Columns (Genesis)

I believe i'm expert at colour-matching puzzle game. I have played 3 Puzzle Quest, Puzzle & Empires and Bejeweled. I've prepared for another game with same gameplay. Not entirely the same only the basic rule which is: match the 3 or more thing with the same color. The game that i mentioned is Sega's Columns (1990).

It looks like 2 disputing husband & wife are about to have  toast that will seal their peace treaty. But both of wives put poison on it thus explaining that  overly fizzing drink that the husbands hold. Then they have conversation like "You go, first! No, you first" while the wives are very worried and scared in each corner. Good for all of you! [High Sarcasm]

 

If you wait the screen for too long, there's instruction on how to play the game. Move the joystick to move the jewel column and a single button to rotate the jewel from top to bottom. To erase the jewels and earn score, you have to arrange 3 jewels or more with the same color in horizontal, vertical, and diagonal. After you place 1 column another one will come with different arrangement from previous ones. Don't let the columns reach beyond the top or your game is over. Even though this is Sega Genesis port, Sega don't bother to change joystick into d-pad. Such in-exemplary idleness. Shame on you, Sega!

 

The instruction also tell there's will be hint in form of blinking jewel that you can clear with column you control, if you pick Easy mode.

 

And if you pick either medium or hard mode, there's chance that magic jewel appears. It can erase any jewels with same color with the one that it contacts to.

 

Chain reaction pump up the juice? What juice? Oh, i get it. Combo will boost my score, is what the game tries to say, right? So make chain matching whenever you can. Okay, i know the gist. Let's get started!

 

I'm going to choose easy mode, for warm-up. As i play this alone, there's no 2nd player here. So focus to watch on the left board which is mine, please! Just simple remainder.

 

I have made a horizontal line of ice-cube jewel with exactly 3 columns. So far so good!

 

Here comes 4-of-a-kind!    

 

I can put the red gem to the most left for diagonal match. But if i put it here i can make combo match of red then green. "Chain reaction pump up the juice" the game said. So i do that.

 

Yes, sometime a column of same jewel appears. Put it anywhere! You can't go wrong.

 

I think the "survival" key in this game is to prioritize making diagonal match over other ones. Because it's more "flexible" than the others. But no matter i do, there's always residual "debris" in the board. If you play Tetris, you can clean the board by simply fill the gap in the pile and if you get the wrong-shaped blocks, you can mitigate the problem by rotating it at least a bit. But it's not so simple or easy in Columns case. Because you need the exact proper jewel to clear them and more often than not the game gives you different jewels from what you need. Maybe if you can rotate the column by 90^o degree, the game will be less troublesome and more fun. But the title said "Columns" not "Columns & Rows". So i stick to "diagonal match" mind for now.   

 

Yes, i put the new column where it should be in the left corner but the configuration is wrong! I should put the red jewel in the middle for diagonal match. I begin to feel like an idiot here.  

 

Unintentionally, i made 2 diagonal match of ice-cube jewel and purple ones. Hooray!    

  

I have created what i like to call Junction Match. In Bejeweled or other game that i mentioned, Junction Match has shape of T, L, +, or cross. In Puzzle Quest, i must have keen observation toward said match or i will end up totally defeated. I'm glad my sharp instinct is usable in this game. 

Starting level 3, the columns drop too fast for me and i'm in big trouble on 4th level. Heavy_negativevocalization03.wav 3:

 

PopCap, help! Have mercy on me, Sega! Please! 3X

 

This time, i hit the medium mode. I can be in 3th level without pile that i gather from 0th level but i don't get hints for 3 levels. I can live with that.

Again, i unintentionally make small miracle. I have created another Junction Match.  But i had no idea before about this kind of shape counts as Junction Match as it's not in shape of T, L, +, or cross. Columns registers diagonal arrangement as match, now that i think about it. So it makes sense.

Uggh! Another case of me doing "right placement but wrong configuration" at the same place on top of that. The orange should be in bottom, stupid! -_-#

 

Yes, i pulled a sick chain match but that doesn't mean i must celebrate it with smoking weed, Sega. No, thanks!   

 

Finally, the magic jewel! How i'm longing for thou. I stamp it on blue jewel and all of its peer are gone for good but there's still other ones. I think hitting the ice cube is right decision as there's 9 of them. Yes, i should hit the orange jewel for best result (because there's 10 of them) but i must remind you that i'm in level 7 here so the column moves very fast that my reaction can barely keep up.

 

Another 4-of-a-kind! And i know where i have to put that red jewel next. I feel like i can survive this much longer.

 

Okay not for long. At least i can go 1 more level than in previous screenshot. There's no limit to continue but i choose to end here.

 

Moreover, i hit number 1 ranking. I believe i'm done with this game!     

