Craftsman: -
Designer: Sonicwarp
There were a lot of discussion about this new puzzle from sonicwarp in different forums.
The guys at the forum hadn’t solved it right away (or at least didn’t announce it before I ordered one), so it couldn’t be too easy anyway, so I figured why not give this one a try.
It’s priced a lot less then their regular range (Isis & Ramisis) so I got one from Puzzle Box Direct .
It arrived today so I was keen on getting my hands on it. Apparently getting it out of the box was accordingly to sonicwarp supposed to be a small puzzle itself. Its Not =)
The acrylic box is only held together with 2 x 4 magnets. Strong ones but…
One of the first thing that is going to hit you is the size. It’s about 4cm / 1.6 inches in diameter. In the comparison picture below you can see some references:
1 Euro, a Canadian “twoonie” (2CAD) and a Casino chip sitting on a dollar bill.
I had no problem solving this one, it took only a few minutes actually. Not because I’m all that smart, rather some dumb luck was involved. Even though, I solved it and could take a good look at the internals, it ain’t breeze to repeat the feat.
Kuku size reference
Apparently there seems to exists two versions of the Kuku. Medium and Hard, and unless you ask for the hard one they will ship the medium. (I didn’t know this before I had ordered mine) As far as I know there is no way of telling the two apart on the outside.
This is not something I have verified so if you got more details regarding this please let me know.
However once you have opened your kuku there are tells, that indicate that it can be made harder.
The Kuku itself is made of brushed aluminum and displays very nicely in it’s acrylic case.
As far as value for money I’m a bit torn, since the initial playtime was kind of short… though there is replay value and (maybe) the possibility to modify the difficulty once you open it. However if you are good at decrypting you could easily get your moneys worth IF you manage to solve the vault game that the token inside the kuku gives you access to. Demo of the vault game can be found here.
Edit: I have confirmed that it’s possible to make a medium puzzle into a hard one. The reason why they shipped “mediums” was because they didn’t want to make the initial kuku deliveries impossible to solve. I haven’t tried the “upgrade” yet, but it’s supposed to be much harder then the regular/medium. I know that some pretty good puzzlers out there has been stuck on their hard version for over an week now.
So I’m toning down my conclusion a bit. =) Will update you on how the hard works out for me once I get started.
Conclusion: Get the hard version and nothing else if you are an experienced puzzler.
This isn’t really a spoiler but people who experienced the ISIS range of Sonicwarps puzzles might get the wrong idea from the text below.
A word of caution: Make sure you don’t sit in the middle if the dessert when you do open it. Chances are that you will be looking for a needle in a haystack soon. It’s not that bad, but just be careful when you open it as some small items may come out.
Tags: Metal puzzle, Opening puzzle, Sonicwarp
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Thanks for the review on this one! So you don’t think it was “Mind blowing”?
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Hi Brian,
Mind blowing would be a very looong stretch =)
I just wished I would have gotten the hard one, there are some pretty good puzzlers that been stuck on that version for a week now.The hard ones were sent out to the 500 club members.
http://www.sonicwarp.com/500-club.php
It’s just a shame that Sonicwarp do not publicly announce the availability of harder versions, that experienced puzzlers should choose.
But without having tried the hard one, I’m still a bit torn about it’s value for money too. -
Hi could you please email me with a hint how to open the kuku.
Thanks. Neil -
Hi Neil,
E-mail has been sent
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Hi Brian,
I have been working on this for ages now…. am I correct in thinking there are 3 different size balls and 3 different size holes to lock before the puzzle will open?
Thanks
Adrian -
Hi Adrian,
I’m not Brian, but he has a great puzzle blog to. =)
Back to your question:
There ain’t any balls in this puzzle, there are however either 2 or 3 of “something” of the same size, and there are also 3 holes but of the same size to.Hope that was a subtle hint.
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Hey thanks for the tip… i hope i get it open soon… i dont think my fingers have ever been so sore since the Isis orb
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I could use a hint on this as well.
I was able to solve the Isis once I understood exactly how big the “big bang” had to be. This one, however, has be completely baffled.
Could you reply with one please?
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Hi Kevin, e-mail has been sent
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Hi,
can you email me with a hint or where are the holes for the 2 or 3 something?Thanks!
Joan -
Hi Joan, e-mail has bee sent
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Hi,
Im still stuck… could i get a clue please?Thanks
Adrian -
Adrian, I’m afraid the info I gave you is pretty much all I can say.
Unfortunately there ain’t a dead sure way of opening it
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hey I got the kuku for Christmas and the first time I really messed with it, on the 26th, I ended up getting it open. Just wondering if I did it the same way as other people. Unfortunately mine is quite a bit banged up now that it is open and isn’t as pretty to look at, though i did manage to get it back together to fit back in it’s case.
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I agree, its not as hard as they announce, took me less than two hours to open, they should all be sent as the “hard” version. But anyway seems the hard part is the web contest.
Is it just a matter of adding an extra piece to make it hard????????
