Difference between revisions of "Super Columns"

From Sega Retro

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==Gameplay==
 
==Gameplay==
 
{{ScreenThumb|Super Columns, Endless Mode.png|width=160|Endless mode}}
 
{{ScreenThumb|Super Columns, Endless Mode.png|width=160|Endless mode}}
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''Super Columns'' is a falling block puzzle game like its predecessor. Columns of three differently colored gems fall one at a time, and the player must arrange three gems of the same color in a row, column, or diagonally to eliminate them. The game adds new types of blocks and the ability to rotate the columns horizontally. The D-pad moves columns around. Their colors are cycled with {{2}}, and they are rotated with {{1}}.
+
''Super Columns'' is a falling block puzzle game like its predecessor. Columns of three differently colored gems fall one at a time, and the player must arrange three gems of the same color in a row, column, or diagonal line to eliminate them. The game adds new types of blocks and the ability to rotate the columns horizontally. The D-pad moves columns around. Their colors are cycled with {{2}}, and they are rotated with {{1}}.
  
 
The game adds a Story mode, wherein the player must defeat five opponents thrice each in order to advance in the game. During Story matches, both the player and the player's opponents can unleash various spells, indicated by a numbered display that ascends as gems are matched. Each spell has a different effect, such as increasing the speed at which opponent columns fall or restricting the opponent's ability to rotate their columns. There is also a Versus mode that follows the same rules as the Story mode where two players can compete over a [[Gear-to-Gear Cable]].
 
The game adds a Story mode, wherein the player must defeat five opponents thrice each in order to advance in the game. During Story matches, both the player and the player's opponents can unleash various spells, indicated by a numbered display that ascends as gems are matched. Each spell has a different effect, such as increasing the speed at which opponent columns fall or restricting the opponent's ability to rotate their columns. There is also a Versus mode that follows the same rules as the Story mode where two players can compete over a [[Gear-to-Gear Cable]].
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| title=Bomb Block
 
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| bgcolor=#00032d
 
| sprite={{sprite | Super Columns, Blocks.png | 2 | crop_width=8 | crop_height=8 | crop_x=40 | crop_y=0}}
 
| sprite={{sprite | Super Columns, Blocks.png | 2 | crop_width=8 | crop_height=8 | crop_x=40 | crop_y=0}}

Revision as of 08:42, 17 April 2022

n/a

  • US/EU
  • JP

SuperColumns Title.png

Notavailable.svg

Super Columns
System(s): Sega Game Gear, Palm OS
Publisher: Sega
Developer:
Peripherals supported: Gear-to-Gear Cable
Genre: Puzzle[1][2][3]

















Number of players: 1-2
Release Date RRP Code
Sega Game Gear
JP 		¥3,8003,800 G-3226
Sega Rating: All Ages
Sega Game Gear
US 		$39.9539.95[4] 2449
ESRB: Kids to Adults
Sega Game Gear
EU 		2449-50
ELSPA: 3+ OK
Sega Game Gear
UK 		£19.9919.99[6] 2449-50
ELSPA: 3+ OK
Palm OS
US 		$19.9519.95

Super Columns (スーパーコラムス) is an update to Columns, released exclusively for the Sega Game Gear in 1995.

Story

The evil merchant Surhand wants to harness the power of a mystical amulet in order to conquer all of Phoenicia. His citadel is guarded by four henchmen, who are all masters of Columns. They must be defeated to save Phoenicia.

Gameplay

Super Columns, Endless Mode.png

Endless mode

Super Columns is a falling block puzzle game like its predecessor. Columns of three differently colored gems fall one at a time, and the player must arrange three gems of the same color in a row, column, or diagonal line to eliminate them. The game adds new types of blocks and the ability to rotate the columns horizontally. The D-pad moves columns around. Their colors are cycled with 2, and they are rotated with 1.

The game adds a Story mode, wherein the player must defeat five opponents thrice each in order to advance in the game. During Story matches, both the player and the player's opponents can unleash various spells, indicated by a numbered display that ascends as gems are matched. Each spell has a different effect, such as increasing the speed at which opponent columns fall or restricting the opponent's ability to rotate their columns. There is also a Versus mode that follows the same rules as the Story mode where two players can compete over a Gear-to-Gear Cable.

Like in previous Columns games, there are also Endless and Flash modes. In an Endless game, the player matches gems until inevitably reaching a game-over. Flash mode presents the player with 10 puzzle stages where all flashing gems must be matched and eliminated in order to progress to the next stage.

Spells

In the Story and Versus modes, gaining points increases the gauge. The player can select a spell with Up+2 and perform the selected spell with Up+1.

Gauge Number Points Spell
1 50 Sends stone blocks to the other player.
2 100 Prevents the other player from rearranging his or her columns.
3 150 Increases the speed at which the other player's columns drop.
4 200 Lowers the player's base level.
5 250 Gives the player a magic gem.

