This week I reviewed R-Type for the Sega Master System, a game which is often considered one of the best titles for the console, but has it aged well or is it showing its age?
Nice review. Some minor corrections, though: The Master System port was not developed by Sega, they only published it. The port was done by Compile (of Power Strike and Golvellius fame) who also created the secret bonus level.
Technically, most of the sprite flicker isn't the result of too many sprites on screen but too many sprites on the same line.
And it's a common misconception that flicker is inherent to this situation, whereas actually the game goes to some effort to make them flicker rather than disappear entirely. There's a limit of 64 sprites (without weird tricks) and the number in use has no effect on flickering or slow down.