diff --git a/src/driver.h b/src/driver.h
index 0348058..e7664ad 100644
--- a/src/driver.h
+++ b/src/driver.h
@@ -136,7 +136,7 @@ void FCEUI_SetBaseDirectory(const char *dir);
 /* Tells FCE Ultra to copy the palette data pointed to by pal and use it.
    Data pointed to by pal needs to be 64*3 bytes in length.
 */
-void FCEUI_SetPaletteArray(uint8 *pal);
+void FCEUI_SetPaletteArray(uint8 *pal, int nEntries);
 
 /* Sets up sound code to render sound at the specified rate, in samples
    per second.  Only sample rates of 44100, 48000, and 96000 are currently
diff --git a/src/drivers/libretro/libretro.c b/src/drivers/libretro/libretro.c
index cca512a..aff8c87 100644
--- a/src/drivers/libretro/libretro.c
+++ b/src/drivers/libretro/libretro.c
@@ -284,6 +284,12 @@ void FCEUD_SetPalette(uint16 index, uint8_t r, uint8_t g, uint8_t b)
    }
 #endif
 
+#if defined(PSP) || defined(PS2)
+   /* PS2 / PSP will only have 256 colors */
+   if (index >= 256)
+      return;
+#endif
+
 #ifdef FRONTEND_SUPPORTS_RGB565
    retro_palette[index_to_write] = BUILD_PIXEL_RGB565(r >> RED_EXPAND, g >> GREEN_EXPAND, b >> BLUE_EXPAND);
 #else
@@ -368,8 +374,7 @@ void FCEUD_SoundToggle (void)
 #define PAL_CUSTOM   (PAL_INTERNAL + 3)
 #define PAL_TOTAL    PAL_CUSTOM
 
-static int external_palette_exist = 0;
-extern int ipalette;
+static uint8 external_palette_exist = false;
 
 /* table for currently loaded palette */
 static uint8_t base_palette[192];
@@ -1163,13 +1168,13 @@ static void NTSCFilter_Setup(void)
    }
 
    ntsc_setup.merge_fields = 0;
-   if ((GameInfo->type != GIT_VSUNI) && (current_palette == PAL_DEFAULT || current_palette == PAL_RAW))
+   if (GameInfo && (GameInfo->type != GIT_VSUNI) && (current_palette == PAL_DEFAULT || current_palette == PAL_RAW))
       /* use ntsc default palette instead of internal default palette for that "identity" effect */
-      ntsc_setup.base_palette = NULL;
+      ntsc_setup.palette = NULL;
    else
       /* use internal palette, this includes palette presets, external palette and custom palettes
           * for VS. System games */
-      ntsc_setup.base_palette = (unsigned char const *)palo;
+      ntsc_setup.palette = (unsigned char const *)palo;
 
    nes_ntsc_init(&nes_ntsc, &ntsc_setup);
 }
@@ -1740,7 +1745,7 @@ static void retro_set_custom_palette(void)
 {
    unsigned i;
 
-   ipalette = 0;
+   palette_game_available = 0;
    use_raw_palette = false;
 
    /* VS UNISystem uses internal palette presets regardless of options */
@@ -1750,13 +1755,13 @@ static void retro_set_custom_palette(void)
    /* Reset and choose between default internal or external custom palette */
    else if (current_palette == PAL_DEFAULT || current_palette == PAL_CUSTOM)
    {
-      ipalette = external_palette_exist && (current_palette == PAL_CUSTOM);
+      palette_game_available = external_palette_exist && (current_palette == PAL_CUSTOM);
 
-      /* if ipalette is set to 1, external palette
+      /* if palette_game_available is set to 1, external palette
        * is loaded, else it will load default NES palette.
        * FCEUI_SetPaletteArray() both resets the palette array to
        * internal default palette and then chooses which one to use. */
-      FCEUI_SetPaletteArray( NULL );
+      FCEUI_SetPaletteArray( NULL, 0 );
    }
 
    /* setup raw palette */
@@ -1793,7 +1798,7 @@ static void retro_set_custom_palette(void)
          base_palette[ i * 3 + 1 ] = ( data >>  8 ) & 0xff; /* green */
          base_palette[ i * 3 + 2 ] = ( data >>  0 ) & 0xff; /* blue */
       }
-      FCEUI_SetPaletteArray( base_palette );
+      FCEUI_SetPaletteArray( base_palette, 64 );
    }
 }
 
@@ -1895,7 +1900,7 @@ static void check_variables(bool startup)
 #ifdef HAVE_NTSC_FILTER
    var.key = "fceumm_ntsc_filter";
 
