Custom Mega Man Boss

[Thanatos-Zero]

Now, I do have some doubts. Thanatos, I didn't quite understand how Ultra Master Zest's layers work with each other. More precisely, I didn't understand what the first layer, that black frame, is for. Also, if I understand correctly, not counting the background color (which I assume will be transparent in-game), each layer is limited to 3 colors, right?

First of all, you can tell the sprite layers apart by the palettes they are using.
The first big layer is made of several 8x8 in pixel sized sprites, while the second layer is only conistent of one 8x8 sprite, shown with a different palette.
However both layers are counting towards the 8 sprites per line limit horizontally and vertically.
The black frame is just an example of how the sprite can look like, in total darkness. It was meant to instill a feeling of fear. It still uses the same palette.

As for your question you are correct.
Each frame can only have one palette, but this doesn't stop you to combine 4 layers or frames into one sprite. You just have to keep in mind that your combined sprite doesn't exceed the limit before flickering occurs, which are 8 sprites in a line.
In theory four 8x8 spritelayers with four different palettes on the very same place count as 32 pixels (4 sprites) in wide and length horizontally and vertically on the limit of 64 pixels (8 sprites). You can now add three of this combined sprites to form a square, which would have from all sides the maximum amount of sprites allowed on a line, before it starts to flicker with an additional normal 8x8 sprite on the line, where these combined sprites are.

Now, if we let out the additional palettes and focus ourselves how big we can make the sprite with one palette, we can construct a really big one out of 64 sprites, formed as a square for example. It would be really 64x64 pixels big in height and lenght.

Just for you, I have prepared an example, so you can see it for yourself.


Before I forget, you can apply to each sprite the same palette and more. All what limits you, is the palettes you assign to each sprite. As long you do not go over the 8 sprites in a line and use more then 12+4 colours for sprites, which appear on the screen at once, your graphics will be fine regarding the NES limitations.
There are some cases though, which make minor flickering acceptable like it occurs by the the fortress bosses in Megaman 2.