Columns
For the Genesis
FAQ
By Ryan Harrison
rharrisonfaqs(at)gmail.com
Last Revised: 01 January 2006
Version 1.1
This document is Copyright (c)2005-2006 Ryan Harrison
===============================================================================
Table of Contents
1. Guide Opening
1.01 - Version History
1.02 - Introduction
2. Game Overview
2.01 - Controls
2.02 - Basics
2.03 - FAQs
3. Game Modes
4. Guide Closing
4.01 - Credits
4.02 - Legal Disclaimer
4.03 - Contacting Me
===============================================================================
1. Guide Opening
===============================================================================
Opening stuff to this guide.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
1.01 - Version History
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Version 1.1 - 01 January 2006 - I updated the format just a tiny bit (to
look like the rest of my FAQs) and also
the Legal Disclaimer because it's a new
year - that's it.
Version 1.0 - 03 February 2005 - The first version of this FAQ. Please note
that this FAQ is based on the Genesis
version of Columns, but it's compatible
with other versions which have the same
gameplay system. It generally covers all
you need to know, but I may add more later
like minor sub-menu stuff.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
1.02 - Introduction
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Columns is one of the simplest, yet addictive puzzle games you can find for the
Genesis, as well as being available on other platforms such as the Game Gear
and Master System, as Sega's retaliation to Nintendo's Tetris, and it's pretty
good! It is also one of the three games included with the Mega Games I
cartridge for the Genesis, and for nowadays' cheap prices, this one is pretty
good to try out!
===============================================================================
2. Game Overview
===============================================================================
The basics of Columns.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
2.01 - Controls
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Control Pad - Move columns in a direction with Left and Right, drag columns
down quickly with Down, move cursors in menus
Start - Pause, make menu selections
A - Rotate column block
B - Same as A
C - Same as A
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
2.02 - Basics
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
The Basics
----------
Like Tetris, Columns is a puzzle game in which you must use rows of jewels to
create a line of colurs to eliminate them and keep building up your score until
you eventually run out of space on the screen to place any more blocks, in
which situation the game would be over and high scores are totalled on the
table afterwards.
Basically, each turn you have a stack of three jewels, one on top of the other.
Each jewel may have a different colour, two may have the same colour and one
different, or they may all be different colours. You must create a line of
three blocks of the same colour to eliminate them and gain points. Kind of like
tic-tac-toe in a way; you can do this by getting a line vertically,
horizontally or diagonally. You could do combos to get rid of two different
lines of blocks at a time as well, or you can get more advanced jewel
combinations to eliminate all the jewels.
Also, in Columns you have "levels" - basically these go up the better you play.
You will start at level 0, but after you have played for a while this will go
up to level 1, then level 2, and so on. The jewels fall faster as the level
increases, and finding combinations for your jewels will be much trickier! In
some modes, you are given hints on where to place your blocks (some jewels will
be highlighted to suggest a possible combination with the same colours as one
of the jewels in the column that you are currently controlling.
Game Screen
-----------
When you begin a new game of Columns, you are taken to the screen. This diagram
will explain each of the different things you'll see on the screen. In other
modes there may be modifications, but the same things will be there and will
still apply.
+-----------------------+
|+------------++-------+| If you are playing with a friend, another play area
|| || Next || will be on the right hand side of the screen the
|| ||column || "Next Column" will apply for the other player.
|| || ||
|| || ||
|| Play || Other ||
|| Area || Info ||
|| || (eg ||
|| ||scores,||
|| || level)||
|| || ||
|+------------++-------+|
+-----------------------+
Combinations
------------
The ways you can create a line to eliminate columns.
-- -- --
Simple Combinations: | || || |
-- -- --
--
| |
--
| |
--
| |
--
--
| |
-- --
| |
-- --
| |
--
-- -- --
Advanced Combinations: | || || |
-- -- --
| |
--
| |
--
--
| |
--
| |
-- -- --
| | | |
-- -- -- --
| | | |
-- --
-- -- -- -- --
| || || || || |
-- -- -- -- --
Of course, there are many other complex combinations that
you can use to eliminate some jewels. I have only drawn
combinations that I usually come across, but there are
others. Try out whatever you can, after all, practise
makes perfect!
The Magic Jewel
---------------
The magic jewel appears very rarely, but it is a very useful jewel to have! In
appearance it is a silver, shining block, and there are always three of them in
one column. Whatever jewel it touches underneath when it lands, all jewels of
the same colour in the play area will be eliminated, and this may cause the
other jewels to fall in place and you may get more combos!