Special Blocks

Super Columns, Blocks.png
 Bomb Block
Eliminates the entire row, column, or diagonal line when three are matched.
Super Columns, Special Blocks.png
 Glitter Column
Appears in Flash mode. When it makes contact with a gem, it causes all gems of that color to disappear.
Super Columns, Special Blocks.png
 Stone Block Column
Appears in the Story and Versus modes. Stone blocks can only be removed by Magic Columns and cannot be set horizontal.
Super Columns, Special Blocks.png
 Magic Column
Appears in the Endless, Story, and Versus modes. The upward arrow causes gems above it to disappear, the center square causes gems the color as those that are touched by it to disappear, and the downward arrow reverses the screen.
Super Columns, Special Blocks.png
 Reversal Column
Appears in the Endless, Story, and Versus modes. It causes all gems the same color as the one that the column contacts to disappear.
Super Columns, Special Blocks.png
 Vanish Column
Appears in the Endless, Story, and Versus modes. It causes all gems above the column to disappear.

Production credits

Digital manuals

  • Palm OS manual

Magazine articles

Main article: Super Columns/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

ES print advert
Logo-pdf.svg
Print advert in Hobby Consolas (ES) #46: "Julio 1995" (1995-xx-xx)
Logo-pdf.svg
Logo-pdf.svg
Print advert in Hobby Consolas (ES) #51: "Diciembre 1995" (1995-xx-xx)
also published in:
Logo-pdf.svg

Physical scans

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
{{{{{icon}}}|L}} Division by zero.
Based on
0 review
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
Consoles + (FR)
85
[9]
Electronic Games (1992-1995) (US) NTSC-U
91
[10]
Famitsu (JP) NTSC-J
58
[11]
Freak (IL)
87
[12]
GamePro (US) NTSC-U
83
[4]
Joypad (FR) PAL
88
[13]
Mega Force (FR) PAL
86
[14]
Mega Fun (DE) PAL
83
[15]
Mean Machines Sega (UK) PAL
74
[6]
Player One (FR) PAL
86
[16]
Play Time (DE)
79
[17]
Sega Magazine (UK) PAL
77
[5]
Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J
75
[18]
Todo Sega (ES)
91
[19]
Top Consoles (FR)
75
[20]
Video Games (DE) PAL
72
[21]
Sega Game Gear
 81
Based on
16 reviews

Super Columns

Game Gear, JP
SuperColumns GG JP Box Back.jpgNospine-small.pngSuperColumns GG JP Box Front.jpg
Cover
SuperColumns GG JP Cart.jpg
Cart
Game Gear, US
SuperColumns GG US Box Back.jpgNospine.pngSuperColumns GG US Box Front.jpg
Cover
SuperColumns GG US Cart.jpg
Cart
Supercolumns gg us manual.pdf
Manual
Game Gear, EU
SuperColumns GG EU Box Back.jpgSuper Columns GG EU BoxSpine.jpgSuperColumns GG EU Box Front.jpg
Cover
SuperColumns GG EU Cart.jpg
Cart
Super Columns GG EU Manual.jpg
Manual

Technical information

ROM dump status

System Hash Size Build Date Source Comments
Sega Game Gear
 ?
CRC32 2a100717
MD5 3696ab241bbe66846a0ad00a50ca289b
SHA-1 a1de915b0f10894bedc6ee8f0fd1f2da65bcfa68
128kB Cartridge (JP)
Sega Game Gear
 ?
CRC32 8ba43af3
MD5 8f1de0caa864beed2a61f391795b0a10
SHA-1 ce59845e973b7fb7b3b2121b35a95fba5727df62
128kB Cartridge (US/EU)
Sega Game Gear
 ?
CRC32 f28f89d1
MD5 1513e04ab34ff687e6bfcf89199cce5a
SHA-1 e5b23a687c9dd285970f4783369e36c7a96d19fa
128kB 1994-11-11 CD-R disc[22] Page
Sega Game Gear
 ?
CRC32 56cf1d4f
MD5 d829d132768af645ec9770ce7751aeb6
SHA-1 29dac0da809c8a74c6610e4dde300efaddaca29a
128kB 1994-11-30 CD-R disc[23] Page
Sega Game Gear
 ?
CRC32 abe92434
MD5 d592e3ac72db3d3829b5c56fd9b6c0e4
SHA-1 3edad6d335d5f6ec3dc403fd642cd6a71e3c053d
128kB 1994-12-15 CD-R disc[24] Page
Sega Game Gear
 ?
CRC32 81451fc0
MD5 eef5e19e5314cd512bbf9cfe700c9482
SHA-1 b7cabe08f0e0850b055fd0e694e175e8f1c47e4d
128kB 1994-12-21 CD-R disc[25] Page
Sega Game Gear
 ?
CRC32 5c4c633d
MD5 9c8597827b2b6632288dcd2e518c5ea1
SHA-1 d3050de383e772bb068d4c722bbe91ff05172d45
128kB 1994-12-26 CD-R disc[26] Page
Sega Game Gear
 ?
CRC32 3d931952
MD5 af4aa4dfc874b945fbe61d31d8c20c00
SHA-1 b2bc04e1f7a00ec5431774db0b47da53db57d3a3
128kB 1994-12-28 CD-R disc[27] Page
Sega Game Gear
 ?
CRC32 096f4ff5
MD5 0f9eb3b55945f0057e0e1a04424a64fc
SHA-1 fed437cf7d22c685fef7b2e55579cd77bb48e232
128kB 1995-01-06 CD-R disc[28] Page
Sega Game Gear
 ?
CRC32 8ba43af3
MD5 8f1de0caa864beed2a61f391795b0a10
SHA-1 ce59845e973b7fb7b3b2121b35a95fba5727df62
128kB 1995-01-09 CD-R disc[29] Page

