xCube
:: RECOMMENDEDPrice: $1.99
Version Reviewed: 1.2.1
Graphics / Sound [rating:5/5]
Game Controls [rating:4/5]
Re-use / Replay Value [rating:3/5]
Overall Rating:
If you are as freakin old as I am, you remember when the Rubic's Cube was the coolest thing on the planet. There was actually a time when the Rubic's Cube was as hard to find and as sought after as the Wii is today. Hard to believe that a $10 chunk of plastic was that hot, but it was. It had one thing over this version, the batteries never died because there were none. Oh yeah, and you can't take apart this one and put it back together to solve it like I always had to do.
xCube brings that great fun to a well designed iPhone application. It also includes variations, though all in the square format. 2x2, 3x3 (standard Rubik's Cube format), the insane 4x4, the almost impossible 5x5, and the very impossible 6x6. You can play timed versions and this app will keep track of your best times for each variation. Or you can just play around in free mode starting out with a solved cube and control it as you wish.
The controls are good and intuitive. A swipe with a single finger moves a single slice while using 2 fingers rotates the whole cube. An unlimited undo arrow is also included in the upper right. You can also change the background and the colors of the stickers from a pop-up menu.
There are some features missing from this app. The most obvious is any sort of world wide leader board. I'd really love to know the best times for the 6x6. Guessing it has never been solved. But I'd like to know. It would also be cool if you could upload scrambled cubes and their solutions to watch them from anywhere. I'm also thinking that the accelerometer could be used to change the view -- exaggerated turning of the cube based on motion of the device might be a quicker way to see the other parts of the cube. I, personally, would like to see some way to cheat too!
Here's a video on someone solving the traditional 3x3
[youtube wL84sb_nz3Q]
xCube is a well programmed app -- if you were ever into the Rubik's cube, you'll like it. The price is right. With a the addition of leader boards, it will be a fantastic app.