Columns

For the versions published by SystemSoft, see Columns Taisen Mode Tsuki.

n/a

System C Mega Drive Master System Game Gear PC Engine Super Famicom MSX2 FM Towns
Columns
System(s): Sega System C, Sega Mega Drive, Sega Game Gear, Sega Master System, FM Towns, MSX2, PC Engine, Super Famicom, Steam, iOS, Wii & Nintendo 3DS Virtual Console, Nintendo Switch Online
Publisher: Sega Enterprises, Ltd. Sega Corporation Laser Soft Nihon Telenet Media Factory
Developer: Sega R&D 1 Nihon Telenet Compile Marigul M2
Distributor: Kanal 10 (SE rental) Ecofilmes (PT) Datart International (CZ) DDC Agency (CZ) Tec Toy (BR) Korea Oacs (KR) Samsung (KR)
Licensor: Sega Enterprises, Ltd.
Sound driver: SMPS Z80
Peripherals supported: Gear-to-Gear Cable
Genre: Puzzle, Family
Number of players: 1-2
Release Date RRP Code JP 1990-03 ¥? ? US 1990-06 $? ? UK 199x £? ? JP 1990-06-30 ¥5500 G-4035 JP ▼ (Game Toshokan) 1991 SUB US 1990-09 $29.95 1701 US (Classic 2nd rerelease) 1996 1701 US (Classic cardboard) 199x 1701 US (Classic rerelease) 1995 1701 US (Classic) 1993 1701C US ▼ (Sega Channel) 1994 SUB EU 1991-02 1701 EU ▼ (Sega Channel) 199x SUB PT 199x MDJ1701 UK 1990-12 £29.99 1701 FI 199x SE (Rental) 199x CZ 199x AU 199x CA 199x BR 1991-11 SA ▼ (Sega Channel) 1996 SUB AS 199x US 1990-09 5120 EU 1990-12 5120 PT 199x UK 1990-12 £24.99 5120 AU 1990 5120 BR 199x KR 199x GB-1001 KR (Samsung) 199x GB-1002JG JP 1990-10-06 ¥2900 G-3101 JP (m) 1993-07-23 G-3104 US 1991 2201 US (Rerelease) 1995 2201 EU 1991-06-29 2201 UK 1991-06-29 £19.99 2201 CZ 199x BR 199x 012070 KR 199x SA 199x JP 1990-12 ¥7200 JP 1990-12 ¥7200 JP 1991-03-29 ¥¥6,400 TJ03002 {{#ifeq: 0 | 0 | JP 1999-08 ¥? ? JP ▼ 2006-12-02 600pts US ▼ 2006-12-04 800pts EU ▼ 2006-12-15 800pts DE ▼ 2006-12-15 800pts AU ▼ 2006-12 800pts US ▼ 2010-09-13 $2.99 34285 EU ▼ 2010-09-13 €2.49 34285 UK ▼ 2010-09-13 £1.99 34285 AU ▼ 2010-09-13 $3.49 34285 US ▼ 2019-02-01 $0.99 34285 EU ▼ 2019-02-01 €0.99 34285 UK ▼ 2019-02-01 £0.79 34285 AU ▼ 2019-02-01 $1.35 34285 US ▼ 2019-02-01 $0.99 34285 EU ▼ 2019-02-01 €0.99 34285 UK ▼ 2019-02-01 £0.79 34285 AU ▼ 2019-02-01 $1.35 34285 JP ▼ 2011-04-07 ¥480 4+ JP ▼ 2012-08-08 ¥286 (300) US ▼ 2013-06-13 $3.99 EU ▼ 2013-06-13 €3.99 DE ▼ 2013-06-13 €3.99 UK ▼ 2013-06-13 £3.59 JP ▼ 2022-12-16 SUB US ▼ 2022-12-15 SUB EU ▼ 2022-12-16 SUB UK ▼ 2022-12-16 SUB AU ▼ 2022-12-16 SUB

Columns (コラムス) is a puzzle game created by Jay Geertsen in 1989. The rights were sold to Sega Enterprises, Ltd. in 1990, who brought the game to the Sega System C arcade board, with its subsequent success seeing the game released on a wide variety of platforms.

