Super Columns on Game Gear

[blissfulnoise]

So I just played this last night being a Columns fan and the fact that Columns Crown on GBA stinks.

Man, is story mode HARD! I consider myself a pretty damn good columns player. I can play on normal mode pretty much infinitely when I stay serious. But I can't beat the first guy on story mode! I did beat him 1 round, but it's best of 3 (I think). Maybe I'm not doing well because of the columns "attack" style that I'm not used to playing, but the game seems really lopsided in favor of the CPU.

Like, why do I have to deal with grey pieces that cannot be cleared when the CPU opponent doesn't? Am I doing something wrong that's causing me to get them? It trashes my ability to make solid 2-4 gem combos to raise the opponent’s minimum line.

Ugh, anyone else playing/played this game and can give me some pointers?

SIDE NOTE: The music is excellent!

[RamboCalrissian]

That's why I play Normal Columns.

[Gapporin]

I haven't played it in a long time (the best of 3 for each character nearly bored me to death, I'm much more of a fan of endless mode), but what I remember is that the big key is to save up your specials. Are you using Lv. 1 or Lv. 2 specials all the time? You should probably save up to Lv. 5. That's what I did all the time, and I got to the 3rd person. Indeed, the game is hard, and I don't think I ever made it to the last guy.

SIDE NOTE: The music is excellent!

Yes, it is. It's one of my favorite Game Gear games for the music.

[klausien]

I have both, but never liked Super. The original GG Columns is probably the best version of the game ever.

[ECWSandmanECW]

When I used to play this game, all I played was Endless mode.

[blissfulnoise]

Heh, i'm not using ANY specials

I can't figure out how! However, I did manage to make it to the 5th (and seemingly final) opponent without using them earlier.

What button combination or series of events has to occur to use a special? I've tried every button combination I can think of to no use. And there is virtually nothing for this game on the internet.

I haven't played it in a long time (the best of 3 for each character nearly bored me to death, I'm much more of a fan of endless mode), but what I remember is that the big key is to save up your specials. Are you using Lv. 1 or Lv. 2 specials all the time? You should probably save up to Lv. 5. That's what I did all the time, and I got to the 3rd person. Indeed, the game is hard, and I don't think I ever made it to the last guy.

SIDE NOTE: The music is excellent!

Yes, it is. It's one of my favorite Game Gear games for the music.

[Gapporin]

Heh, i'm not using ANY specials

I can't figure out how! However, I did manage to make it to the 5th (and seemingly final) opponent without using them earlier.

What button combination or series of events has to occur to use a special? I've tried every button combination I can think of to no use. And there is virtually nothing for this game on the internet.

There is a meter to the left of your "next piece" screen that has numbers marked up 1-2-3-4-5. Whatever number the light is blinking on means that you can activate that special. Lv. 1 is just three unbreakable blocks. Lv. 5 is a three-way option to either a) disappear all of a certain type of gem, b) take every gem is lay them back down in reverse order, or c) disappear every gem past a certain level. You can choose either of these options by whatever stone in that special is face down when you set it on top of something. Each special, from Lv. 1 to Lv. 5, gets stronger as the numbers go up.

To activate a special, I believe you press Up + 1 at the same time.

[blissfulnoise]

Gah! It's so simple now. You're right, it's Up + 1. Spam special 3 to beat the first 4 oponents easily, then spam 1 for the last guy and it's simple. Didn't lose a single round.

Thanks, too bad story mode is ruined for me since my verdict has changed from incredibly difficult to quite easy. Maybe I should keep trying to beat it without using specials...

[Gapporin]

Gah! It's so simple now. You're right, it's Up + 1. Spam special 3 to beat the first 4 oponents easily, then spam 1 for the last guy and it's simple. Didn't lose a single round.

Heh, maybe I should have a go at it again. :P