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Sega Master System

Columns

Sega Master System

Sega Master System

Drift back in time to ancient Phoenicia and challenge yourself with Columns, the game played by Middle Eastern merchants centuries ago. This mesmerizing game of skill and chance will test your ability as you manipulate a king's ransom in glittering jewels as they appear on the screen. Use your...

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Developer
Sega Enterprises

Released on
1990

Size
1–2 Players

Version
Sega Master System

Requirements
Sega Master System

Downloads
Puzzle

ESRB Rating
Not Rated

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Description

Drift back in time to ancient Phoenicia and challenge yourself with Columns, the game played by Middle Eastern merchants centuries ago. This mesmerizing game of skill and chance will test your ability as you manipulate a king’s ransom in glittering jewels as they appear on the screen.

Use your controller to line up the colors as the jewels move down your screen. Align them vertically, horizontally or even diagonally to dear the screen and score more points. The more you progress the faster the jewels will fall, making the game progressively more challenging as your skills improve.

With 3 degrees of difficulty and 10 different levels, Columns will be a challenge for o novice to an expert. If you’re ready for an additional challenge, try Flash Columns, where you must make the flashing jewel disappear before your time runs out.

Relax and let your mind drift back in time, to the ancient Mediterranean coast. Now you’re ready for the challenging game of strategy, skill and just a little luck. Columns… it will challenge your mind, not just your trigger finger!

Columns

Overview & History

Released by Sega in 1990, Columns for the Master System was designed as a direct response to the massive cultural phenomenon of Tetris. Rather than falling geometric blocks, this puzzle game draws inspiration from ancient Phoenician mythology, utilizing jewel-encrusted gemstones known as the Jewels of Atlantis. Dropping vertically from the top of the screen in descending vertical triplets, players must align three or more identical jewels horizontally, vertically, or diagonally to make them vanish. The Master System adaptation successfully captured the hypnotic arcade appeal, pairing smooth gem-cycling mechanics with memorable, atmospheric chiptune compositions like 'Gemfire' that set it apart from its Russian contemporary.

Gameplay Features & Mechanics

Unlike Tetris, where shapes can be rotated in multiple directions, Columns restricts player manipulation to cycling the order of the three stacked gems within the falling column using Button 1 or Button 2. As players clear lines, the score multiplier increases, and the descent speed accelerates, introducing frantic pacing. Special magic jewels appear periodically to clear out entire colors on the board, acting as emergency panic buttons. The ultimate goal in the classic mode is survival against a relentlessly rising stack until the well overflows, though alternative modes add specific clearing targets and handicaps.