 

See that expression of the angel on leftside? That's my tired expression about this game at the moment. Though i will comeback someday. Sega's Columns (1990) is what i like to describe as matching color with bit Tetris style. It's the basic of Puyo Puyo or its brethren. So Columns could be defined as pioneer of the genre, i reckon. But i can't enjoy it not as much as Bejeweled. The reason is simple, it deploy rush factor: the column automatically descend and will be faster as you progress to next level. So no matter how cunning my mind to color matching department, my reflexes can't keep up so i rely mostly on my luck instead of my skill. But again, i can't enjoy very much Beghouled which is Bejeweled version of Plant Vs Zombie where there's zombie wave come at you which i consider it as rush factor. So it's kind of moot point. I like puzzle game with unlimited time limit afterall. The music is kind of grainy but appropriate with puzzle nuance and its pace is faster if the columns almost reach the top. That's nice touch on music department. The graphic on the jewels remind me of Nestle's Fox's candies. The gridline on the board is helping the player to predict jewels placement and further to assist on jewel matching.

To put it simply, Columns (1990) is decent puzzle game though still rough in my opinion. If you're puzzle gamer with quick reflexes, you probably like it and i can recommend you to take it. Me? No. I can only think sharp and straight within relaxing pace. That's probably other way to say that i'm lazy kind of puzzle gamer. Very lazy ones.

The Twisted Tales of Spike McFang (SNES) - Part 3

Previously, Spike McFangs and Camelia free her homeland of Vampra from invaders and eternal winter. Then they go to Von Hesler's castle where the last battle about to take place...

...with an airship. It moves very fast that we can already see Von Hesler's castle from here.   

 

And it crashes so fast too. The engine is on fire back then. Maybe because it's overworked by Professor. I know we need to hurry and such but no need to break the engine that bring disaster to all of us like this. At least there's no casualty.

 

Well, kind of. We all know Camelia, she should be fine. Lucky for me that savepoint moaiman didn't crack his head in that accident. Yes his head is made of stone but its massive shape is really troublesome. Maybe he bound it with special safety belt back then.

 

Her ankle is twisted but she can't come with us. Rudy want to carry her but Camelia gives him sharp glare. While i don't have "Sprained-Ankle Cure" trick card. I still have the "Chicken Noodle Soup" ones, though. Want some? 

 

Oh, i have to fight another version of cloves. But this guys are more serious as they have war paint over them. We've been informed that this jungle is a maze. You have to take the right direction in certain order, to proceed further. This reminds me of Jungle Maze in Brave Fencer Musashi. The solution to this: right-right-top-left-bottom-left-top.

 

Now that i have quite big stock of trick cards. I figure i have to use some of them. Freeze time! Please lend me your power, Sakuya Izayoi!

 

Sorry to bother you, Sakuya. And thanks for making those cloves stand still. Appreciate that.

 

At the end of the maze, we encounter another Von Hesler's officer: Moray. He can spit immobilizing spit and shoot his vines in front of him so he's vulnerable of attack from anywhere except his front. But he can open his top mouth to spit acidic juices...   

 

...and later swing giant long tongue around (which you can jump to avoid it). Now that i look at him more carefully, he's pitcher plant with face and limbs at its base. Astounding!

 

So the level-up trick returns, huh? There's "Speed-Up" on him. So he will be faster, huh?

 

Pyro_laughhappy01.wav. Amazed with my (smiley) fire magic, Moray pop his eyes out. Not really. That's his new attack. You and i know that kind of attack isn't going to strike anyone with fear. Okay, maybe it is. But if you make comical "Sproing!" sound each time you do that, your enemies will laugh at you. Especially if they can dodge that attack easily because lack of range.  c:

 

At his dying breath, he said that he will drag me to his demise. The sore loser.  

 

Then he spawn red orb that keep divided into smaller orbs if you destroy it like bubble in Buster Bros/Pang. If you're not wuss, you can destroy them all completely and will be rewarded with another level-up beside the one you get from defeating Moray. Double leveling-up! Thanks, green-y bastard.

 

Beyond Moray's area is another maze. Joy! [light sarcasm]. This maze is filled with these (tribal) warriors instead of forest clove. And the solution is changed too. Great! [intense sarcasm]. This time the correct path: left-top-right-top-top. No, i didn't see any walkthrough to find these solution. It's easy to figure it out with load/save state and trial & error. Thankfully.

 

At last, we arrive at Von Hesler's castle entrance. You probably wonder why Rudy helps me against his father. That's because he believes that his father is under brain control or possessed and thus innocent. He want to prove it and he needs our help. By the way, does your castle look evil like this from the beginning, Rudy? Those gargoyle statue are animated and look want to eat us.

 

Well, i'm sorry. If this castle isn't located near forest of maze, we can arrive here faster. Much faster.

 

Colonel Hydra can only swing hers spear forward. But unlike Moray, she's quite difficult to get flanked. Because: 1) She floats really fast. Yes, i said float not run or walk 2) She has two flame snake there that spew fireball forward. You can defeat them but soon they will be replaced by new ones from that summoning sigil. It's hard for me to throw my hat at her so use my cape whip more often.

