Columns

From Sega Retro

n/a

Columns SystemC2Title.png

Columns
System(s): Sega System C, Sega Mega Drive, Sega Game Gear, Sega Master System, MSX, TurboGrafx-16
Publisher: Sega
Developer:
Genre: Puzzle

















CERO
Missing Parameter!

Columns (コラムス) is a puzzle game first created in 1989 by Jay Geertsen of Hewlett-Packard on the 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 PC Engine version has two different versions of this... TODO)
  • 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

Manuals

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
Expression error: Unexpected < operator.
Expression error: Unexpected < operator.
Expression error: Unexpected < operator.
Expression error: Unexpected < operator.
Expression error: Unexpected < operator.
{{{{{icon}}}|L}} Expression error: Unexpected < operator.
Based on
5 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
{{|L}} N/A
Based on
0 reviews

Columns

Mega Drive Version

Physical Scans

System C Version

  • JP flyer

  • JP instructions card

Mega Drive Version

  • US cover

  • US cart

  • EU cover

  • JP cover

  • JP cart

Master System Version

  • US cover

  • US cart

  • Columns sms au cover.jpg

    AU cover

Game Gear Version

  • US front cover

  • US cart

  • EU front cover

  • EU cart

  • JP front cover

  • JP cart

  • JP front cover (Meisaku Collection)

  • BR cart

MSX Version

  • JP cover (front)

  • Columns MSX JP Box Back.jpg

    JP cover (back)

TurboGrafx-16 Version

  • Columns pce jp cover.jpg

    JP cover (front)



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)
Retrieved from "https://segaretro.org/index.php?title=Columns&oldid=40258"