This 'drop-the-blocks' arcade puzzler has been around for some time now, and though seldom mentioned when people discuss Sega classics, it'd have to be one of the most well-known Sega games around. The Genesis/Mega Drive version is probably the one most are familiar with (having been included with thousands of the earlier consoles), but let's not forget that a Master System version was also released.
You would have played Tetris on some system at least once before, I'm sure, and Columns is a similar concept- the blocks fall down (at a faster rate each level), and you have to arrange them and slot them into place to make them disappear before they pile up too high. There's two main differences between Columns and Tetris, though. In Tetris, the blocks are all differently shaped, and you have to twist them around by pressing the button, then slotting them into each other to make lines which disappear and score points. In Columns, the blocks are shaped the same, and you shuffle the colours of the segments instead of rotating the blocks. And the idea isn't to form lines, instead you have to form rows (horizontal, vertical, or diagonal) of three or more blocks of the same colour, which disappear and score you your points.
It may sound simple, but it's a very enjoyable game. It's certainly addictive. And as you advance further into the game, the blocks fall faster and faster, sometimes so fast that you have barely a second to shuffle your block and drop it into place.
Another game mode is 'flash' mode- instead of simply breaking drops to score points, the idea is to break the flashing block at the bottom of the screen by making it part of a row of the same colour, as fast as possible.
The graphics in Columns are fairly basic, but bright and glittery, and what you'd expect of a simple puzzle game. One cool (fairly useless, but cool) feature is being able to change the types of blocks you use- there's gems, card suits, fruit, dice, and more.
Sound effects and music are excellent.
As with most games, playing with a friend is the fun way to go :) You can either play against each other in two separate windows, or in a single window where you take it in turns controlling the blocks.
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Puzzle games aren't everybody's favourites, but they can be fun and addictive for hours on end. That's Columns- simple, effective, and a Sega classic that many people have probably played more than they realise.
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