Product Review: Rubik’s World
I love games that make you think, and so when The Game Factory sent me a copy of RUBIK’S WORLD for Wii, I was excited to test it out. You know Rubik’s, right? The frustrating six-sided cubes with the different colors that demand to be grouped with their like-mates as quickly as possible. It’s the cube that Will Smith completes in no time as the lead in “Pursuit of Happyness”. I used to like this game a lot and have even completed one or two in my younger days. But my fond memories of Rubik’s were shattered upon attempting to play the various games in RUBIK’S WORLD.
Let’s talk graphics first. Amazing. The vibrant colors, the 3-D effects- they are alluring and mesmerizing. Despite getting frustrated with the actual games, I did not stop playing because I loved exploring the world and finding out what each building had in store.
And what was in store? The World is made up of several different games:
- RUBIK’S Cube- The original, but now computerized, game as mentioned above.
- Fit- Arranging the Cubies so that they fit through slots in the wall (like the US Game Show Hole in the Wall)
- Switch- Free the Cubies by grouping like-colors in fives.
- Guide- Guide the Cubies through a maze to their matching exits.
- View- Make the patterns in order to clear the board.
- Deconstruct- Kind of like Jenga.
- Create- Make structures out of the Cubies
- Compose- Create music
I know, it sounds like a lot. And it is. There are enough games to last a whole month, but I was so frustrated trying to figure out how to play them, that after trying three of them, I couldn’t take it anymore. The lack of directions made it hard to understand the games and at times, it seemed that there were a few glitches coding. While playing SWITCH I noticed that moves that were allowed previously were not allowed in the next level although there was no rhyme or reason to this. In addition, unless you read the on-screen, hard-to-read instructions, there was no easy way to figure out what to do. And let’s face it, if I- an adult was getting ticked-off, imagine what a child’s experience would be.
Don’t get me wrong, the concept wasn’t bad. The mini-games that I could figure out were fun and the ones that I couldn’t figure out had the potential to be great had I had more time and patience to play around. I think this game is definitely a great tool for brain-development and should not be written off, but I suggest you play one day before allowing a child to play so that you can explain what needs to be done.
Sounds like an interesting game. Now if I only had a wii! (To the tune of If I Only Had a Brain)
Game was a bit boring, but really was on the right track as game was polished and graphics were great. Really just needed to provide better directions or more in depth tutorials. And when I say boring I must preface that with the idea that I was not a Rubik’s Cube fan.