-   if (environ_cb(RETRO_ENVIRONMENT_GET_VARIABLE, &var) && var.value)
+   if (environ_cb(RETRO_ENVIRONMENT_GET_VARIABLE, &var) && var.value && GameInfo && GameInfo->type != GIT_NSF)
    {
       unsigned orig_value = use_ntsc;
       if (strcmp(var.value, "disabled") == 0)
@@ -2896,24 +2901,25 @@ static void retro_run_blit(uint8_t *gfx)
       pitch  -= (crop_overscan_h_left + crop_overscan_h_right) * sizeof(uint16_t);
       gfx    += (crop_overscan_v_top * 256) + crop_overscan_h_left;
 
-      if (use_raw_palette)
       {
          uint8_t *deemp = XDBuf + (gfx - XBuf);
          for (y = 0; y < height; y++, gfx += incr, deemp += incr)
-            for (x = 0; x < width; x++, gfx++, deemp++) {
-               if (*deemp != 0) {
+         {
+            for (x = 0; x < width; x++, gfx++, deemp++)
+            {
+               if (*deemp != 0 && GameInfo->type != GIT_NSF)
+               {
                   fceu_video_out[y * width + x] = retro_palette[256 + (*gfx & 0x3F) + ((*deemp & 0x07) << 6)];
-               } else {
-                  fceu_video_out[y * width + x] = retro_palette[*gfx & 0x3F];
+               }
+               else
+               {
+                  uint8 pixel_mask = use_raw_palette ? 0x3F : 0xFF;
+                  fceu_video_out[y * width + x] = retro_palette[*gfx & pixel_mask];
                }
             }
+         }
       }
-      else
-      {
-         for (y = 0; y < height; y++, gfx += incr)
-            for (x = 0; x < width; x++, gfx++)
-               fceu_video_out[y * width + x] = retro_palette[*gfx];
-      }
+
       video_cb(fceu_video_out, width, height, pitch);
    }
 #endif
@@ -3583,7 +3589,7 @@ bool retro_load_game(const struct retro_game_info *info)
       nes_input.type[i] = RETRO_DEVICE_JOYPAD;
    }
 
-   external_palette_exist = ipalette;
+   external_palette_exist = palette_game_available;
    if (external_palette_exist)
       FCEU_printf(" Loading custom palette: %s%cnes.pal\n",
             system_dir, PATH_DEFAULT_SLASH_C());
diff --git a/src/fceu.c b/src/fceu.c
index 35c172b..2b564a1 100644
--- a/src/fceu.c
+++ b/src/fceu.c
@@ -224,7 +224,7 @@ void ResetGameLoaded(void)
 	MMC5Hack = 0;
 	PEC586Hack = 0;
 	PAL &= 1;
-	pale = 0;
+	default_palette_selected = 0;
 }
 
 int UNIFLoad(const char *name, FCEUFILE *fp);
diff --git a/src/fceu.h b/src/fceu.h
index 7588e77..dd578be 100644
--- a/src/fceu.h
+++ b/src/fceu.h
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ void FCEU_PutImageDummy(void);
 #endif
 
 extern uint8 Exit;
-extern uint8 pale;
+extern uint8 default_palette_selected;
 extern uint8 vsdip;
 
 #define JOY_A        0x01
diff --git a/src/palette.c b/src/palette.c
index 96fde8b..380fb22 100644
--- a/src/palette.c
+++ b/src/palette.c
@@ -34,15 +34,18 @@
 #include "palettes/palettes.h"
 
 /* These are dynamically filled/generated palettes: */
-pal palettei[64];		/* Custom palette for an individual game. */
-pal palettec[64];		/* Custom "global" palette. */
+static pal palette_game[512];		/* Custom palette for an individual game. */
+static pal palette_user[512];		/* Custom "global" palette. */
+
+uint8 palette_game_available = false;
+uint8 palette_user_available = false;
 
 static void ChoosePalette(void);
 static void WritePalette(void);
-uint8 pale = 0;
+uint8 default_palette_selected = 0;
 
 pal *palo;
-static pal *palpoint[8] =
+static pal *default_palette[8] =
 {
 	palette,
 	rp2c04_0001,
@@ -52,16 +55,57 @@ static pal *palpoint[8] =
 	rp2c03,
 };
 
