Status Reset_Tears Jul 14, 2019
Columns has always been the black sheep of the falling block puzzle world, it seems. I've always liked Columns though. It's not a Tetris clone at all, let's get that out of the way first, ya puzzle game noobs. ;) It is much more comparable to something like Puyo Puyo or Panel de Pon, since the point is to set …
Columns has always been the black sheep of the falling block puzzle world, it seems. I've always liked Columns though. It's not a Tetris clone at all, let's get that out of the way first, ya puzzle game noobs. ;) It is much more comparable to something like Puyo Puyo or Panel de Pon, since the point is to set up chains (i.e. clear one set of jewels, jewels drop, another set of jewels are cleared, and so on). I'd love to see Columns make a comeback one day, since this seems to be the last game made for the series... and this was from 2001, for the GBA.
Presentation can make or break a puzzle game, and I feel this has always been the thing Columns has struggled with most (the original was super dull in that department, I'll be honest). The actual gameplay is fine--addicting even, but the music and theming has never quite stuck the landing. The best entry IMO was Columns III, which went with a campaign mode of looting treasure from a haunted Egyptian pyramid. That was much more interesting than what Columns Crown goes for: a couple dumb-looking kids must collect jewels for some generic princess in a super basic fairy tale type of setting. It's all very childish, and not in a good way. And at the same time, Columns is a tough game to get good at, and this entry doesn't do much to encourage you to improve -- at least not very effectively. Each of the game's modes end up just being okay, though I imagine multiplayer at least would be enjoyable. You're much more likely to accomplish that on a home console though with multiple controllers.
Is there any chance of Columns returning one day? I don't know. I feel like Bejeweled unfortunately has stolen the crown, as it were, for puzzle games that incorporate a jewel theme. (Bejeweled also has completely different gameplay from Columns, for the record.) Perhaps one day Sega will come up with a spiritual successor that incorporates some kind of theme that is more unique and engaging for players...