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Columns III

Sega Genesis

Sega Genesis

Third game in the Columns series. In this fast-paced puzzle mayhem, your goal is to arrange three or more jewels of the same colour horizontally, vertically or diagonally to remove them from the playing screen. While the jewels are falling, you can change the order of their colours. In the Arcade...

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Developer
Sega Enterprises

Released on
1994

Size
1–5 Players

Version
Sega Genesis

Requirements
Sega Genesis

Downloads
Puzzle

Publisher
Vic Tokai

ESRB Rating
Not Rated

Cooperative
Yes

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Description

Third game in the Columns series. In this fast-paced puzzle mayhem, your goal is to arrange three or more jewels of the same colour horizontally, vertically or diagonally to remove them from the playing screen. While the jewels are falling, you can change the order of their colours. In the Arcade, Versus, and Time Trial modes, you can test your skills against an opponent, a clock, or a specific task such as removing a particular jewel. New features include a rising bar that can be used to annoy opponents and magical items that have strategic value to alter the outcome mid-game.

Columns III

Overview & History

Released by Sega in 1993 for the Mega Drive and Genesis, Columns III: Revenge of Jafar—better known internationally as simply Columns III: Psycho Walker—took the gem-matching puzzle formula established by its predecessors and injected it with frantic, arcade-style competitive lore. Shifting away from the serene, ancient-phoenix aesthetic of the original games, this installment drops players into a whimsical mystical tournament where jewel-slinging sages ascend a towering ziggurat to face off against the titular Jafar and his pantheon of bizarre adversaries. Each defeated opponent yields cryptic dialogue and unlocks new stages in a vibrant, jewel-encrusted progression map.

Gameplay Features & Mechanics

Unlike standard block-fallers, Columns III revolves around vertical triplets of jewels descending into a well. Players can cycle the order of the top, middle, and bottom gems dynamically before they land, striving to align matching colors horizontally, vertically, or diagonally. The defining innovation of this sequel is its robust multiplayer mode, supporting up to five players simultaneously using multitap adapters, alongside a frantic single-player campaign featuring aggressive boss battles. In these duels, clearing multiple lines triggers garbage blocks that rain down onto your opponent's playfield. Furthermore, grabbing flashing magic jewels charges up screen-clearing spells and introduces power-ups that can invert controls, speed up rival drops, or instantly wipe specific colors from the board, transforming a methodical matching puzzle into a cutthroat tactical battle.