Columns is my mother's all-time favorite game. My father told me a story about a time before I was born where she stayed up all night, only going to bed when he woke up and told her that the score count wouldn't go higher!

You're not alone. I also preferred Columns over Tetris, and I owned both. Loved going back to it as a kid on my SEGA Mega Drive.

This is the game that paved way for Candy Crush Saga and Bejeweled. I remember maybe about 25 years ago, my sister played this on the Sega megadrive everyday when we were kids. I thought it was the most boring thing, until I tried it myself and got hooked!

I gotta say, I always knew Columns existed, but I never really tried it until I got SEGA Genesis Collection for PS2. I gotta say, it really does stand alongside the puzzle greats of its era. I never knew it had such an interesting history!

Always loved the original Columns music and the satisfying feeling that came from just slamming down all the pieces and suddenly getting a huge chain reaction. That said...Columns VR. Someone make it happen.

"Seyga" But also, Columns for the Game Gear was my first ever game, so it has a cherished place in my memory. I still feel good when I hear the soundtrack. This was a great video.

Why are these videos so relaxing and peaceful to watch? Subscribed

Never played Columns before, but now I'm interested! Thank you for the video, and keep up the good work!

After getting a Mega Drive there was no other puzzle game! Mighty Columns RULZ Man I love your editing skills! These transisions, zooms... beautiful

Nice video and I'm glad you enjoyed this wonderful game 👍 thanks for sharing🙏 I didn't play Columns much initially, but it grew on me over time. I had the 6 game cartridge (newer one with 'Sega Soccer') on Mega Drive/Genesis, which had Sonic 1 on it.

Good work bro...again. I roll my joints to your vids 😤☺️😬

I've always like Tetris, Puyo Puyo, and Columns but, given the choice of the three, I'll take Columns over the other two any day. I play Columns III almost every day, it's my favorite time waster and way to unwind before bed. Great video, there aren't many KZfaqrs who share my love for classic SEGA and your channel was a real find! Keep up the great work, man! :D

Columns really takes me back. I would spend hours playing it on my Game Gear along with Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine. Another great video.

Thank you for mentioning the Sakura Wars versions. Two of my absolute favorites.

I have memories of Columns for different reasons. After years of playing pretty much every day on my neighbour's Megadrive (he had an awesome collection of games) one Christmas I was the lucky recipient of a Megadrive 2 (slimmer version of the Megadrive for those wondering). My Megadrive came boxed with the 3 in 1 collection mentioned in this video which had Columns on it. My mum, my grandmother and my aunties spent most of Christmas day playing on Columns on MY Megadrive (!) with me itching to play MicroMachines (another awesome game by the way). I have a pathological hatred for Columns! That tune though... so catchy...

Very nice video, look forward to the next one :)

Hey I feel like I've seen this intro before... Hmmm. ;) great vid, mate. Also had NO IDEA about the Nintendo/Tetris fiasco tbh. Loving all the facts I keep finding out through your work :P

The part where you mentioned that Columns was on the GBA and every collection that Sega released, I actually fired up my PSP and played the Mega Drive version on the PSP version of the collection. Good Times :D

Great video, as always.

I can't believe they made so many sequels xD

Another great thing about Columns 3 is that it can have up to 5 simultaneous players.

I'm also in the "Columns over Tetris" camp. I especially have fond memories of the Game Gear version.

I can't believe no one noticed the LGR shoutout there in the beginning!

Columns!! Woooo!! As an Aussie, I'm quite the fan of SEGA and I love Columns as much as the next guy :)

Great animations in your video! Very cool!

great video slope mate 👍

Your videos are really good man.

Loveeeeddd this game. The music was amazazing

I had (still have actually) the Genesis 2 bundle that came with the "6-Pak" collection. Like this collection it had Columns and Super Hang On but it also had Sonic 1, Streets of Rage, Golden Axe, and Revenge of Shinobi. Solid ass compilation to come packaged with a system.

Was kinda hoping the video would also cover and make some clarity on the mostly overlooked "lore" of Columns. With the first game depicting mosaics, marble tiles and OST based on the Moirai, most think Columns is an ancient greek game in theme but no actual "lore" to it other than stacking gems. But on the back of the box the blurb identifies it as a phoenician game played by middle-eastern merchants. While Colums III has an egyptian pyramid and Super Columns looks set in an arabian town, these locations were part of Phoenicia's trade empire. While most people know of the ancient romans, egyptians and greeks, it's because of Columns that I found out about Phoenicia and how they had a powerful navy but dominance derived from trading and marketing skills and became a multi-cultural sea-fairing empire. Anyway unlike Puyo Puyo which has a fairly consistant continuity since it's Compile years, most Columns game lack story and usually go by theme. Some games had their own story modes but there was never a shared continuity amongst the Column games. If Sega ever decided to reboot Columns, or the very least a "Columns IV", it would be nice if they establish a phoenician themed continuity for it that can last.

