Perplexus
Perplexus Rulebook
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
What Is Perplexus?
PERPLEXUS is a maze game where players maneuver a small marble around challenging barriers inside a transparent sphere. Unlike traditional flat-surface mazes that are composed of one path, PERPLEXUS houses various challenging tracks with 100 barriers providing a frustrating three-dimensional experience. Players select the track they would like to attempt and must work with gravity to carefully shift, flip, and twist the sphere to guide the marble. Players can race each other or the clock.
PERPLEXUS assists in child development allowing children to exercise their motor and dexterity skills, as well as improve their hand-eye coordination. Its small size makes it easily portable. No batteries required. Ages 6 and up.
How to Play
- Roll the ball to one of the starting points. If you can't find them... put PERPLEXUS down and slowly back away!
- Flip, twist and spin PERPLEXUS to move the ball along the numbered path. When you fall off the track, cuz it's gonna happen, just start over!
- If you make it to the end, pat yourself on the back, then try racing your friends or the clock!
- Complete all four PERPLEXUS puzzles to become a Master!
The One Simple Rule
The award-winning Perplexus series is a set of complex, 3-dimensional labyrinths that can be traced by a ball bearing. Learning to play takes no time at all. They can be universally understood; there is no language barrier, no parts to lose, and only one very simple rule — don't fall off the track!
Specifications
- Colors: Purple, Orange, Green, Yellow
- Size: 10" diameter (packaged); 7" diameter sphere
- Difficulty Level: 6
- Barriers: 100
- Track: over 23 feet of track inside the sphere
- Ages: 6 and up (Spin Master packaging is marked Age 8+)
- No batteries required
With 100 barriers, twists, turns, cliffhangers and more, Perplexus is the ultimate 3-D challenge! The entire experience will leave you perplexed and entertained all at the same time.
Ways to Play
There are many fun ways to play Perplexus. It is equally at home as both a thoughtful single player game and as a multi-player competitive game. On this page I would like to define the cool approaches people have discovered on their own, along with some "official" and "competition" guidelines. There are the obvious single-player methods, like simply learning how to play, or going from 1 to 100 without falling off. But there are many other kinds of gameplay as well!
Note: Regarding officially sanctioned timed competitions, standardized controls and methods will need to be defined in order to guarantee accuracy in all regions.
Single Player
The Basic Challenge!
Basic Challenge gameplay is the most fundamental and non-competitive. Everyone starts out here. Many are satisfied with this level of play, and never try to reach for the stars. Its essence is to simply learn to navigate spatially and tactilely through the Perplexus. How do you get on the START position? What is a PLANE-CHANGE? Where do I go from here? This includes the "Ah Ha!" moment when the player first discovers the true 3D experience of Perplexus. Also included in this style of gameplay is exclaiming how much you hate the thing! (before you pick it up again and start over). The Basic Challenge is a journey of self-discovery, patience, perception, and focus. Many beginning players cannot stop themselves from telling others about Perplexus.
Getting from 1-26 (Practice Level One, or PL1)
You've developed an understanding of the game, but are still intimidated by move #30. So you practice this first section over and over, getting better and better. You practice many dozens of times, often to the detriment of others around you that want a turn. Your desire is to play accurately and fast. A benefit of this level of play is the development of muscle and auditory memory. Players that are good at getting from 1-26 can tell where along the path others playing the game are just by the sound of the ball bearing moving through Perplexus.
Trying Practice Level Two (PL2)
So you're ready to tackle #30, and maybe even visit YouTube to see if there are any tips on how to get past this point, and you find this. You are intimidated by the purple Tight Rope, until you actually cross it. The Pivot thrills, and the Upside-Down Drop (#41) seems impossible at first. The Ringed Turnaround at 43 requires subtlety, especially upon completion. You start to realize that numbers are not necessary to know where to go, and start naming the parts. Getting through the Zig-Zags with efficiency is difficult, and riding on the serpentine "Praying Man" means you are nearly through Practice Level One. You feel good, until you drop through the Tube at 58, and fall off.
