Planets
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The Planets puzzle comes from the
genius mind of Oskar van Deventer, one of the most prolific puzzle inventors
out there, and it’s manufactured by Recent Toys.
Planets is a very unique puzzle.
Actually, I don’t remember ever seeing anything remotely similar. That shows
you how talented Oskar really is. The puzzle is comprised of four identical
balls, each one with four different colors as well. The pyramid shape assures
that all four balls are touching each other at all times. The black frame holds
the planets tightly in place, so there’s no way you can cheat.
What you see immediately as one odd
characteristic of the puzzle is that each planet is full of craters, six per
planet to be exact. These craters can function as one of two ways: movement
blockers, or used to unblock any of the other balls.
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Because of these craters, the
movement of the puzzle is most of the times restrictive. Every move that you
attempt to do has to be planned in order to solve the puzzle. To allow a
movement, a planet has to nestle on two or three craters from adjacent planets.
With this in mind, your goal is to mix the puzzle and have one single color in
each of its four faces.
So, how difficult is the puzzle to
solve? – Well, for me it was quite challenging, actually… And frustrating. I
have had this puzzle for a few years now and, although I made considerable
progress on my puzzle solving skills, I remember very well how tough it was to
solve. I did solve it, eventually, but it took a while. As I was writing this
review, I thought I might as well have another go, to see how I really improved
since last time. After having spent almost an hour to solve this fiendish
puzzle, I reckon it’s still challenging no matter how good I am. If I were to
rate it on a 0 to 10 scale, I would probably classify it as a level 9/10.
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Closing Comments:
The
Planets puzzle by Oskar is a highly original concept that shouldn’t be missed.
If you like a good challenge, this is just right for you. On the other hand, if
you’re easily frustrated by hard puzzles, you’ve been warned…
Availability: You can buy Oskar's Planets at PuzzlesdeIngenio.com.
Links:
Video Demonstration
Availability: You can buy Oskar's Planets at PuzzlesdeIngenio.com.
Links:
Video Demonstration
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