Mode 4 of CPCs (two bitplanes emulation)

Mode 4 screen (two bitplanes emulation)

is a software technique to emulate two bitplanes on-screen at once. The main advantage is that you don't need to take care of the background while moving sprites around. Moreover, graphics need 50% less memory space. On the other hand, main disadvantage is that you can use half of available colours for each bitplane. Also known as 'Mode 3'.

Used in games like: Ghosts'n' Goblins, ZTB-Mission Genocide etc..

• Related articles in Amstrad Computer User & ACPC
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  By Chris Wood, published on ACU Jan. 1986

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  Elmar Krieger's article in ACPC n°48, July 93 (page 1)

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  Elmar Krieger's article in ACPC n°48, July 93 (page 2)

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  Elmar Krieger's demo listing in ACPC n°48, July 93 (page 3)

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  Elmar Krieger's demo listing in ACPC n°48, July 93 (page 4)

• DSK with the ACPC listing RUN"DEMO" to watch..