Play Columns III - Taiketsu! Columns World Online

Summary

Columns III: Taiketsu! Columns World turns the classic match‑three formula into a surprisingly tactical duel. Each player watches a tall, narrow well fill with falling three‑piece columns, and while the pieces tumble you can slide them side‑to‑side and rotate the order of the jewels inside. Matching three or more of the same colour in any direction clears them, the remaining blocks tumble down, and chain reactions can erupt in an instant.

What makes the head‑to‑head mode addictive is the point‑spending mechanic: once you’ve earned ten points you can press C to shave a row off your opponent’s playfield while restoring one of your own lost rows. Occasionally a multicolour Magic Jewel drops, and depending on its configuration it can shrink the enemy’s area, unshrink yours, or wipe out every jewel of a chosen colour. In single‑player you’ll meet AI rivals and collect single‑use items like Barrier, Heavy Weight, Magic Gem and Hourglass—the latter acting as a continue for a second chance after a loss.

The game also throws in a rising bar that can be used to pressure the opponent, and three difficulty settings that gate the number of levels you can reach. Critics were split: Electronic Gaming Monthly praised its addictive loop, while IGN and Eurogamer were far less enthusiastic.

Storyline

In Columns III – Taiketsu! (also known simply as Columns III), the story mode guides players through a series of pyramid chambers. Each room pits you against increasingly tough foes, ranging from fluttering bats to ancient mummies.