Columns is frequently seen as Sega's answer to Tetris, though its tile-matching gameplay has more in common with SameGame (1985). In Brazil, it is known as Shapes and Columns because Avon Products already registered a product of the same name in that country. The Super Famicom version was released only for the Nintendo Power service.

Gameplay

Columns is a falling-block puzzle game. Like Tetris, the aim of the game is to try and stay alive - "columns" fall from the top of the screen, landing on-top of each other, and should the "pile" reach the top of the screen, the game is over. Success is determined by strategic placing of columns, and as the game progresses, the rate at which the columns fall increases.

In Columns, each column is made up of three coloured jewels stacked on top of each other. If three or more jewels of the same colour are aligned horizontally, vertically or diagonally, the jewels will be destroyed, and any jewels placed above will fall downwards. Unlike Tetris, the reliance on gravity means gameplay is combo-driven - repeated combos will spawn a "Magic Jewel" (in most versions of the game), which when collided with a normal jewel will eliminate all jewels of that colour on-screen. Games are played on a 6x13 grid, and points are awarded by destroying jewels (players also receive a bonus for starting the game at higher difficulties). In the majority of versions, hints will be displayed for the player up until level 3.

There are six coloured jewels in total:

Many home versions of the game allow for the graphics to be changed, most notably the Sega Master System and Sega Game Gear variants, as well as home computer ports by SystemSoft.

Controls

There are only four buttons utilised in Columns. and move a falling column left or right across the screen, respectively, while speeds up the rate at which the column falls.

The remaining button is used to "rotate" the column as shown below:

→

→

In most ports of this game there is no option to rotate the columns in the opposite direction, but that can be done in the Game Gear version. Columns can only be rotated while they are moving, however a certain amount of leeway (i.e. about a second) is given to columns which have just "landed".

Modes

Game modes differ depending on the version of Columns:

"Arcade"/Original

All versions of the game have an interpretation of the "Arcade" (or "Classic") columns described above - a theoretically endless game in which columns continue to fall until the screen is filled.

Sega Mega Drive has both "Arcade" and "Original" modes separately, each with their own customization options. The Magic Jewel appears only in "arcade" mode.

Time Trial

Initially present as an extra setting for "Original" mode on the Sega Mega Drive version, Time Trial places a three-minute time limit on a play session, so the objective is to score as many points as possible within that time limit.

Flash Columns

Flash Columns, featured in the Sega Mega Drive, Sega Master System and Sega Game Gear versions of the game, has the player 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 their rank will be.

In the Master System port, the theme music to this mode is that previously heard in the System 16 version (and subsequent Sega versions) of Tetris.

2-Player

The standard 2-player mode, found in the arcade version of the game, is largely identical to the Arcade mode above, except two players are supported. It is not a competitive mode, so players can join and leave at will. Some versions remove this mode for logistical reasons, for example, the Sega Game Gear port where the handheld nature of the console renders this mode largely pointless, and the PC Engine version, in which the console only has one control port as standard.

Versus

Offered in most non-arcade versions of the game, Versus has two players compete against each other, the winner being the player who lasts the longest. Unlike other puzzle games of this nature (perhaps most notably, Puyo Puyo), there are no methods of "attacking" an opponent, so gameplay is very similar to the above.

The Sega Mega Drive version doesn't have "Versus" mode, but 2-player "Flash Columns" mode has a "match" setting that does a similar thing.

Doubles

This can be seen as a co-operative two-player mode, in which the Original mode or Flash Columns is played on the same screen with each player taking a turn in placing a column.

Stone

A competitive two-player mode, exclusive to the PC Engine version when playing on a PC Engine GT. In this mode, making a chain reaction causes stones to appear on the opposing player's playfield, which cannot be matched.

