Palette swap

A palette swap, alternatively known as costume change or alternate color, is a mechanic used in video games, whereby a graphic that is already used for one element is given a different palette, so it can be reused as other elements. The different palette gives the new graphic another set of colors, which makes it recognizably distinct from the original. Palette swaps are commonly used to distinguish between first and second players, for creating visual hierarchies, and for making visually distinct areas for levels in games.
==Overview==
One reason palette swaps are used is to save storage and memory. In early computer gaming, when cartridges were the main storage medium and memory capacity was both linear and expensive, a single sprite could be reused by changing its color palette. As such, many new objects could be created without the need to produce new graphics from scratch, which saved both production costs and development time. Early games in the Mortal Kombat series frequently introduced new ninja characters via palette swapping as both a cost-cutting and memory-preservation measure. More generally, palette swaps are common in sports games, in which the color scheme of opposing players is used to differentiate between teams.
Palette swaps in modern gaming have become a staple mechanic in fighting games, such as Super Smash Bros. for example.
==Notable games==
===Super Smash Bros. (arcade)===
Super Smash Bros. for the arcade is an example where all playable characters are given at least eight color palettes that may or may not be based on other known topics, especially whereas they had alternate color palettes in games released before this one.
===Mario Super Sluggers HD===
Mario Super Sluggers HD serves as a remake of Mario Super Sluggers. Unlike the original version, the remake has color swaps available for all playable characters, given the basis of other known color palettes from past games before the release of this one.
Category:Game Mechanics
Category:Game mechanics
Category:Palette swaps
Category:Video game design
Category:Terminology