Solving a 4x4 Rubik's Cube

In this post I will be talking about the 4x4 Rubik's Cube and how to solve this cube. Once again, like the 2x2 Rubik's Cube, if you have already mastered and understood the 2x2 cube, learning how to solve this cube will be a lot easier. Harris agrees with this idea, "If you are a complete novice to cubing, you may be able to follow the solution described in this section, but you will find it hard going compared with those who have experience already with the standard Rubik's Cube" (Harris 100.)

This may seem overwhelming at first especially due to the fact that; the 4x4 Rubik's cube has an astonishing 7.4 quattuordecillion possible positions with only one of those being the solved position(Harris 100). Due to this fact and also it having a 2x2 center instead of a 1x1 center, these are both reasons why people could get overwhelmed by the cube. However, if you use your knowledge of the 3x3 cube and the algorithms and tricks you learned for that cube, learning and understanding the 4x4 cube will be much easier.

Once you finally learn however, you will be amazed with what you have accomplished. Also, and added bonus is this cube will help(along with the other 2), with learning how to solve even more complicated cubes such as the 5x5 Rubik's Cube.

Question: Have you every heard of and/or tried solving a 4x4 Rubik's Cube? If so how difficult was it, and how much did your knowledge of the 3x3 help you with solving it?

Harris, Dan. Speedsolving the Cube: Easy-to-follow, Step-by-step Instructions for Many Popular 3-D Puzzles. New York: Sterling Pub., 2008. Print.