How did sprite flicker become a stylistic effect?

[killamch89]

Early consoles often suffered from hardware limitations that caused “sprite flicker” which is rapidly alternating graphics when too many objects appeared on screen. Yet in recent indie games, developers deliberately emulate that flicker to evoke nostalgia and atmosphere. How did a technical glitch evolve into an artistic effect? What emotional or design qualities does flicker convey - tension, memory, retro charm? Which modern titles use selective flicker most effectively, and where does it cross from charming homage into annoying distraction?

[Scorpion]

Sprite flicker became a deliberate stylistic effect to create a sense of energy and chaos in games. Developers used it to simulate rapid movement or multiple characters on screen, adding excitement and intensity, turning a technical limitation into a creative visual technique.

[killamch89]

Sprite flicker evolved from technical limitation to aesthetic choice when retro-inspired indies deliberately incorporated it to evoke nostalgia. What was once hardware inability to display multiple sprites became a visual shorthand for 'this game honors the NES era,' similar to how film directors use grain to evoke vintage cinema.