Would you count the Mega CD version as it's own version? as they replaced all the audio in the game with red book music. Cleopatra Fortune on the Saturn was one of my fave ever puzzle games, even though no one remembers it.

My father was never a "gamer", but Columns was one of the games he really loved. I might have been too young to fully understand the fascination behind it (played a lot more Super Hang-on and World Cup Italia 90), but I remember having fun with my father playing this game until the score couldn't go higher ;) Absolutely great game and really close to tetris in my opinion.

Wow! Before I watched this video, the only Columns game I remember (and also played), was the original Columns on the Mega Drive (or Genesis, for the Americans out there), and I absolutely loved it! I had no idea that Colums would be that big of a franchise! I'd love to see Columns return in the current console generation, if it does, I'd buy it for sure if I do see it! 😀

You missed Super Puzzle Fighter 2 Turbo, if that counts.

There is a point playing this game where you enter some kind of fugue state and from then on the only way you can lose is when you decide to finish. It wraps around at level 99 if I remember and once you can get to that level you can play forever. Loved this game.

The music in Columns is so good.

Oh god me and friend would play this on dreamcast he luckily had. It was some kind of Sega collection. AMAZING!

Awesome as always. Any plans to do a complete history of the shining games?(shining in the darkness, shining force, etc)

I actually had a ton of fun with Wold Cup Italia 90. It's simple, but it's just a blast to play.

Of course it deserved its own history research, Columns is great!

I learned something new today 😊

There was another iteration of columns on the game gear on the sega 4 in 1 pack. Also the gba version featured a good story mode and soundtrack imo

I found it rather confusing that "Columns II" was an arcade-only sequel that was never ported to home consoles, and it was released only in Japan as well.

Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine is the version of it that I love!!

I always preferred Columns to Tetris too. I had it on both the Mega Drive and Game Gear. Cool video 🖒

Will there be Leisure Suit Larry 7: Love for Sail video? Don't care for other Larry games, but that one. It's...special. Great video. Thanks.

just searched it on google play and there is one from the same year you made this video thats crazy

Another amazing video, dude! I had a version on the Game Gear that was part of the 'Sega Game Pack 4 in 1' that was totally different from the main and MD versions. You had to clear four or more at a time instead of three and the music was awesome. Check it out!

love columns great game

If I'm not mistaken the VS mode on the Master System version played similar to what you describe from Columns 3.

I had a game going for three days on my Genny back in the day... I forgot how great the game is.. I should pop it in this weekend

That tune from Mega Drive Tetris? I think it's also the music from the Flash game in the Master System version of Columns!

I first played Columns on a Sega Atgames, wich had the Game Gear games, i liked more the first one and i found the music to be quite interesting, while i found the Super Columns music to be really sad... then i played Tetris on the NES and i loved it. Now i play both, i still have my Sega Atgames.

Columns is so relaxing to play.

i remember playing tetris on my sega genesis. but it was in one of those 19 in 1 cartridges that same cartridge also include sonic 2, chase HQ 2, streets of rage and of course, columns to name a fiew

Tt was hard playing a lot of the kind of game because a lot are based on color matching and im color blind. Loved this i was able to get pretty good and the shapes really helped me Columns is my favorite one of these "Tetris clones" Im happy to of grown up with consoles like genesis that where a little before my time was about 96' when i was 2 when first played a game, was actually Zool and road rash i think it was called. had crack head neighbors who rented out a place in the back of where i lived, they had huge sega collection always let me borrow games cuz couldn't afford any.

