Hanagumi Taisen Columns 2

"Forget what you know about puzzle games!... Hanagumi is HOT!!!!!"

When the original Columns was first released years ago, it was classed as a rip-off on Sega's part to Nintendo's Tetris.

In the old days, I hated every puzzle game known to man. The fact that my mum always snatched my Gameboy from me in order to play Tetris at the time didn't help. Now that I live on my own, I can finally get to see what all the fuss was about concerning Puzzle games.

Being a mentalist who strives on gaming perfection, I realised that there wasn't much use in playing Tetris. It felt so bland, boring, casual, and way too simplistic for my liking. I recently played Columns and it felt great. I really did like the fact that you could create combo's throughout the game (simular to Puyo Puyo but much more fun).

This has to be one of the most fantastic & engrossing puzzle games I've ever played. Infact, I'll deffinatly rank Hanagumi Taisen Columns 2 as my No.1 Puzzle game, and also one of my top 10 most favourite games of all time.

When I first purchased Hanagumi Taisen Columns 2, I was expecting just a quick rehash of the original Columns with a bit of presentational flair that would eliminate the boring look of the original Columns game (I don't mean the original 'Hanagumi Taisen Columns' on the Saturn). Upon playing, I found out that it wasn't a rehash at all. It was a unique and challenging game that was incredibly improved upon in so many ways.

I love the way the new battle system works. As you eliminate chains of Columns, you build up a Kai metre. When the metre is full, you get an option to either unleash an attack on the other player, remove rows of Columns from your side, or simply save the Kai and charge it up for a maximum of three different levels.

Although this is a strategic puzzler, a good test of reflexes is also needed. The best way to describe Hanagumi is that it's very simular to the likes of Puyo Puyo but with so much more additions thrown into the mix.

Unlike Puyo Puyo where you create combo's by elimating stupid-looking jelly beans and passing them on to your opponents side of the screen automaticlly (like most boring puzzlers), HTC2 will have you planning much bigger and tactical strategies then you've ever seen before in a puzzle game. The action doesn't slow down there though, as you'll be doing all this while producing many chain-combo's to build up your Kai. When will you attack the enemy?... Will you use your Kai metre and defend?... All these have to be taken into account considerbly.

Tons of combo-advantages are at your disposal which allow far more then the likes of four useless perfetic blobs seen it Puyo Puyo. Beautifully rendered jewels eliminate on the playfield as you link three or more of the same colour in lines of horizontial, Vertical, & Diaginal positions.

Most people will never witness the beauty of this magnificant game. Please don't let the whole word 'Columns' fool you. This is a vast improvement that turns out to be the greatest puzzle game that money can buy.

This is a messege to all Puyo Puyo fans,... "You owe it too yourself to try out Hanagumi Taisen Columns 2 as it's seriously a much better game overall". I am not saying Puyo Puyo is a terrible game but I just can't understand why games like Puyo Puyo are so popular and get milked year after year.

As for all of you people out there who still believe Tetris is the best puzzle game ever.... "Go back in you little 80's den and enjoy your crappy little game while it lasts because eliminating 4 lines of blocks is the best your ever gonna get.

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 12/01/05