Freeze

A competitive two-player mode, exclusive to the PC Engine version when playing on a PC Engine GT. In this mode, making a chain reaction will prevent the opposing player from rotating their column.

History

Development

Columns was originally conceived by Jay Geertsen while working at Hewlett-Packard in 1989. It was originally created for the HP-UX operating system (utilising the X Window System), however the relative obscurity of the platform, particularly amongst home consumers, saw ports to other systems. Nathan Meyers brought it to MS-DOS (1989), P.C.M. van der Arend to the Atari ST (1989), Chris Christensen to the Macintosh (1990), and John Rotenstein for Windows 3.x (1990).

In early 1990, Geertsen sold the rights to Sega, who has controlled the license ever since. Sega is not thought to own the code of the aforementioned versions, just the mechanics surrounding the game.

During development and reportedly in its location test form, the arcade game was known as Drops (ドロップス).

Sega Channel broadcast history

North America

• 1994-12-01 – 1995-01-01
• 1995-01-01 – 1995-02-01
• 1995-02-01 – 1995-03-01
• 1995-03-01 – 1995-04-01
• 1995-05-01 – 1995-06-01
• 1995-07-01 – 1995-08-01
• 1995-09-01 – 1995-10-01
• 1995-12-01 – 1996-01-01
• 1996-03-01 – 1996-04-01
• 1996-05-01 – 1996-06-01
• 1996-07-01 – 1996-08-01
• 1996-10-01 – 1996-11-01
• 1996-11-01 – 1996-12-01
• 1997-01-01 – 1997-01-17
• 1997-02-28 – 1997-03-14
• 1997-03-28 – 1997-04-11
• 1997-05-23 – 1997-06-06

PAL regions

• 1997-10-01 – 1997-11-01

Argentina and Chile

• 1996-11-01 – 1996-12-01
• 1997-01-01 – 1997-02-01

Versions

Following its success in arcades, Columns was brought to the Sega Mega Drive, in the form of a very accurate arcade conversion. The Mega Drive Columns was the first puzzle game to hit the system in most territories - though Tetris had seen a Mega Drive release in Japan in 1988, legal issues forced it to be removed from shelves and the game has been rarely mentioned since. Columns is a relatively small game by Mega Drive standards, and so has been re-released multiple times across many compilations. It was also re-released several times between 1993 and 1996 in North America, presumably to try and clear old stock.

Columns was a launch title for the Sega Game Gear, which debuted in Japan in October 1990. It was also brought to the Sega Master System later in the year. The Master System version of Columns is one of the few games for the system that was also released on the Game Gear that isn't a direct port of the Game Gear version.

SystemSoft were given the rights to publish Japanese home computer versions of the game between 1991 and 1992, including the PC-8801, PC-9801 UV, X68000 and J-3100 as Columns Taisen Mode Tsuki. MSX2 and FM Towns versions were handled by Telenet Japan, while a PC Engine port was brought to the system by Laser Soft. Perhaps most peculiarly, Media Factory were given the rights to produce a Super Famicom version, released in the very late year of 1999. It was distributed through the Japan-exclusive Nintendo Power rewritable cartridge service and is the only Sega property to see an official release on Nintendo's Super Famicom.

There have been multiple sequels to Columns, starting with 1990's Columns II: The Voyage Through Time and 1993's Columns III: Revenge of Columns. The System C version of the game was released as part of the Sega Saturn compilation, Columns Arcade Collection. The Mega Drive version has also been released on Steam, on the Wii's Virtual Console service, and as part of all regional variants of the Mega Drive Mini, while the Game Gear version has been released as part of the Nintendo 3DS' Virtual Console service as well as the red model Game Gear Micro. Multiple unlicensed versions of the game exist, as well as many clones.

Throughout its life, Columns has never achieved the same level of success as Tetris; however, the series continues to see sequels to this day.

Comparisons

Main article: Columns/Comparisons.

Version history

Main article: Columns/Changelog.

