Rubik's 5X5 Cube
by Winning Moves
|
List Price: Our Price: $18.19 You Save: $13.80 (43%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Category: Toy See more product details |
|---|
Toys and Games Reviews of Rubik's 5X5 Cube
Customer Review: Fun but fragile
Summary: 3 Stars
I have no idea what the other reviewers that claim their cubes were so durable were doing, but the inner squares on my cube pop off no matter how much care I take with the cube. The piece has a very thin, delicate neck and breaks very easily. Also, the stickers were wearing off within two weeks of using the cube. I contacted the company on the box and they were kind enough to send me a replacement... which the stickers wore off after two weeks of use and the inner squares broke no matter how much care I took. I have found replacement stickers on the Rubik's website so I've been able to solve the falling-off-stickers problem. I've rated this toy as 5 stars on fun because, even though it is very frustrating when the squares break, it's been kind of a new puzzle taking it apart and supergluing the pieces back together every time they break (think 'model-building'). I've been able to play that game well over 20 times so far between the two cubes I have now (the one I bought and the replacement cube). I just recently took the two cubes apart and made one good cube with the unbroken inner corners. We'll see how long this one lasts.Customer Review: Fragile construction ruins fun
Summary: 1 Stars
I'm an avid Rubik's cube player of the 3x3 model and have owned my cube for nearly two decades. Since I can solve it in under 2 minutes, I decided to invest in the 5x5 for a bigger challenge.
Unlike its robust sister (my 3x3 cube is well lubed with vaseline, and only has one re-glued sticker), the 5x5 proved fragile within the first two days. I used a careful touch, since I'm very familiar with how untried cubes explode. Nevertheless, many stickers started to peel on the first day, and two of the center squares have completely falling off and look to be non-reparable.
I lubed my 5x5 before using it, though it's more difficult because the squares are smaller and turns tighter. I was also careful to turn rows precisely to avoid misalignment and subsequent explosion. Even so, it broke on me. It's a shame, because I was really getting into the challenge of it. Now, it just sits like a broken toy on my desk.
For a $30 or so product, I find this inexcusable. Rubik's is supposed to have a strong brand name and I have been very happy with my 3x3 cube. I'll never invest in another Rubik's product.
Customer Review: BAD PRODUCT!!!!
Summary: 1 Stars
I am an avid cube fan. They're great. There's no better way to challenge the mind, unwind, or just impress the pants of any passers-by. I've been using the 5x5 for a couple of years, and as far as this version goes, it is extremely disappointing. The quality is severely lacking. The stickers fall off in a good week of use. The cube is stiff and doesn't want to rotate easily (no finger tricks). And if you push it too much or too fast, it will fall apart (pieces all over the floor!).
If you are considering moving up from the original 3x3 (and by all means, you should), check out anything but the Rubik's brand. Your main options are going to be either the Eastsheen or the V-Cube. The Eastsheen is pretty good. The motion is better (if still not as good as it could be) and the overall construction is more solid. You can readily pick one up on e-bay for a decent price. But your best bet by far is the V-Cube 5x5. Amazon has started selling them, but you'll get a better price from the v-cubes website. For around $25 you'll get a cube lightyears ahead of the other options out there.
Customer Review: A Must-Have for the Cube Addict
Summary: 5 Stars
This cube is based on the same kernel as the Rubik's Cube (3x3x3) and so has center posts that don't change relative to the others. The center cubies, in other words, can't be re-arranged. That makes this cube easier technically to solve than the Rubik's Revenge (4x4x4). The Revenge has no center post, so part of your solution is to get the centers right. All that being said, the Professor is a good challenge, and a lot of fun to play with. It is big enough that it feels like you could break it quite easily if you try to make a twist without perfectly aligning the sides first. But if you handle it with respect, you'll have no real problems. It took me a day or so to solve it, though I wouldn't say that's common. If you've not yet figured out the Cube, this will be a significantly more difficult endeavor. I am a Cube Addict though, and plan to purchase the 6x6x6 and the 7x7x7 when I have the extra money.
If you love puzzles, and you're not prone to throwing something through the television screen when you get frustrated with it, then give this a shot.
Customer Review: Fun but very fragile
Summary: 2 Stars
I bought this puzzle for my kid after he solved the original cube. I had read the review here and other places stating that one needed to be cautious when turning the puzzle. However, our major problem with it was that the orange stickers (within ten minutes of playing with the cube) began to peel back and fall off. We tried using glue (they had no stick to them) to put them back but it was not long after that the green stickers began curling back and falling off as well.
The major problem is that these turned out not to be "stickers" after all, but rather colored squares of vinyl adhereing to additional stickers beneath (all white) by means of static. They fall off easily.
This is a nice puzzle for show (impressive on the desk) but not for actual continued use. Hopefully, Rubik's can use proper stickers or adhesive in the future and maybe even tighten up the design so that this can be used as a fun puzzle.