 

Like daughter, like mother. Colonel Hydra will level-up and restore her health completely once he's defeated.    

 

This time Colonel Hydra resort to firing projectiles: 1) Fire wave on bottom direction 2) 2 deadly doritos spinning triangle thing-y to her sides. Also she's accompanied by little fire-breathing dragon there. She's faster but at least i can back to use my usual method of "Throw hat at the boss as often as you can" that's proved worthy on other boss fight. Remember that i have my Lightning Hat that can homing to enemy! No matter how fast she is. My hat can catches her.

 

After she's really defeated, she said that we have to defeat Rudy's father: Von Hesler to restore Vladamasco situation. Rudy keep insists that his father won't normally do this and he must be affected by evil spirit or whatever. Yadda. Yadda. Sure, i believe you, Rudy. Totally.

 

Not far from Hydra's lair lies Von's Hesler's chamber. But i have to go back to the maze, to grind experience. Lots of it. I know that reckless speed run isn't always worthy. You have to diligently level up before boss fight. Moreover, i forgot to refill my health to professor for free. Instead i keep use my healing cards after 2 boss battles here. Thus i only have 3 "tomato juice" cards! To cover my small stock of healing, i amass experience until i'm level 15. This should work.

 

I can't get decent screenshotof our battle. Von Hesler's actions are: claw me or use his staff to shoot magic forward or around him. You just have to take my words for it. It's not hard battle, though. Especially if you're in the same level as Von Hesler. Unsurprising to me, he has second phase and/or level-up if you defeat him once.

 

Then Von Hesler becomes proper demon lord with horrendous look and such. This time he has different attack pattern: 1) He fires wide wave forward and then shoots 2 crescents to his sides 2) He fires homing gravity orb that will create instant fallpit upon contact 3) Sends an ice orb that will create wide array of forward laser ice then he throw a battle axe 4) Shoots fireblast forward then he shoots short-range fireburst few times. He's vulnerable to hat throwing when he unleashes the short-range attack.

 

Because it's the final battle, feel free to use any of your remaining trick card. This time i summon angel to hit Von Hesler. Thank God that He's willing to send His angelic servant to help me. Even though he's just small cherub. Here's a trick: while casting magic, Spike will be blinking and invincible. So you can avoid damage by casting magic at the right time. As you can see here that i'm blinking but not because i'm smart that i cast the magic at perfect time but because i'm about to get hit by that gravity orb.  

Defeating Von Hesler for the second time, makes the evil spirit out from him and the one-eyed ghost intends to posses Camelia. Quick, Rudy! After him!

Oh no! We're too late.

 

Or not. She take care of him by herself. We probably heard her battle cry not terrified scream. That's for sure.

Trio victory pose! Wait! The spirit turns into a big coin. I'll take that. c:

 

Then family reunion! Von Hesler get bit reprimand from his very own son. Every parent tell their child that they're worthy as their kingdom heir. But Mrs. Dracuman say that for now i'm still her little boy. Sheesh! Thanks, mom! [lightly annoyed]

Then credit rolls along with bosses that we fought. I still salute you, icy sod. No news about Professor Steam and the sheep. I assume he began to construct Frankenstein monster or any sort of diabolical experiment. Or maybe he's on the way to join Umbrella Corp. Who know.

 

That's the end of The Twisted Tales of Spike McFangs (1994).What a long and satisfying ride. The musics are wonderful especially beat-y ones in Batland Castle, Fighter Island, and Boss Fight. But, music in the desert feels really "barren". The graphics are magnificent. The combat is mostly great and working quite well. I would say it's better than Crusader of Centy, mainly the determination/consideration factor between melee (button pressing) and ranged (button holding): 1) Melee attack is for quick attack that cover around Spike but if you press the button too frequent Spike will unleash big spinning attack that can make him dizzy 2) Ranged attack is to attack from safe distance but only accurate for slow or stationary enemy. The leveling aspect works well. Even though it's quite strange that 1 level difference is very significant. The hit detection is precise. You can get short invincibility after you get hit beside  while you cast spell. The trick cards are mostly fine even great. As i've mentioned that the game won't reward speedrun though the game facilitates it with some trick card: 1) Invisible 2) Flying Hat, which makes Spike hides inside his hat but render him unable to jump 3) Animal 4) Freeze Time. The save system is quite unfriendly. You can load from up to 3 slots but you can only save in 1 slot. Also the "point of no return" in this last part of article, can be considered cruel as you can't restock your card even though enemies still drop coin. The story is adventurous and simply good with well-polished scenes that often humorous.

The summary: The Twisted Tales of Spike McFangs is close to superb Action RPG that can be obscured gem, even though with bit unfriendly flaw design. But, sure i can recommend you to play this game. Like how often you can become friendly vampire that harness on tomato instead of blood like Count Duckula, huh?