Trying Practice Level Three (PL3)
OK, you've developed some skills and feel accomplished. There is only one more practice level to get through. But unlike the first two, PL3 has 41 challenges (PL1 has 26, and PL2 has 34). You start out with one of the more delicate moves on the purple Railed Turnaround at 62, looking forward to the wonderfully satisfying double-sided Spiral and integrated Drop Cup just ahead. The Windup Key at 76 requires precision movement, but the second Backwards Drop is a piece of cake at 80. So much, that sometimes you get overconfident and fall off here. It seems to take a long time to get through Practice Level Three, and after traversing the second half of the Praying man, you are within striking distance of 100. Too bad the drop at 98 is so difficult, especially with such little practice. Falling off here is bittersweet, and "Send In The Clowns" is softly playing in the background of your mind. Eventually you make it, feeling near the end of your Perplexus journey because you reach 100 for the first time. In truth, you are merely a qualified novice.
Going All The Way
Some people go for it big time. Occasionally there is a person who picks up Perplexus, and on the very first try makes it all the way to 100. Some of those people are simply brilliant, but others are very, very lucky. Still others thought they made it all the way through legitimately, but in reality accidentally jumped ahead through unintended cheats.
Personally, you earned your place in "Going All The Way", with weeks of true skill-building. You exclaim to others on blogs, etc, that going from 1 to 100 is doable. In fact, you do it 5 or 6 times. Now you are ready for head-to-head competition.
Multi-Player
Going Head-To-Head is really fun! Listed below are several variations on the theme. In this gameplay, two or more players start off at the same point simultaneously. The goal can be met in two unique ways: Casual and Hard-Core.
- Variation 1: Head-To-Head Speed Game, 1-26. The beginner's round. Fun, fast, and friendly. This play variation can take a while in Casual mode.
- Variation 2: Head-To-Head Speed Game, 26-59. Tough.
- Variation 3: Head-To-Head Speed Game, 59-100. Tougher.
- Variation 4: Head-To-Head Speed Game, 1-100. This game is toughest when played in Casual mode, simply because it may take dozens of minutes to complete. The Hard-Core version is quicker and not as relentless since the winner may not actually need to reach 100.
CASUAL: Simply get to the goal first, regardless of how many times you fall off and restart. This version allows restarts, and is a satisfying method of play because even a novice can beat a seasoned player. Slow and steady may win this race, but an accurate and speedy player can still take chances, spicing up the competition. Oh, and did I mention that it's really fun?
HARD-CORE: Restarts are not allowed. If you fall off, by default the player still on the track wins! Everyone playing must be quite careful. But remember, a seasoned player can tell where another player is just by the sound of the ball, tensing up the competition a bit.
Freestyle
Are you an armchair Free Runner or a wannabe Parkour athlete? Well, let Perplexus demonstrate your skills while sitting in an airplane, or while quietly taking a taxi. Can you jump the ball from the start position directly into the turnaround at number 6? If so, you are in the running to be a Freestyle player!
This type of gameplay has no specific rules, per se. However, in a competitive fashion, points can be awarded for more skillful moves as defined by the players themselves or by judges. This can be likened to the point system used for gymnastics or ice skating in the olympics. A great Freestyler may be able to do some pretty fancy moves, perhaps only seen by other skilled players or in slow-motion instant video replay.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many feet of track are in Original Perplexus?
The original product has over 23 feet of track inside the sphere. Yeah, I know, how did we fit it all in there?!?
Who created Perplexus?
Michael McGinnis created Perplexus as a project for an art class in 1979. The mass market version was created by Michael and KID Group in 2000. Don't ever challenge Michael to a game of Perplexus. He ALWAYS wins!!!!
Is Perplexus a new product?
The first commercial Perplexus was created in 2000 but never made it to market. Superplexus, an electronic variation of Perplexus, was brought to market by Hasbro in 2002. The latest version of Perplexus, marketed by Plasmart, first hit the market in late 2009.
What ages can play Perplexus?
The original Perplexus is designed for ages 6 and up. New products are being designed for older and younger players.
How many barriers are in Perplexus?
The original game has 100 barriers. New games will vary by difficulty level.
What happens if I throw Perplexus in frustration?
We would prefer you didn't throw Perplexus as it was not designed as a ball. If you break it after throwing it, don't ask us to replace it.
The Perplexus Family
- Perplexus Rookie introduces you to the world of Perplexus.
- Perplexus Original tests your skills with 100 more challenging barriers.
- Perplexus Twist — the Perplexus Family has a fascinating new "Twist" and adds a new way to play.
- Perplexus Epic — push your skills to a whole new level with 125 challenging barriers and stunts!