviewing a toy rather than a Movie or Video Game.

So who remembers the Rubik’s Cube?  Yes you know it’s that six sided 3D puzzle toy popular in the 80’s which features 54 coloured squares made up of six colours.  When (or if) you managed to descramble it the finished cube would have every colour on its correct side.  As we all know the Rubik’s Cube was a massive success selling in multiple millions.  Obviously when something is successful there is always an urge to have a go and create a follow up.  A few more interesting puzzles have come from the Rubik’s brand over the years; I’ve used the Rubik’s Clock but there has also been the Rubik’s Snake and the Rubik’s Triamid amongst others.

The Rubik's Cube

Now in 2009 the Rubik’s 360 is here to rack our brains.

Typically for a text based review the Rubik’s 360 is quite tricky to describe.  Picture a sealed transparent plastic globe fitted with six coloured orbs.  Inside the globe is a further pair of sequentially smaller transparent globes (yes a bit like Russian Dolls), and rolling around the inside of the innermost globe are six coloured balls which match the outermost orbs.  Your job is to get the six coloured balls out of tiny holes in the smallest globe through the middle sized globe and out into those matching orbs.  Now I’m sure that sounds quite tricky to start with but that devious Mr Rubik’s has made the two inner globes gyroscopic.  In Lamens terms; if you turn the globe around in your hand the inner globes will rotate inside in an attempt to right themselves back into position.  This is cleverly achieved with weights.

In yet another streak of deviousness the puzzle has been made even harder.  If you do manage to get a correctly coloured ball into the correct orb you will have to move rotate a black slider around to hold the ball in place.  This sounds ok until you realise that to get another ball into an orb means unprotecting your previous collected ball(s).  So unless you’re very careful your effort could result in your other balls falling back into the inner orb forcing you to start from scratch.  Totally frustrating!

So how do you actually complete the Rubik’s 360?  Well I can’t say for certain because I’ve only managed to get two balls successfully into their correct orbs at once.  After that it’s all gone wrong and I had to have a ‘calm down’ before I through the damn thing at a wall.
While I mention throwing it at a wall I guess I should let you know that considering the complexity of the Rubik’s 360 it’s very well made.  Of course it’s plastic and probably made in China for just a few pence but even so the overall build quality is very high.  Even after a few accidental drops mine is still fully functional.

Rubiks360

I didn’t want to cheat and Google the solution but I think it’s really a case of perseverance and tuning in with the synchronicity of the gyroscopes as you rotate the Rubik’s 360 in your hands.   It’s a very different puzzle to that of the Rubik’s Cube and I think many fans of that retro puzzle may not actually like this at all.  Of course this isn’t to say it is bad, far from it.  The problem for previous Rubik’s fans is that the Rubik’s 360 doesn’t feel that logical or mathematical.

Overall I really liked the concept of the Rubik’s 360’s but it failed to grab me personally.  I think it’s cool but it doesn’t urge me to sit there for hours, days and weeks to finish it.  I’m sure real hardcore puzzle nuts will go crazy over it.

If I had to award the Rubik’s 360 a score (which is quite tricky) my instincts would say 7 out of 10, great for dedicated puzzle fans – horrible for normal people.