SMS Power! | Manuals / Columns

Loading Instructions: Starting Up

1. Make sure the power switch is OFF.

2. Insert the game cartridge in the Power Base (shown below) as described in your SEGA SYSTEM manual.

3. Turn the power switch ON. If nothing appears on the screen, turn the power switch OFF, remove the cartridge and try again.

IMPORTANT: Always make sure that the Power Base is turned OFF when inserting or removing your Mega Cartridge.

Columns

Drift back in time to a bygone civilization, the ancient world of Phoenicia. And play a game that originated among the Phoenician merchants, Columns. It's incredibly captivating, yet very simple. You'll find yourself losing track of time. And you don't have to be a game whiz to play at the hardest level.

Columns of rainbow-colored items drop one after another. Arrange 3 or more shapes of the same color horizontally, vertically or diagonally to remove them from the play screen. If the columns pile up to the top, the game is over.

When you have the urge for a new challenge, try the Flash game. In this version, you can race the clock to make a flashing item disappear.

Start on the easiest level and work your way up. Or challenge a higher level right from the start. Play alone or double the fun by playing with a friend.

Columns is simple and captivating! It'll make you forget who, what and where you are!

Using Your Control Pad

Learn how to use your Control Pad before starting play. Player 1 uses Control Pad 1 and Player 2 uses Control Pad 2.

Control Pad Buttons

Directional Button (D-Button)

Press to select a game mode or an option.
Press left or right to move the columns in those directions.
Press down to increase the speed at which the columns drop.

Button 1 or Button 2

Press to enter a selected game mode.
Press to arrange the items.

Arranging the Items

Press Button 1

Press Button 2

Wonderful Magic Columns

The Magic Column appears in all versions of the game. When the Magic Column lands on a certain color item, all the items of the same color on the screen disappear.

Getting Started

When you turn on the Sega Master System, the Title screen appears. In a few moments, the demonstration game begins. Press Button 1 or 2 to return to the Title screen.

On the Title screen, press the D-Button to mark your choice. If you're playing alone, select 1 Player. If 2 people are playing, select 2 Players. Both players alternately challenge the computer on the same play field. To compete against another player, select Versus.

After making your selection, press Button 1 or 2.

Select Game Screen

On the Select Game screen, select Original or Flash with the D-Button and then press Button 1 or 2. The Option screen appears.

Options Screen: Original Game

For a 1-Player or 2-Player game, press the D-Button on Control Pad 1 to select the item you want on the screen. For a Versus game, player 1 uses Control Pad 1 and player 2 uses Control Pad 2 to make the selections.

Difficulty

You can play an Easy, Normal or Hard game.

Easy: Play with items of 4 different colors.
Normal: Play with items of 5 different colors.
Hard: Play with items of 6 different colors.

Blocks

Here's your opportunity to play with a different set of items. Your choices are:

Jewels

Squares

Playing Card Symbols

Dice

Fruit

Level

Select a level. The higher the number, the faster the columns drop.

Matches

This option appears only when you select the Versus mode on the Title screen. Select the number of times you want to compete against your opponent using Control Pad 1.

When you're done, select Exit and press Button 1 or 2 to start the game.

Original Game

The object of the Original game is to make as many items as possible disappear.

1-Player and 2-Player Mode

1-Player Screen

The next column of shapes that will appear.
The points earned for making the items disappear. This number appears temporarily.
Your score.
The total number of items that have already disappeared.
Your level.

When you select 2 Player on the Title screen, you and the other player alternately challenge the computer on the same play field. The information on either side lights up to let you know whose turn it is.

2-Player Screen

Versus Mode

In the Versus mode, you compete against another player on 2 separate play fields.

Your score is the number of matches you win. When you earn a higher score than your opponent, you win the game.

The Versus mode has a unique feature which adds extra excitement to the game.

When you line up 3 items of the same color, you form 1 column.

Whenever you make 2 or more columns disappear, a horizontal block appears on the bottom of your opponent's play field. The number of blocks that appear on your opponent's field is determined by the number of columns that disappear from your field.

To add 1 horizontal block to your opponent's play field, you must make 4 items or 2 Columns disappear.
To add 2 horizontal blocks to your opponent's play field, you must make 5 items or 3 Columns disappear.

Whenever a horizontal block appears on your opponent's field, the column that is falling on that field disappears.

In a situation where you already have horizontal blocks on your field, the number of horizontal blocks that appear on your opponent's field disappears from your field. For example, if you have 2 horizontal blocks on your on field and you make 1 horizontal block appear on your opponent's, 1 of your horizontal blocks disappears.

Options Screen: Flash Game

For a 1-player or 2-player game, press the D-Button on Control Pad 1 to select the item you want on the screen. For a Versus game, player 1 uses Control Pad 1 and player 2 uses Control Pad 2.