Toy Review: ‘Gear Shift’ Puzzle Cube

I looked forward to this review as a break from my normal offerings; something light and fun to bring joy to myself and all those who have played with the cube. Yet, after having it on hand for a couple of weeks, I wondered if I could write this without only using this sort of language: “&$#!*?&$.”  Do not worry, it’s not because it is a bad product at all, but only because I must admit to myself that I will never put this Humpty Dumpty back together again.

Gear Shift is a puzzle cube in the vein of the classic Rubik’s Cube, but with a twist. Actually, with a very specific twist. All the colored sections fit together like gears in a machine, by turning one you can affect them all. You can also pull the sides apart to move only certain sections, then click it back together again and keep on twisting. The question becomes whether you can get it back together before your brain becomes twisted as well.

It took me a week or so to really get the hang of it. For most of us, our brains are automatically programmed to attack any puzzle cube the same way we would with Rubik’s, but trying to turn this one in the same fashion will only make you angry and consider hurling it at the nearest innocent bystander. Yet, once you get used to the corner twisting motion and get the hang of splitting the sections apart, you’ll find yourself moving the puzzle in your hands like a zen master.

Adding to the difficulty level, you not only have to get the colors all to match on their sides, but also bring the puzzle back into the cube shape again. I’ve gotten much closer on the colors than the shape, which will likely elude me until I am old, in a retirement home and forget what a cube looks like anyway.

The Gear Shift is a fun distraction to keep the determined and casual players alike busy for a long time.