System	Version	Size	Date	Comment	Ref	Icon
	0000010000000000010000000000001.0.1	6MB	201306172013-06-17
	0000010000000000000000000000001.0.0	5.4MB	201104052011-04-05

Production credits

Main article: Columns/Production credits.

Digital manuals

• 

  Steam manual

• 

  Mega Drive Mini US manual

• 

  Mega Drive Mini EU manual

• 

  Mega Drive Mini JP manual

• 

  Game Gear Micro manual

• 

  Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties JP manual

Magazine articles

Main article: Columns/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Main article: Columns/Promotional material.

Physical scans

System C version

Sega Retro Average
Publication Score Source

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Based on 0 review

Sega Retro Average
Publication Version Score Computer & Video Games (UK) 87

	87
Based on 1 review

Columns

System C, JP
Instuction card(s)

Mega-Tech version

Mega-Tech,
Cover
Cart

Mega Drive version

Sega Retro Average
Publication Score Source

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Based on 0 review

Sega Retro Average

Publication Version Score Ação Games (BR) 75 Aktueller Software Markt (DE) 83 Beep! MegaDrive (JP) NTSC-J 83 Complete Guide to Consoles (UK) 90 Complete Guide to Consoles (UK) 88 The Complete Guide to Sega (UK) 88 Console XS (UK) PAL 84 Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) NTSC-U 63 Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide (UK) 77 Weekly Famitsu (JP) NTSC-J 68 The Games Machine (IT) 88 Joystick (FR) 70 Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming (UK) PAL 79 Mega Drive Fan (JP) NTSC-J 77 Mega Play (US) NTSC-U 68 MegaTech (UK) PAL 85 Mean Machines Sega (UK) 88 Player One (FR) 74 Power Play (DE) 77 Sega Power (UK) 82 Sega Power (UK) PAL 75 Sega Pro (UK) 90 Sega Pro (UK) PAL 84 Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J 76 Tilt (FR) 75 Tilt (FR) 85 Top Secret (PL) Mega Games I 75 Tricks 16 bit (RU) 80 User (GR) 97 VideoGames & Computer Entertainment (US) NTSC-U 70

	80
Based on 30 reviews

Columns

Mega Drive, JP
Cover
Cart PCB Manual

Mega Drive, US (Made In Japan)
Cover
Cart Manual

Mega Drive, US (Made In China Cart)
Cart Manual

Mega Drive, US (Made In Thailand Cart)
Cart Manual

Mega Drive, US (Not For Resale Cart)
Cart

Mega Drive, US (Not For Resale ALT Cart)
Cart

Mega Drive, US (Sega Classic, VRC, 1993)
Cover
Cart Manual

Mega Drive, US (Sega Classic, ESRB, 1995)
Box
Cart Manual

Mega Drive, US (Sega Classic, ESRB, 1996)
Box
Cart Manual

Mega Drive, US (Sega Classic, ESRB, Cardboard)
Box
Cart

Mega Drive, EU
Cover
Cart PCB Manual

Mega Drive, PT (Colour Manual)
Columns Portuguese manual (Page by Page Scan) Columns Portuguese manual (Print)

