Columns

Columns

Publisher: Sega,

SystemSoft,

Laser Soft

Telenet Japan
Developer: Sega,

SystemSoft,

Laser Soft, SNES Media Factory, Marigul
System(s): Sega System C, Sega Mega Drive, Sega Game Gear, Sega Master System, MSX, PC Engine, Sharp X68000, FM Towns, Super Famicom
ROM Size:

128kB

32kB

SNES 512kB
Genre: Puzzle

Release	Date	RRP	Code
JP	1990	¥?	?
JP	1990-06-30	¥5,500	G-4035
JP (Game Tokoshan)	1991	¥?	?
US	1990	$?	?
US (Classic)	1992	$?	1701
EU	1990	£?	?
US	1990	$?	5120
EU	1990-12	£24.99	5120
AU	1990	$?	5120
KR	199x	₩?	GB-1001
JP	1990-10-06	¥2,900	G-3101
JP (Meisaku)	1993-07-23	¥?	G-3104
US	1990	$?	2201
EU	1990	£19.99	?
BR	199x	$?	?
JP	1990	¥7,200	?
JP	1991	¥?	?
JP	1991	¥?	?
JP	2006-12-02	600 points	?
US	2006-12-04	800 points	?
EU	2006-12-15	800 points	?
US (Steam)	2010-09-13	$2.99	?
EU (Steam)	2010-09-13	£1.99	?

ESRB

PEGI

OFLC

CERO

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

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Sega Retro Average

Based on 7 reviews

Publication	Score	Source
ACE	68 ^№48
Computer & Video Games	87 ^№107 90 84 ^№110
The Games Machine (Italy)	88
Joystick	70 90
Mean Machines	89
Player One	74 85
Power Play	77 63