Columns celebrates its Thirtieth Anniversary this year: Since 2003, we have not had a new console~based Columns entry, the last one being Sega Ages 2500 Volume 07: Columns (which was localized in 2005 here in the states, as a part of Sega Classics Collection), a title that I actually did not complete the Story/Versus CPU Mode of for almost twelve years (Summer of 2005 to the former half of 20I7); to my knowledge, I was the only person on KZfaq, at the time that I uploaded it, who had recorded the ending after you finally get Culet to defeat Cleopatra after tens of speed levels, you may watch that below if you haven't gotten there up to now. ~ Sega Ages 2500 Volume 07: Columns: Story/Vs. CPU Mode Ending (English): kzfaq.info/get/bejne/nqmoptGnurPbhKs.html Other information not mentioned in this program is that Columns III: Taiketsu! Columns World had three different versions made available to the general populace: ~ The original Japanese Version had an exclusive 02 on 02 Battle Mode that utilizes the Doubles gameplay mechanic from Columns (I990), requiring four controllers to play this proper; it also had unique title names for the entire soundtrack, this of which never made it into the International release. ~ The International localization, along with the Japanese version, were ported together as a part of the Mega Play production package for Arcades: Unlike the Genesis/Megadrive builds, the Mega Play port has no powerups, added in unique art for different battles, limitless continues (Free Play Mode), and the Attack Number can now go up to 050, putting it on par with the difficulty level of Stack Columns, effectively making it a significantly more challenging title yet one worthy of Speedrunners. There is even more information that is not often discussed, but deserves the attention regardless: ~ Columns II: The Voyage Through Time has a fanmade port for the Genesis/Megadrive thanks to the work of Dandaman955; I don't know if the project was ever completed but it was shown every once in a while during the halfway point of the decade. ~ Sega Ages: Columns Arcade Collection delivered virtually Arcade Perfect ports of Columns (I990), II: The Voyage Through Time, Stack Columns, and Columns '97; it also has a Save System that encourages you to rack up thousands of Jewels so that you can unlock material to learn about the history of the games, as well as being able to view downsampled scans of their cabinet aesthetics and even customize the jewel art and sound effects (most notably, Columns '97 allows you to turn the jewels into Dessert foods and replace the sound effects with animal cues), which you could even say effectively makes these some of the only official ROM hacks of Sega Arcade titles up to this point. ~ Puyo Puyo~n & Columns is a Japanese exclusive title that launched around the release of the Panasonic/NTT Docomo P903i in November and December of 2006: It is the original version of Columns Deluxe and has heavily watered down versions of Puyo Puyo IV and Columns, both of which also have a Versus Mode that can be played via Bluetooth Connection, amazingly; you can learn more about it from my thread on the SSRG Forums: sonicresearch.org/community/index.php?threads/mobile-ぷよぷよ～ん＆コラムス-puyo-puyo-iv-columns-general-discussion-and-archiving.5347/ It also must be noted that Puyo Puyo~n & Columns would be the last time that any of us would ever hear the main theme for Columns '97 in any form (in this case, it's a rather memorable MIDI conversion), the track has not ever been remixed since 2006 (to my knowledge, anyway, aside from my 20I7 Mashup Mix "Columns '97, your Babydaddy's Worst Nightmare") and the original Panasonic version of the game is extremely rare to find online due to lack of archiving; wishfully, it will make the waves again soon, this port is a real gem due to the music and was a fun title for many in the region at the time, even despite it going into obscurity in the years that followed. (:

I think that series Columns was combined with is "Sakura Taisen" (or "Sakura Wars").

Oh man, that music. I was back in my childhood the second I heard it! 😊😊😊

I love Columns! I still have my cartridge of the first one on my Genesis

Got Columns II for the Switch recently. I must say it's at least a little bit more than a sprite swap IMO: it added some new things to the gameplay (that weird "warning" thing, where a random(?) single "column" changes into a skull that gives a penalty when removed and having to remove certain flickering columns to get to the next level). I dislike the "panic" music when your stack reaches too high... quite irritating... Still I've a lots of fun with it. Thanks for the video, which brought me back to this series that I had personally quite forgotten.

Columns is one of my faves too, miles above Tetris imo. Also, loved Monopoly on the Master System...

Great video. Was Columns a pack in game for the Game Gear? Its just everyone who had a game gear seemed to have this game. Also, you missed the Master System version.

Honestly I played columns much more than Sonic 1 and 2, and as much as the thunderstrike series of games. This, and Tetris were my go to games until I discovered bejewled 3 for the pc. Columns I loved so much and was addictive and the music actually made me enjoy it over Tetris for the NES. The music to me was always more calming.

Ah, this takes me back

always had heaps of fun with mega games one... columns was definitely my tetris

Funny enough, I actually have a Megadrive cart with Tetris on there. Then again, it's not an officially licensed one, it was one of those "Stick many games on" cart.

6:30 - what music is that? I heard it in Sonic Megamix before

It's interesting how it all played out. First of even though both games achieved popularity when distributed by Japanese companies, none of the games were made in Japan: Tetris was designed in the USSR by Alexey Pajitnov for Commodore 64 in 1984, and Columns was made in the USA by Jay Geertsen for HP UX in 1989. Tetris was officially licensed by Nintendo to compete with the Tengen version and eliminate it off the market. Both the Tengen Tetris and the Genesis Tetris are extremely rare in their official formats.Then along Columns to compete with Nintendo's Game Boy version of Tetris but due to the high price and shorter battery life of the Game Gear the earlier game triumphed over its competitor. Oddly enough, in Latin America due to both licencing issues and piracy not only was the two player Tengen version and its dancing cossacks infinitely more popular than the official Nintendo version but also to rub even more salt on the wound of SEGA the most popular version of Columns was a Taiwanese knockoff released for the Famicom that same year as the Genesis port entiteled Magic Jewelry and even got a sequel Magic Jewelry II the very next year. Magic Jewelry had a slower tempo, a background image of the Statue of Liberty ripped off straight from an official Golgo 13 game released for the Famicom in 1988, a border that shifted its color when a level was completed, and what made it stand out were a set of unlicensed waltz pieces for its soundtrack with 8 bits renditions of songs like _'''Greensleeves''_ , Dana's _"All Kinds of Everything"_ and Chen Yeng _"Happy Chinese Festival"_ , among others, which created a overal calm demenour and safe environment which made it a perfect stress reliever, distancing itself not only from its rival Tetris but even the official licensed Columns title. Today many of the famiclones consoles or pirate multi game carts still use some of those tunes for their title screen menus.