Mega Drive, PT (Blue Manual)
Manual

Mega Drive, CZ/SK (Datart)
Cart Manual

Mega Drive, CZ/SK (DDC Agency)
Cover
Manual

Mega Drive, SE (rental; Kanal 10)
Cover

Mega Drive, FI

Mega Drive, AU (Vertical Manual)
Box
Cart Manual

Mega Drive, AU (Horizontal Manual)
Box
Cart Manual

Mega Drive, AU (Sega Classics)
Box
Cart Manual

Mega Drive, AU (Pack In - BONUS)
Cover
Cart Manual

Mega Drive, AU (Pack In - BONUS Sticker)
Cover
Cart Manual

Mega Drive, AU (Pack In - SP01)
Cover
Cart Manual

Mega Drive, AU (Pack In - SP1 Sticker)
Box
Cart Manual

Mega Drive, BR (Cardboard)
Cover
Cart

Mega Drive, CA
Cover

Mega Drive, Asia
Cart

Master System version

Sega Retro Average
Publication Score Source

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Based on 0 review

Sega Retro Average

Publication Version Score buzz 85 Complete Guide to Consoles (UK) 89 Complete Guide to Consoles (UK) 88 The Complete Guide to Sega (UK) PAL 90 Console XS (UK) PAL 91 Computer & Video Games (UK) 84 Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) NTSC-U 55 Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide (UK) 89 Game Mania (UK) 90 GamePro (US) NTSC-U 72 Gamers (DE) 67 Joystick (FR) 90 Mean Machines (UK) 89 Mean Machines Sega (UK) 90 Player One (FR) 85 Power Play (DE) 63 Raze (UK) 90 Sega Power (UK) 93 Sega Power (UK) PAL 75 Sega Pro (UK) 92 Sega Pro (UK) PAL 91 Tilt (FR) 85 Tilt (FR) 85 Zzap! (IT) 90

	84
Based on 24 reviews

Columns

Master System, US
Cover
Cart Manual

Master System, EU
Cover
Manual

Master System, PT
Cover
Manual

Master System, CZ (Datart)
Manual

Master System, CZ/SK (DDC Agency)
Cover
Manual

Master System, AU
Cover
Cart

Master System, AU (Wide sticker)
Cover
Cart

Master System, AU (NIAL sticker)
Cover
Cart

Master System, BR
Box
Cart Manual

Master System, KR (Korea Oacs)
Cover
Cart

Master System, KR (Samsung)
Box
Cart

Game Gear version

Sega Retro Average
Publication Score Source

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Based on 0 review

Sega Retro Average

Publication Version Score ACE (UK) 68 Aktueller Software Markt (DE) 80 Beep! MegaDrive (JP) NTSC-J 70 Console XS (UK) PAL 92 Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide (UK) 85 Game Mania (UK) 86 Hippon Super (JP) NTSC-J 60 Mean Machines Sega (UK) PAL 88 Megazone (AU) 81 Sega Power (UK) PAL 75 Sega Power (UK) PAL 91 Sega Pro (UK) 80 Sega Pro (UK) PAL 92 Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J 66 Zero (UK) 93

	80
Based on 15 reviews

Columns

Game Gear, JP
Box
Cart Manual

Game Gear, JP (01)
Box
Cart Manual

Game Gear, JP (Meisaku Collection)
Box
Cart

Game Gear, US
Box
Cart Manual

Game Gear, US (rerelease)
Box
Cart

Game Gear, EU
Box
Cart Manual

Game Gear, UK
Box
Cart

Game Gear, PT
Cart Manual

Game Gear, CZ (Datart)
Manual

Game Gear, CZ/SK (DDC Agency)
Box
Manual

Game Gear, BR
Cover
Cart Manual

Game Gear, KR
Box
Cart

Game Gear, GCC
Box
Cart

FM Towns version

FM Towns, JP
Cover
Disk

MSX2 version

MSX2, JP
Cover

PC Engine version

Sega Retro Average
Publication Score Source

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Based on 0 review

Sega Retro Average
Publication Version Score Aktueller Software Markt (DE) NTSC-J 71 Gekkan PC Engine (JP) NTSC-J 75 Joystick (FR) NTSC-J 82 Player One (FR) NTSC-J 72

	75
Based on 4 reviews

Columns

PC Engine, JP
Box
Card Manual

Technical information

Main article: Columns/Technical information.

External links

• Sega of Japan Virtual Console pages: Mega Drive
• Sega of Japan 3DS VC catalogue pages: Game Gear
• Nintendo catalogue pages: Wii Virtual Console: US, UK, AU; Nintendo 3DS Virtual Console: JP, US, UK
• Columns on Steam
• Columns on iTunes: JP (offline)

References

NEC Retro has more information related to Columns