Does anyone know about some other puzzles like this at the same price range???? isis and ramisis seem are a bit steep for my budget…… -
I don’t know what version I got, but the seams are extreemly tight all around. I can get the inner pieces to stop moving, but nothing seems to release. Mind tossing me an email hint as well? I don’t want to bang on it too hard, cause while closed it’s at least pretty to look at
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Hi Todd, e-mail has been sent
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Thank you! I was on the right track, but this one is built very tight. Might never get it open… got to keep washing my hands to keep it from getting too slippery to hold!
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Okay, I actually had to send an e-mail to SonicWarp about this because I believed it was defective. My puzzle has no give to it whatsoever. Feels like the segments are literally welded shut from the inside. No matter how I push, there’s not a single once of movement for any of the segments.
I asked SonicWarp if the puzzle was defective and they said based on my description, I have the “hard version” which involves a completely different approach to open.
Evidently the “hard versions” are also rare items, as all of the Kukus produced today are “easy versions” – and they said they would gladly replace mine for an easy version if I wanted. This implies that there is no such “upgrade” procedure that takes it from easy to hard.
Upon my request, they sent me a solution as well and, while I won’t spoil it here, I will say that it’s not only confusing, but it’s a bit ridiculous (not to mention it hasn’t worked for me yet).
Once I finally get this thing open, I’ll comment again. If anyone has a hard version (no give whatsoever on the segments) and was able to open it, please send me an e-mail at: kevin (at) ddrseattle (dot) com
Thanks.
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I’m confused on how to open it I have a good idea on how to open it but can you give me a hint please? So i can see if what i thought was right?
Thanks
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I got a Kuku ball for Christmas and have worked my butt of trying to open it. Can you give me a hint. Please!
Thanks -
Contact the company – then you’ll find out what customer service is like. After your cash – nothing more nothing less…
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Hi, I got a kuku puzzle recently and solved it within ten minutes. I was wondering if I should return it (seeing as it is pretty expensive) or try to solve the internet code. However, it seems no one has solved the internet puzzle yet. Is that true or should I enter my code?
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The “spoiler” youtube is about inserting bits of very thin paper to stop the “things” inside. Not working with the ball I got in my stocking today. I can hear those things moving….. Magnets don’t seem to have any effect. Any help, including just how to open it, would be really appreciated. Please.
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I got the kuku puzzle from thinkgeek.com and i hear people saying the opened it quickly, and almost the same as Kevin mine will not budge. I think i have the “hard version” I looked up the spoiler on youtube but no pieces of paper will fit in, if there are any hints you could email me that would be great.
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Can you just tell me how to open this i have been working on it forever now. thanks
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I got this over a year ago, and was told that it was the “hard” version (i.e. feels welded shut with absolutely no give at all in any direction). You cannot fit a piece of paper in, and the segments don’t even budge at all, not because they’re held together with pins, but because the metal is so pushed up against every other segment that it just doesn’t move.
Without revealing the solution (which, again, didn’t work at all for me), I will say that the first step was to loosen the metal by soaking the puzzle in some kind of oil for 24 hours. Completely ridiculous if you ask me … a puzzle should be able to be solved on its own without using any external tools or items.
I have had this puzzle for over a year now and it remains unopened. The Isis was awesome, this one (if you get the hard version) is terrible.
Anyone who has been able to open the hard version, please let me know.
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hey mate, give us a hint please,
regards joe -
Hey this puzzle has me stuck. I looked up the solution cuz I actually thought it wasn’t possible and saw that u were suppose to use the paper thing they sent it with. Is that true an if so what can u use as a substitue cuz I threw that away thinking it was just wrapping stuff.
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Heyz,
I had my kuku from the day it came out and since i have another wooden puzzle that had more or less the same chape it wasn’t so hard for me to figure out how to open the kuku and what the inner mechanism was that blocked the pieces. Still couldn’t get it open at all – untill yesterday.
I came upon these posts here and read about sliding in the papers but there were absolutely no gaps at all. So then i read about the oil… tried that and made it even worse and damn slippery.
The reason for having no gaps at all is because it wasn’t wellmade or because i froze the kuku when it first arrived (dont sit in the middle of the dessert hint- so then i figured to freeze it lol).
Yesterday i took a very fine scalpel and was able to open up the segments a bit. Some tin foil… blocked the inner mech (seemed to be 3, the hard one i guess?) and the damn thing still didn’t open without alot of banging and brute force…
Anyway its open and i didn’t damage it. But i guess some kuku’s are put together way too tight and i don’t see many other options besides opening it with the above steps.greetz
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Hey,
I also think I have the hard version. Absolutely impossible to move at all, couldn’t fit paper in either. Could I get a hint please? Thanks! -
Hi. I got this kuku last Christmas and I’ve been puzzled forever
I know that there are slits to keep it closed and you have to tilt it a certain way
I’ve tried paper to stop the slits but that didn’t work right so can you please
Send me an email on how to open it
The email is greatly appreciated thank you and send it to -
Hi, I have tried everything from paper and slits to magnets and wires. I can’t open it. Please help me, thanks.
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Ok 6 hours in and nothing. I’ve tried every suggestion.
Paper. Oil. Freeze. Nothing.Send me the email please.
Frustrated.
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