Columns

"Columns may not be tetris, but it's still a great game."

I remember playing Columns all the time, back when I was younger. I didn't have any Nintendo systems (well, until the game boy), but I had my beloved Sega Genesis. Tetris meant nothing to me. Columns was where it was at.

...And, almost 10 years later, I still enjoy columns a lot. Perhaps it's just a nostalgia thing, but I think that it's because Columns is a good, entertaining game; one that can last you for many years. As such, it's worth checking out. It may not be too well known, especially now that its home system has joined the ranks of other outdated (but fun) gaming devices, but that's not due to a lack of quality. If anything, it's probably because of its being on the Genesis, rather than the more popular NES or SNES. Anyway, moving on..

If you haven't played Columns before, here's how it works. Blocks fall in groups of three, in a vertical pattern. There are a few different colors of blocks, and you can rotate the order of the colors on each set of 3 blocks that falls with the C button. When it falls to the bottom, another block will fall. You need to try to match up the colors so that they line up 3 in a row, either horizontally, vertically, or diagonally. If you've ever played Yahoo Towers, this is like a one-player version. As it goes on, it speeds up, making it more difficult to keep going. You can also set some stuff to make it harder - start at a fast speed, start with rows already on the screen, and so on. Columns works in a way that is easy to learn and start playing, but will always give you a challenge once you progress through the levels. You'll never be able to truly master it, as it can just bump up the speed until it's a little bit too fast for your skill level.

The music/sound is entertaining too, though it may start to become a bit repetitive after a long game or two. If you enjoy classical music, you'll enjoy the soundtrack. If not, get a CD player, because you'll be quickly irked otherwise. The sound effects themselves are nothing special, but they won't annoy you or bother you, which is always a plus.

The graphics, though unimportant for a falling-blocks game, are pleasant. Of course, it's a Sega Genesis game, so they aren't going to be the most amazing thing in the world, but they're very good for the era and genre. In the end, the graphical layout is quite pleasing, and only adds to the gaming experience.

In conclusion: if you're the sort of person that likes falling blocks games such as Tetris, you should add this one to your arsenal. You won't be disappointed, I guarantee it. I must warn you, though, that the makers of the game won't be responsible when you've lost your job from the "sick" days you took to play it. Enjoy.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 07/16/06