I wonder what Dan thinks of the Sega Ages version that came out recently on Switch. It was my first time playing a version that wasn't for the Game Gear and I found it extremely hard even with the easiest settings.

Aye Slope whats the song that begins playing @6:23, its fantastic. As always, loved the episode

If sega ever comes back into the video game console market, a new columns game will be essential.

IT'S NOT HANEGA TOUSEN, IT'S SAKURA TAISEN GOD DAMN IT

Holy cow... the mega drive Tetris is super rare? I played it on a Mega Tech in an arcade in Nashville not too long ago...

Holy crap, I totally forgot about that Windows version! Played that to death...

Columns 3 for life!

Columns. What a fun game and yes, better than tetris.

Colums indeed I had a 6game pack with my Sega MD, SOR1, Goldenaxe, Super Hang On, Colums, Italia90 and Shinobi in 1 cart

I'm on the hunt for the original HP-UX Columns.

What's the name of the song at 6:23? It's weirdly familiar to me, but the name escapes me!

You made me pull out my game gear and play it. Just completed power rangers. Such s good game. And I play coloumns on the toilet 😬

still playing columns 3 today, its the best, always wondered what happend to 2..

What about the Mega/Sega CD version? :( That was the only I ever played. A friend of mine that got the Mega CDX game me his copy of Columns along with Ecco the Dolphin CD too I think. That was the only version of Columns I ever played. I remember it being a lot of fun and addicting.

1:16 I think it was "EGM" that once said that "Tetris" is the single greatest game ever made!!

Still watching the vid so apologies if you bring this up later, but do you have any more info on Jay Geertsen? He doesn't appear to be that well-known on the internet as far as I can tell!

I literally just bought this on eBay yesterday after a sudden urge to play it again, then I see this today. Clearly it was meant to be.

The mega drive or Genesis version which is now on the Genesis or Mega Drive mini. The music reminds me of Neil Patrick Harris's old school days like reminds me of the dookie Howser theme song.

i also prefer Columns over Tetris.

although no one will read this comment soon: i fondly remember at the german mega drive champioships how i won against oerg866. i were just at the maximum speed (we plyayed about 10 mins at least) when i got a HUGE combo by accident and just won. i always remeber this moment when i play columns.

can someone tell me the name of the song that starts playing at 6:23 of this video

That The New Tetris music from the N64... was so damn good for the game. still is.

I have to wonder if Bejeweled would have existed if not for Columns?

Somebody did an electric guitar version of The Columns theme Now that would be good music to put in. With an enhanced version of the game using the Terra onion Mega SD since they're doing a lot of these audio enhancements. With that device

I liked the music in this better than in Tetris however I owned a gameboy growing up so that’s the one I played.

Had it on the Game Gear, best thing on it!

1:03 Did you even research this shit because that's not Tertris...that's Panel De Pon but because Nintendo of America/Europe seemed to have a fetish for white washing everything related to Asain culture from games sent to be localized by them in the late 80's and 90's they replaced Lip with Yoshi and passed it off as a "Tetris Attack" and you might not know this but the Gameboy Colo(u)r and N64 versions of Panel De Pon used Pokémon and were released as "Pokémon Puzzle Challenge" and "Pokémon Puzzle Ledge" respectively...and yet they keep Lip's Stick as an item in Super Smash Bros. leaving many a player confused as fuck what it was!!!!

That PuyoSega list brings up a very important (to me) question what is the Shining Force Chronicle series? I mean I did try googling it just now but there doesn't seem to be any real info on it that I can see 😢 It's funny I find that most of us Sega kids prefer Columns but have great respect and admiration for Tetris but most (and I'm not saying all) Nintendo kids love Tetris but wouldn't even give Columns a look 😢

( theyre is a Columns clone on lexibook Frozen console, i see on retrofuture youtube video )

How dare you rag on Italia 90! How very dare you! lol. Although I will always think Tetris is the superior game Columns was indeed great fun and just as addicting. Didn't realise it had soo many ports & sequels. Top work my good man. :)

I prefer columns. The music just makes me think about my little days!