Layer 8 by Yuu Asaka

It's been a long time since I have not reviewed a puzzle by Yuu Asaka, my bad!

So, let me introduce you the "8 Layer" puzzle composed of.... 8 pieces and a tray! 

 

The tray and the pieces have some protudent parts and the challenge is to find out how to not be blocked by them. There are several ways obviously apart from putting into holes...but no spoilers here.

Initially I tried to do so, then I tried to be a bit creative (which ended up being a little bit useless) and finally I solved it. Yes, I am pretty proud considering the number of possibilities how to put each piece inside the tray.

It gave me way less trouble than Duct 23 while Duct 23 is supposed to be less challenging. Was I lucky??

 

I really like Layer 8 because it gives you a nice challenge with only 8 pieces, the colors are bright and the fit is super precise as usual. By the way, I noticed that one of the pieces have the name of the puzzle engraved on it. Maybe I missed that on the other puzzles, but I am pretty sure that it's the first time I see that.

 

If you like a challenging puzzle and you're a sucker for packing puzzles in general or Asaka puzzles, you cannot go wrong with this one!

 

It's available on Puzzle Master website.

 

 I am still waiting for a 1 piece packing by Yuu... Just saying :) 

 

JIGS4W

JIGS4W belongs to a series of packing puzzles designed by Haym Hirsh and they look like MINE's puzzles in their design and goal.

 

A quick comment about the quality: it's well crafted by NothingYet Designs company, the fit is very precise. However, I am not a fan of the screws. I would have prefers that the 2 layers be glued. It does not take more time (or slightly more) and gives a way better look. Just my opinion here.

 

Now, what about the solve? These kind of puzzles are deceptively difficult to solve because of all the possibilities to put these 2 pieces and well to be honest you will have to use the trial and errors approach method initially. Then you can try to use other approches: one logically is put a piece and see if you have space for another one. Also another method that I try to use is pretty original: see if there is like a symmetry whether considering how the pieces are arranged or considering the remaining empty spaces (yes, they can form a symmetry). 

That method does not always work, but if the design is good enough, the designer should try (just my 2 cents here) to achieve a symmetry or kind of a beauty in the slved state instead of just putting pieces here and there randomly and have a "desorganized" patterns. But well, this is up to the designer's choices after all !

 

Anyway, I struggled a lot with the puzzle but finally beat it! So yes, I am proud of myself. And this is something you should be ashamed of saying. When there is a success, it should / has to be mentioned :)

 

Honestly, I really advise the puzzle because it's a great challenge. And you can also carry it with you as it's provided with a plastic bag to avoid losing pieces. 

You can buy the puzzles on Puzzle Master Webshop as well as other puzzles in the series.

  

Aquarium

Aquarium is an acrylic packing puzzle which goal is to fit all 3 octopuses into the "aquarium" (frame)
It was created by Russian designer Vladimir Krasnoukhov.

The puzzle fits perfectly the theme and the colors are well chosen. Still, note that the colors may vary and personally I prefer mine than the ones shown on Puzzle Master website (yours may be even nicer!).

 

I liked a lot the quality of the material used (like all the previous Vladimir's puzzles), the colors used. Especially the transparent color for the octopuses (yellow would have been weird) and it's very funny to try putting the tentacles all together.

As for the difficulty, it's not easy, but I would rank it as "moderate": you will be challenged without frustration and you can even let you friends.

I liked a bit less that there are no surprises, nor tricks involved. You 're expecting to do what you initially thought you would have to. So the solution could have popped in your mind before playing for hours. You can analyze, like what I did, the shapes and with just that you may come to a solution (there is only one by the way).
 

To conclude: a very nice looking puzzle, nice to share with friends. A bit on the easy side, but still far from being easy.
 

 

You can buy Aquarium puzzle directly on Puzzle Master webshop!

Some cheaper Yuu Asaka

Cheaper does not mean less good. More expensive does not mean better. Don't be fooled by marketing things!

Still let me introduce you some cheaper puzzles made by Hanayama and designed by Yuu Asaka, you know the famous devilish packing puzzle designer !!

