Messin' with Ristar

...What do you mean by this? Ristar seems to show a more advanced use of the Mega Drive's colors, in my oppinion.

 

I didn't mean the number of colors on display, more like the kind of colors used and the contrast level they create.
The colors on Sonic 1 were brighter and more aggressive, as Ristar's are. Maybe they changed it to reduce the possibility of epileptic seizures?

 

... How in the world would Sonic 1 cause seizures?

 

I've seen this happen, for real. Interestingly, it's not the colours that cause them but the lack of spindash.

 

That's funny, I thought the spike bug caused that.

 

You have to be susceptible to epileptic seizures to be at risk but yes it's not a joke.
Bright colors and flashing effects in video games can be hazardous to such people.
S2's palette was easier on the eyes than S1's. It's like reducing the risk by not putting the cat with the milk.

A friend of mine (who plays Star Trek Online) his wife is a good example. She got headaches from playing STO with its moving environments, flashing lasers and bright colors.
She was diagnosed with something similar to epilepsy but less dangerous. Now she only plays Dark Orbit because you can turn the backgrounds off in that shitty 2D space game.

Moreover, the manuals also warn for the risks of epilepsy. Most people will never ever get struck by a seizure, only a few people are at risk.

I am not saying that this is the reason why they altered the Sonic game palettes because we don't know; but it is at least possible. I guess you should ask the devs.


Well I bet the lack of spindash and the spike bug cause a different kind of 'seizure' with some people. :P

 

I always thought that Sonic 1 had some of the least vibrant colors in the entire Genesis series (or at least the levels didn't have too much color variety). Sonic 2 or CD I always thought were the more colorful ones (And Sonic 3 in some aspects)