Sega Swirl

Sega Swirl is a puzzle game used to market the Sega Dreamcast. The basic goal is to connect as many Dreamcast swirls as possible either horizontally or vertically (there are no diagonals in this game). Additionally, with each level of difficulty there are new objectives. The game was originally released on the demo disc of Issue 5 of the Official Sega Dreamcast Magazine and later with Version 2 of the Dreamcast browser as well as in Sega Smash Pack Volume 1. It has since been released in web-based form as well as for Windows 9x and Palm OS.

How to play
The goal is simple: you must clear the board of swirls by selecting them (making them go white). Any swirls of the same color touching horizontally or vertically will be selected as well. Simply choose that set of swirls again to remove it, or choose another swirl (on the web-based version use on a blank to deselect all swirls). Colors are all worth the same amount of points, the only factor is how many you remove at a time.

On the objectives screen, ≤ means "equal to or less than", while ≥ means "greater than or equal to". You should always try to outdo these objectives.

General strategies

 * pick a color and stay with it. Once the level has begun you should be able to tell which color is the easiest to connect.
 * try to create an enormous combo of your chosen color. Be careful to not remove too many singles in the process or otherwise fail your objectives.
 * make columns if possible in order to get Column bonuses. The larger the columns the more points you get for each.
 * if you must remove singles, try to remove ones that will connect other singles together, or otherwise result in larger groups. This is especially important when you've done everything and are left with a handful of singles and some pairs or other small groupings.
 * If you're unsure how close you are to meeting the objectives choose Check. This is very useful for seeing how many singles you have removed and how many more you can safely remove without failing the level.

Level Mode
The most basic mode. On the Dreamcast you can also choose to have a 120-second timer (the timer is not available on the web-based version). With the timed mode the quicker you remove swirls the more points you get. In non-timed the bigger the combo the more points you gain. The goals in both get progressively harder until you eventually fail. You are then given a rank.
 * when playing a non-timed games, the bigger the combo the higher your score. In timed mode there is also a score modifier for how fast you remove swirls.
 * timed games give an additional bonus depending on how many seconds were left on the timer when you cleared all the swirls.
 * You must meet each level's goal, otherwise you can't reach the next level.
 * if time runs out before you remove all the swirls it's game over.
 * if you clear a level with no singles you double your score. This is very difficult to achieve.

Versus Mode
In Versus Mode human or players take turns removing swirls.
 * players are each assigned a color, and then take turns. The color of the cursor indicates who is playing.
 * swirls of your own color are worth double.
 * when all swirls of your color are removed you are out of the game.
 * the player with the most points wins.

Split Screen
This mode is only available in the Dreamcast version. You compete against another player for high scores.
 * this mode supports two to four human or computer players
 * players are each assigned a color, and then take turns. The color of the cursor indicates who is playing.
 * swirls of your own color are worth double.
 * when one player clears a color that color is removed from all boards.
 * when all colors are cleared a new round starts.
 * the game ends when a player reaches the Goal Score.

Practice Mode
Lets you practice a single game. Level Mode rules apply.

Swirl Email
This mode is only available in the Dreamcast and Windows 9x versions. Turns are sent by email. This mode is otherwise identical to Versus Mode.

Single Game Challenge
Dreamcast only. Just like Level Mode you can have a 120-second timer or no timer.
 * timed games give an additional bonus depending on how many seconds were left on the timer when you cleared all the swirls.
 * if you clear a level with no singles you double your score. This is very difficult to achieve.
 * if time runs out before you remove all the swirls it's game over.

Top Scores
This lets you view your top scores. On the web-based version you can submit your scores to Shockwave.com and see how you rank against other players around the world.

Ranks

 * Amateur
 * Rookie
 * Sophomore
 * Contestant
 * Player
 * Specialist

Cheats
In Practice Mode make a big combo (at least 20 swirls). Remove it, and then while the swirls are disappearing restart the level. If done correctly you will start with that score.