Columns

n/a

Columns
System(s): Sega System C, Sega Mega Drive, Sega Game Gear, Sega Master System, MSX, PC Engine, Sharp X68000, Super Famicom
Publisher: Sega, SystemSoft, Laser Soft Telenet Japan
Developer: Sega, SystemSoft, Laser Soft, SNES Media Factory, Marigul
Genre: Puzzle
Release Date RRP Code
ESRB PEGI OFLC CERO Missing Parameter!

Columns (コラムス) is a puzzle game first created in 1989 by Jay Geertsen of Hewlett-Packard on the HP/UX with X Window System, with ports to DOS, Macintosh. Windows, and the Atari ST. In 1990, Geertsen sold the rights to Sega, where it was ported to the System C arcade board. This version was successful enough to be ported to various Sega and non-Sega hardware (including being both a Game Gear launch title and pack-in) and launched a series of sequels, that, despite bottomed-out popularity, continues to receive attention today.

Version Differences

Each console version of Columns adds several game modes:

• 2-player Competitive play: The original arcade version does have two players on screen at once, but this is not a competitive mode as players can join and leave at will.
• Flash Columns: the player must mine their way through a set number of lines to get to a flashing jewel at the bottom. The faster the player accomplishes this, the higher his rank.

Furthermore, each individual port has its own features:

• Master System/Game Gear: In single-player mode, the jewels can be changed to fruit, squares, dice, or card suits.
• Mega Drive: Two game modes were added, accessible from the Menu option on the title screen menu. These modes can be applied to either the Original Game or Flash Columns.
  • Time Trial: Either Original Game or Flash Columns may be time-limited to three minutes.
  • Doubles: Either Original Game or Flash Columns may have two players competing on the same well instead of different wells
• PC Engine: "Stone" and "Freeze" competitive modes (TODO)
• Super Famicom: Media Factory also produced a SNES port of Columns under that name in 1999, also released exclusively in Japan — this time through issues of the Japanese version of Nintendo Power. This version includes a competitive play option, a tutorial, alternate jewel shapes, and an option to have jewels drop faster than usual from the get-go.

Manuals

Sega Retro Average
Publication Score Source ACE (UK) Computer & Video Games (UK) Joystick (FR) Mean Machines (UK) Player One (FR)

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Based on 6 reviews

Sega Retro Average
Publication Version Score

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Based on 0 reviews

Columns

Mega Drive Version

• US Manual ^(info) ()

Physical Scans

Mega Drive Version

Mega Drive, US
Cover
Cart

Mega Drive, US (Sega Classic)
Cover

Mega Drive, EU
Cover

Mega Drive, JP
Cover
Cart

Master System Version

Master System, US
Cover
Cart

Master System, EU
Cover

Master System, Australia
Cover

Master System, South Korea
Cover

Game Gear Version

Game Gear, US
Cover
Cart

Game Gear, EU
Cover
Cart

Game Gear, JP
Cover
Cart

Game Gear, JP (Meisaku Collection)
Cover

Game Gear, BR
Cart

MSX Version

MSX, JP
<div style="margin:auto; max-width:px"> 320x120px Cover

Sharp X68000 Version

Sharp X68000, JP
Cover

TurboGrafx-16 Version

TurboGrafx-16, JP
<div style="margin:auto; max-width:px"> 320x80px Cover

External Links

• Sega of Japan Virtual Console page (Japanese)
• Columns on Steam