Jigsaw 19

This is the same copy as the Yuu Asaka version. Same pieces, same goal, same solution.

Maybe there is a very slight difference: the pieces are somewhat kind of rounded on some edges making the assembly more confusing than the Yuu's puzzles.

Jigwsaw 29

 

Same comment as Jigsaw 19

 

Jigsaw 28

Compared to the 2 previous puzzles, this one, as far as I know, has not (yet?) been produced by Yuu and thus making it a unique design by Hanayama.

This is the trickiest of these 3 because of the shape of the pieces. I hope and bet that you have an idea of how the pieces will connect together right....many possibilities!! This puzzle is no joke!

For sure, I advise you to buy it. For the price you will get plenty hours of thinking. No doubt about that.

The quality is perfect and the previous 2, the fit is very precise. Nothing bad to say!

WARNING: these puzzles come assembled. If you don't want to spoil the fun, open them blindfolded or ask someone to open them and scramble the pieces.

Can you beat the MisFit

A new puzzle by Bozo has landed for the joy of puzzlers !!!

The MisFit will now challenge your skills :)

I have not yet solved it and I will update this post or make a new one once done, but I just wanted to share my joy. The quality is still top but it has even raised to sky now:

the tray is less fragile

the "lid" has magnets to maintain the pieces (either in a solved position or unsolved position)

 

To be honest: this is very clever to have this configuration, so that you can display the puzzle in the way you want and it protects well the pieces.

 

Unless my internet brower does not work well, it does not seem that Bozo has updated yet his website.

But you can order this puzzle with the following link (it includes a 10% reduction price): order MisFit

Remember that you can still use the coupon code RPW7ZMDYF6XZ to get a 10% reduction for the puzzles in his website. 

And once again, I really advise you to buy all of them.

They all have something special and all are challenging!

Sachiko

Sachiko is a nice puzzle designed by a Frédéric Boucher, know for his packing puzzles that have a little something special, and this one is not an exception to the rule !

This is indeed a packing puzzles with several nice little things: the shape of the pieces and the shape of the tray with its several holes. Usually when there are holes in the tray it's to manipulate the pieces more easily....only that?

My usual technique when you have obstructions with the tray: you try solving the puzzles outside the tray first. I thought that would be pretty easy to assembling directly the pieces inside the tray, and soon I realized I should proceed as usually: outside of the tray !

It did not take me that long and I must admit the the solution is satisfaying. I liked to repeat again and again the last step. And you must understand why if you've solved the puzzle already :)

For sure, this is a must-have if you like packing puzzles that are not packing puzzles and if you like Fred Boucher's designs.

You can buy the puzzle on Puzzle Master webshop!

Quick teaser: 8cat

Bozo has come up with a new design !!

 

Bozo's new design is called 8cat: you have to put the 16 pieces inside the frame

You can buy the puzzle: HERE

And don't forget to use my coupon code for this puzzle to get a price reduction: 5DXM55NF5M9A 

I need to solve it first, but I can tell you that it will hold a devilish secret like the ugly4 jigsaw.

So if you like the previous one, then I am sure you will like this one as well !

 

Just as a reminder, Bozo still have ugly4 jigsaw to sell: HERE

See my review of it: HERE

The puzzle is still available and you can still use my coupon code to get a 10% discount: RPW7ZMDYF6XZ

Just for you to know how to use the coupon code: when you put the puzzle in your cart you then need to click on "check out" and then on the next page you can enter the discount coupon to get the reduction !

A new devilish packing puzzle: finally solved !!!

 Some time ago I told you about a packing puzzle designed and made by Bozo.

See here: CLICK

And finally I solved it !!!!!!!

I won't show you the solved state as it would completely spoil you, but I can tell that the puzzle is very difficult. No doubt why the designer rates it with a 10/10, and I completely agree with that.

You will soon realize that it has some common points with the Yuu's packing puzzles, but I would even say that this one is more difficult. One of the reasons why is that some pieces can go with many pieces.

So you don't have only one piece that matches with only another one piece. This is not spoiling because you will clearly see that soon.

