Step 4

Step 4 - Finish All Center Pieces Layer #6

Now by using the same XXX maneuver (a simple:- down, left, up, right) on a particular coordinate point on the cube you can solve remaining pieces. If you lucky, it's 50% chance, you get to solve step 4 with only XXX as before. 

So lucky guys... you may skip the rest of this step 4, move on to step 5!



Unlucky? You got parity! 

What is parity? In short, my own words, a particular positioning of the cube rotation that will never allow you to solve it in specific order. On a standard colour 5x5, parity will only hit when you solve for wing edges.

Here is another key difference for picture rubik's cube 5x5, you have parity solving even center pieces! 

Fun isn't it? Told you it would be challenging.

Now when you have a parity how will you know? well usually it is will be like this cube below. Nami cannot be solved. Edge center pieces, her chest & chin piece is the only ones left & out of order.


 Run XXX method at the red circled coordinate and place try to place Nami piece at right spot you end up screwing up with Luffy & Robin! As shown below.

When you get into exactly that position shown above. Stop. Just stop whatever you try to do. No way XXX or any other combo moves will solve at current state. However this is the desired state in which I use to undo the parity.

Therefore, now you need to check your hidden planes; Sanji, Chopper, Zoro is properly placed. If any pieces is out, you need to do a re-run as explain in step 3.




Undo the Parity

Actually it is easy. A single swipe of the 2nd layer as shown below by the red arrow. Parity is gone. Hard to believe huh?
 


  Seeing is not believing... to me at least... you should do it. Then you get it. The cube has a parity because it relative layer is 90 degrees out of phase. Anyways, by that single swipe you should now get this cube below.



Now use ZIP & SWITCH method to reposition dislocated pieces. For example, Sanji's solution in cube below is a double ZIP on Robin's plane, SWITCH "ON", double ZIP again, & SWITCH "OFF" . I repeat.. you should solve the cube using ZIP & SWITCH! Don't just flick back the layer to the left! Duh!  Maintain the 90 degrees shift we placed earlier!


Also use ZIP & SWITCH method to reposition back the other hidden face, in my case, Chopper. You should get this cube below.
What you are left with on the other side should be only 2 more faces. In my case it is Luffy & Robin, each having 2 misplace corner center pieces. I have oriented their faces & used vertically view to facilitate the XXX maneuver, which we are going to run. By running XXX on coordinate with red circle above, luffy shoulder will be in place as shown by the green arrow.
  
 We will get the cube below. Notice if we were to run another XXX move, Robin's right shoulder piece will get into its place, as shown by green arrow. Of course, we do not want to move luffy's intact shoulder, so just rotate up luffy's plane. Execute on same coordinate, affected piece is Robin's left shoulder.
 

Do it right you finally get this. Only 3 pieces left... when you have 3 pieces, you know you going to solve. Simple XXX here with Robin's plane required a re-orientation to the right to get right position involve.

Presto! Layer #6 done. Smooth sailing from here onwards.