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Columns (Japan)

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About Columns

Game Gear
Puzzle
5· 0 votes

Columns is a Tetris-style puzzle game that originally appeared in arcades before finding a home on Sega's Game Gear handheld. This Japanese release brings the jewel-matching action to the portable system, offering a familiar yet distinct challenge for puzzle fans. It was published by Sega and belongs to the early wave of Game Gear titles, showcasing the system's color screen and simple, addictive gameplay. Players control falling groups of three colored jewels, rotating them and moving them left or right as they descend. The goal is to line up three or more jewels of the same color in a row, either horizontally, vertically, or diagonally. When a match is made, those jewels disappear and any above them drop down, potentially creating chain reactions. A special 'magic' jewel can also appear, wiping out all jewels of a given color when matched. The game ends when the stack reaches the top of the playfield. Columns holds up well today as a pure, no-frills puzzle game that anyone can pick up quickly. It sits alongside other classic falling-block games like Tetris but adds its own strategic depth with the rotatable triple-jewel blocks and diagonal matching. For fans of retro gaming or puzzle enthusiasts looking for a quick session, Columns on Game Gear delivers a satisfying experience without overcomplicating things. Its simple visuals and catchy music are typical of the era, making it a worthwhile addition to any Game Gear collection.

GAME INFO

Platform: Game Gear
Genre: Puzzle
Released: 1991
Players: 1
Region: Japan

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How to play Columns online

Getting Started

When you start Columns on the Game Gear, you are presented with a title screen and a menu in Japanese. Press Start to begin the game. You control a column of three stacked jewels as it falls down the playfield. Use the D-Pad left and right to move the falling column, and press the A button (X key) to rotate the jewels within the column. The goal is to position the jewels so that three or more of the same color line up horizontally, vertically, or diagonally.

The core loop is simple: a new column drops, you arrange it while it falls, and try to create matches. Successful matches clear those jewels, causing any above to drop and possibly create chain combos. The game ends when jewels pile up to the top. There is no story or other modes in this version - just an endless quest for high scores. The menus are in Japanese, but the basic options are straightforward: usually the first option starts the game, and the second may lead to difficulty or sound settings. Since this is a Japan-only release, all text is in Japanese, but the gameplay is intuitive enough to enjoy without language knowledge.

CONTROLS

Controls

Arrow Keys: D-Pad / Movement
X: Button 1
S: Button 2
Enter: Start / Pause

Columns FAQ

Is Columns an official release, a fan hack, a prototype, or another kind of build?

Columns is an official Sega release for the Game Gear, distributed commercially in Japan. It is not a hack, prototype, or homebrew.

Is Columns considered easy to pick up or challenging?

The game is easy to learn with simple rules, but the increasing speed and need for strategic placement make it quite challenging for high scores. It offers a good balance for both casual and dedicated players.

Who developed Columns?

Columns was developed by Sega, with the arcade original created by their AM2 division. The Game Gear port was handled internally by Sega's portable software team.

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