Columns Game by Sega Reviewed by Adrock gbcam@hotmail.com Save: None Released: 1990 **************************************************************************** Opening Snide Remarks: Nintendo holds the license to Tetris... what ever will Sega do? **************************************************************************** Gameplay Descripion: Columns is a puzzle game created by Sega. At the time, Tetris was Nintendo's game, other consoles couldn't have it. Sega made Columns to fight back. In my opinion, Columns is just as fun as Tetris. It's a very unique puzzle experience. And, since the Game Gear is color, the shapes could be represented a lot easier. Not to say this couldn't be done on Game Boy. There is Easy, Normal, and Hard. Each difficulty adds one more block into the total kinds of blocks on the board. You can also pick the kind of blocks that you want. If you're not happy with the crystal things, you can choose dice, fruit, cards, and just generic blocks. The game offers original and flash... the original mode is pretty much playing for the highest score, until your blocks reach the top. In Flash mode, the screen is already half full up of blocks, and you have to clear the block (usually on the bottom) that is flashing to win. How you play, is just match three of the same kind of block horizontally, vertically, or diagonally, in rows of at least 3. You can clear several at a time, for instance, if your blocks looked like this: * **** * You would get a higher point total for clearing all seven of those blocks at one time. Also, once the bricks fall when you make some disappear, the blocks that fall down into the gap where they used to be might make another three in a row. It's kind of like Panel de Pon (Tetris Attack, PKMN Puzzle League, whatever) ... but not. You're not controlling a cursor in this game, you're making bricks fall like in Tetris. And this game isn't limited to horizontal and vertical like those game are, you can make diagonal rows, too. Does this game replace Tetris? Well, if you can't GET Tetris, this is a damn good substitute. Liked: Sega dares to try something different. It worked! This game is really fun. Hated: Nothing. **************************************************************************** Graphics Description: The backgrounds change whenever you go up a level. Not just the color scheme. I like that. Several kinds of block sets to use. Good use of color. They are very easy to see on the screen. No cinemas or anything that I know of. Liked: Lots of detail and good use of color. Hated: Nothing. **************************************************************************** Sound/Music Description: Three songs. The music speeds up each time you go up a level. It doesn't speed up when you've almost reached the top like some games. I like that the music speeds up as the game does. The songs are good too. They're not Tetris but... they're still real good. They're not annoying or anything. Liked: Music speeds up as the game does. Hated: Nothing. **************************************************************************** Play Control/Game Design: Simple stuff. Rotates just like Tetris. Liked: Same Solid controls. Hated: Nothing. **************************************************************************** Improve: More songs? There was a Super Columns, which I'm going to try to find... oh, and I played Columns 3 on Sega Genesis while on a vacation and it was really awesome. Get that one if you get a Nomad. RIYL: Tetris Attack, Robotnik Mean Bean Machine, Tetris. **************************************************************************** Final Words: The Definitive Game Gear puzzler. Get it! **************************************************************************** Score Gameplay: ***** Graphics: ***** Sound/Music: ***** Play Control/Game Design: ***** Personal Opinion: ***** Total: 25 Final Score: %100 **************************************************************************** Currently Known Codes: Nope.