Ok so after some puzzling time I came to the picture below.

There were 4 ugly pices left (hence the name of the puzzle)

How the hell could they fit inside the tray ??!! 3 pieces could fit together and the remaing one...could not fit.

I really throught there were some mistakes in the crafting of the puzzle. Normally when you solve the puzzle (and see: each piece fit well in the tray, no harm was made to the pieces haha) you should not have this configuration at the end...

After some time spent on that weird situation I decide to contact the designer. Of course he laughed at my nose saying that many people spent hours and hours on that situation and he even explained that no trickery was involved. Fine, fine... then why it's not solved ??????

I suggest you to not look too carefully at my picture and get the same situation as me. I don't want to be the only one who was blocked for hours on it hahah :-)

Having confirmation from the designer that the puzzle is "solvable" (well...I am saved !) I decided to have another (well other tried is better) try at the puzzle. In fact I did not solve it in one go and it took me several attempts. The main reason why is because pieces can go with many pieces as I said before.

Guess what! I even got pressure from the designer to solve the puzzle!!! Sorry I am not a machine lol. 

But after several days I finally solved it !!!!

To be honest: until the almost end of my puzzling journey I thought I did not put the pieces correctly because it seemed that I could not put my remaining pieces....

My "ah-ha" moment came at the very end. And at that moment I really thought that the designer is a mean creature. This is not nice to design such a puzzle !!!!

 The very interesting point of the puzzle, which makes it unique, is that you can think you solved the puzzle until you got 4 pieces left which don't seem to fit inside the tray (or do they? will they?) and then you have to think again to come to the real solution, contrary to a "regular" jigsaw puzzle where normally when 2 pieces fit together you're on the right way. Here, not at all :-)

A maybe little bit too difficult (for my mind actually), but a fun puzzle that will challenge you to your limits. And I still like to get some challenges!

Definitely a nice addition to the special packing puzzle to own in your collection.

You can still buy the puzzle: HERE

  

Use a code to get 10% discount !!!   : RPW7ZMDYF6XZ

 

 

Yuu Asaka made it again!! Wave 5 & Ice 9

So here comes the time to review the latest 2 puzzles designed and made by Yuu.

Some points good to mention before: the quality is still very good with a great contrast of colors between the color of the pieces and the color of the tray.
Also this time the pieces are not transparent, so less prone to fingerprints. And I like the smoothness of these pieces!

So let's start with the first: Wave 5
Like its brother you have some wave-shaped pieces to pack inside the tray.
How difficult can it be? Well it's hard, it's puzzling, it's fun!
I was wondering why Yuu seemed to make difficult puzzles and then easier after. Like for example he released jigsaw 29 and then jigsaw 19, and clearly 19 is easier than 29.

Some may think it's easier then. Well wave 7 was super hard. Wave 5 is maybe a little bit less hard, but it's still very challenging and not that way easier.

I cannot say more, but you will have your "aha-moment" for sure pretty soon in your puzzling journey ;)

It took me a lot of time, way more than I expected. I like it a lot.

Now, Ice 9: the beast!!

Some nice pieces with weird angles.....The challenge is that you have many pieces that can go with many other due to the rounded or curved angles of the pieces. So a lot of possibilities to put the pieces together....and obviously you will have some holes as the pieces cannot cover the whole tray.

This is probably the most difficult puzzles in the whole series (as of now...who knows about the future hahaha) and this will keep you puzzling for long time. 

Trust me the "aha-moment" comes at the very end...and you really realize how Yuu is a very devilish guy. He likes to put you on the wrong way and you will do so....until you try new things.....

As with his previous puzzles, I can only say that you should definitely buy both puzzles. 

You can click on the link of each puzzle to see where you can buy them. I don't think these puzzles are limited edition, but they may take "a bit" of time to make, so if you're in a hurry to be "puzzle-tortured", hurry up and send Yuu an email ;-)

 

 

Solution for Wave 5

 

Solution for Ice 9

 

 

If you want to get all the Yuu's puzzle in one go and have a nice reduction in price: here