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
2.03 - FAQs
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Q: Are there any Easter Eggs or anything?
A: Not really.
Q: Is this game on any other platforms?
A: Of course - like the arcade, Master System and Game Gear. I don't know any
specific differences between ports, though.
Q: Hi, I'm from CheatCC...
A: Go away.
===============================================================================
3. Game Modes
===============================================================================
[ ARCADE ] -------------------------------------------------------------------
In the Arcade mode, you play the original version of Columns. Basically, it's
everything that has been described. You have the play area, and you need to get
lines of three or more with combinations of jewels. The levels will go higher
as you play longer and get more combos, so the columns will fall faster. As it
gets harder, try to find the more complex combos to use. You have hints before
getting up to level 3. There are different options you can use to stipulate the
game, like the speed and difficulty. Doing this will provide good practise.
[ VERSUS ] -------------------------------------------------------------------
You play against a friend. With two play areas, you each try to get more points
from getting more or better combos. After both players have filled their play
areas and get Game Over, whoever got the most points is declared the winner of
the game.
[ Flash ] --------------------------------------------------------------------
In Flash Mode, you play a regular game of Columns, and at the bottom row of at
least two rows of jewels is a flashing jewel of a certain colour. What you must
do to win is to eliminate all the surrounding columns with the three-in-a-line
combinations and so on, and eventually eliminate the flashing column by using
jewels of the same colour. You can increase the difficulty, and the amount of
rows you start off with to eliminate before you get to the flashing jewel at
the bottom, so it's wise to start off simply before building up to a much more
difficult level. It also provides good practise for the main game itself.
===============================================================================
4. Guide Closing
===============================================================================
The closing stuff to this FAQ.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
4.01 - Credits
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Sega
For making this game so that I could write for it!
Steve "Psycho Penguin" McFadden
For being my best friend on GameFAQs and for a lot of help and support.
GameFAQs, IGN, Neoseeker and other websites who are hosting this guide
For hosting my work and allowing me to become a recognised author!
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
4.02 - Legal Disclaimer
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
This FAQ is copyright (c)2005-2006 and exclusive property of Ryan Harrison.
Everything contained in this file is my own info, unless it has been notified
and credited as info from another source. This FAQ may ONLY appear on the
following sites:
1up.com (http://1up.com/)
GameFAQs (http://www.gamefaqs.com/)
GameNotOver (http://www.gamenotover.com/)
GamerHelp (http://www.gamerhelp.com/)
HonestGamers (http://www.honestgamers.com/)
IGN FAQs (http://faqs.ign.com/)
Neoseeker (http://www.neoseeker.com/)
Omega Gateway (http://omegagateway.com/)
SuperCheats (http://www.supercheats.com/)
If you would like to post this guide on your site, feel free to do so, but only
as long as you contact me first and I grant you permission. If any of my FAQs
is marked as Version FINAL, I'm not going to let you post them up, as I don't
have time to be registering with all the sites just to have my guides posted
up. If you're going to be stupid and decide to post ANY of my FAQs, let alone
this one, on your site without my permission, that is plagiarism, and it's
illegal. So just don't do it. This FAQ may also NOT be sold for profit,
published for profit or reproduced for profit. This document is protected by
copyright law, and I will find out if you rip me off. However, if you would
like to use some of my info for your own FAQ, then I have no problem with that,
JUST SO LONG AS YOU ASK ME AND CREDIT ME. That is all.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
4.03 - Contacting Me
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
If you wish to get in touch with me regarding my work, whether you have any
questions, comments or suggestions for this or any other of my FAQs, my E-Mail
address is rharrisonfaqs(at)gmail.com. Please make sure that your questions
have been answered within the file before you send them, because I do not have
time to look and reply to E-Mails that already have the solutions posted up,
and you will likely not get a reply. If the file is complete and has a version
number FINAL then you should definitely re-check before you send an E-Mail to
me, otherwise then I'd be glad to help you out.
If you do send something helpful to me, then I will include in a future update
of the file and I will give credit to you for whatever you have submitted.
Please have a sensible E-Mail topic like "FAQ Question" so that I do not
mistake it for something else and delete it. Thanks for reading and take care.
http://www.gamefaqs.com/features/recognition/22792.html
This file is dedicated to the memory of the late Chris MacDonald, who died on
May 17, 2004. Rest in Peace.
http://www.gamefaqs.com/features/recognition/85.html
-END OF FILE-