References

  1. ↑ File:SuperColumns GG EU Box Back.jpg
  2. ↑ File:SuperColumns GG JP Box Front.jpg
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 https://sega.jp/history/hard/gamegear/software.html (Wayback Machine: 2018-12-07 04:57)
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 GamePro, "June 1995" (US; 1995-xx-xx), page 106
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Sega Magazine, "April 1995" (UK; 1995-03-15), page 88
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Mean Machines Sega, "April 1995" (UK; 1995-02-28), page 89
  7. ↑ http://www.sega.com/palm/purchase/buy_select_columns.jhtml (Wayback Machine: 2003-04-17 04:38)
  8. ↑ Hobby Consolas, "Enero 1996" (ES; 199x-xx-xx), page 83
  9. ↑ Consoles +, "Mai 1995" (FR; 1995-0x-xx), page 124
  10. ↑ Electronic Games (1992-1995), "July 1995" (US; 1995-0x-xx), page 89
  11. ↑ Famitsu, "1995-06-02" (JP; 1995-05-19), page 33
  12. ↑ Freak, "7/95" (IL; 1995-xx-xx), page 1
  13. ↑ Joypad, "Juillet/Août 1995" (FR; 1995-0x-xx), page 57
  14. ↑ Mega Force, "Mai 1995" (FR; 1995-0x-xx), page 67
  15. ↑ Mega Fun, "06/95" (DE; 1995-05-24), page 90
  16. ↑ Player One, "Mai 1995" (FR; 1995-0x-xx), page 98
  17. ↑ Play Time, "7/95" (DE; 1995-06-07), page 110
  18. ↑ Sega Saturn Magazine, "June 1995" (JP; 1995-05-08), page 135
  19. ↑ Todo Sega, "Mayo 1995" (ES; 1995-0x-xx), page 49
  20. ↑ Top Consoles, "Juin 1995" (FR; 1995-0x-xx), page 106
  21. ↑ Video Games, "6/95" (DE; 1995-05-17), page 108
  22. ↑ Hidden Palace: Super Columns (Nov 11, 1994 prototype)
  23. ↑ Hidden Palace: Super Columns (Nov 30, 1994 prototype)
  24. ↑ Hidden Palace: Super Columns (Dec 15, 1994 prototype)
  25. ↑ Hidden Palace: Super Columns (Dec 21, 1994 prototype)
  26. ↑ Hidden Palace: Super Columns (Dec 26, 1994 prototype)
  27. ↑ Hidden Palace: Super Columns (Dec 28, 1994 prototype)
  28. ↑ Hidden Palace: Super Columns (Jan 6, 1995 prototype)
  29. ↑ Hidden Palace: Super Columns (Jan 9, 1995 prototype)


Super Columns

SuperColumns Title.png

Main page | Comparisons | Magazine articles | Reception


Sega Game Gear
Prototypes: 1994-11-11 | 11-30 | 12-15 | 12-21 | 12-26 | 12-28 | 1995-01-06 | 01-09



Games in the Columns Series
Columns (1990) | Columns II: The Voyage Through Time (1990) | Columns III: Revenge of Columns (1993) | Stack Columns (1994) | Super Columns (1995) | Columns '97 (1996) | Hanagumi Taisen Columns (1997) | Columns Arcade Collection (1997) | Columns GB: Tezuka Osamu Characters (1999) | Hanagumi Taisen Columns 2 (2000) | Columns Crown (2001) | Columns Jewel (2005) | Columns Deluxe (2008) | Jewelpet Kira Kira Mahou no Housekibako (2009) | Sega Ages Columns II (2019)
Columns Taisen Mode Tsuki (1991) | Columns (Mame Game) (1997) | Columns (Pocket Boy) (1997) | Columns for Zaurus (2001) | Columns for Clié (2002)
Unlicensed Columns games
Sega Master System
 Super Columns (1990)
Columns Related Media
Music
 Columns・Columns II (1991)
Book
 Hanagumi Taisen Columns Official Guide (1997) | Hanagumi Taisen Columns 2 Perfect Guide (2000)
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