-void FCEUI_SetPaletteArray(uint8 *pal) {
-	if (!pal)
-		palpoint[0] = palette;
+static void ApplyDeemphasisClassic(int entry, uint8 *r, uint8 *g, uint8 *b) {
+	static const float rtmul[] = { 1.239f, 0.794f, 1.019f, 0.905f, 1.023f, 0.741f, 0.75f };
+	static const float gtmul[] = { 0.915f, 1.086f, 0.98f,  1.026f, 0.908f, 0.987f, 0.75f };
+	static const float btmul[] = { 0.743f, 0.882f, 0.653f, 1.277f, 0.979f, 0.101f, 0.75f };
+
+	int nr, ng, nb, d;
+	int deemph_bits = entry >> 6;
+
+	if (deemph_bits == 0) return;
+
+	d = deemph_bits - 1;
+	nr = *r;
+	ng = *g;
+	nb = *b;
+	nr = (int)(nr * rtmul[d]);
+	ng = (int)(ng * gtmul[d]);
+	nb = (int)(nb * btmul[d]);
+	if (nr > 0xFF) nr = 0xFF;
+	if (ng > 0xFF) ng = 0xFF;
+	if (nb > 0xFF) nb = 0xFF;
+	*r = (uint8)nr;
+	*g = (uint8)ng;
+	*b = (uint8)nb;
+}
+
+static void ApplyDeemphasisComplete(pal *pal512) {
+	int i, p, idx;
+
+	/* for each deemph level beyond 0 */
+	for (i = 0, idx = 0; i < 8; i++) {
+		/* for each palette entry */
+		for (p = 0; p < 64; p++, idx++) {
+			pal512[idx] = pal512[p];
+			ApplyDeemphasisClassic(idx, &pal512[idx].r, &pal512[idx].g, &pal512[idx].b);
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+void FCEUI_SetPaletteArray(uint8 *pal, int nEntries) {
+	if (!pal || !nEntries)
+		palette_user_available = false;
 	else {
 		int x;
-		palpoint[0] = palettec;
-		for (x = 0; x < 64; x++) {
-			palpoint[0][x].r = *((uint8*)pal + x + x + x);
-			palpoint[0][x].g = *((uint8*)pal + x + x + x + 1);
-			palpoint[0][x].b = *((uint8*)pal + x + x + x + 2);
+		palette_user_available = true;
+		for (x = 0; x < nEntries; x++) {
+			palette_user[x].r = *((uint8*)pal + x + x + x);
+			palette_user[x].g = *((uint8*)pal + x + x + x + 1);
+			palette_user[x].b = *((uint8*)pal + x + x + x + 2);
+		}
+		if (nEntries != 512) {
+			ApplyDeemphasisComplete(palette_user);
 		}
 	}
 	FCEU_ResetPalette();
@@ -124,14 +168,12 @@ void SetNESDeemph(uint8 d, int force) {
 	lastd = d;
 }
 
-int ipalette = 0;
-
 void FCEU_LoadGamePalette(void) {
-	uint8 ptmp[192];
+	uint8 ptmp[64 * 8 * 3];
 	RFILE *fp = NULL;
 	char *fn = NULL;
 
-	ipalette = 0;
+	palette_game_available = false;
 
 	fn = FCEU_MakeFName(FCEUMKF_PALETTE, 0, 0);
 
@@ -142,14 +184,18 @@ void FCEU_LoadGamePalette(void) {
 
 	if (fp) {
 		int x;
-		filestream_read(fp, ptmp, 192);
+		int ssize = filestream_get_size(fp);
+		int nEntries = ssize / 3;
+		filestream_read(fp, ptmp, nEntries);
 		filestream_close(fp);
 		for (x = 0; x < 64; x++) {
-			palettei[x].r = ptmp[x + x + x];
-			palettei[x].g = ptmp[x + x + x + 1];
-			palettei[x].b = ptmp[x + x + x + 2];
+			palette_game[x].r = ptmp[x + x + x];
+			palette_game[x].g = ptmp[x + x + x + 1];
+			palette_game[x].b = ptmp[x + x + x + 2];
 		}
-		ipalette = 1;
+		if (nEntries != 512)
+			ApplyDeemphasisComplete(palette_game);
+		palette_game_available = true;
 	}
 	free(fn);
 }
@@ -162,23 +208,30 @@ void FCEU_ResetPalette(void) {
 }
 
 static void ChoosePalette(void) {
-	if (GameInfo->type == GIT_NSF)
-		palo = 0;
-	else if (ipalette)
-		palo = palettei;
-	else
-		palo = palpoint[pale];
+	if (GameInfo->type == GIT_NSF) {
+		palo = default_palette[0];
+	} else if (palette_user_available) {
+		palo = palette_user;
+	} else if (palette_game_available) {
+		palo = palette_game;
+	} else {
+		palo = default_palette[default_palette_selected];
+		ApplyDeemphasisComplete(palo);
+	}
 }
 
 void WritePalette(void) {
 	int x;
+	int unvaried = sizeof(unvpalette) / sizeof(unvpalette[0]);
 
-	for (x = 0; x < 7; x++)
+	for (x = 0; x < unvaried; x++)
 		FCEUD_SetPalette(x, unvpalette[x].r, unvpalette[x].g, unvpalette[x].b);
-	if (GameInfo->type == GIT_NSF) {
-	} else {
-		for (x = 0; x < 64; x++)
-			FCEUD_SetPalette(128 + x, palo[x].r, palo[x].g, palo[x].b);
-		SetNESDeemph(lastd, 1);
+	for (x = unvaried; x < 256; x++)
+		FCEUD_SetPalette(x, 205, 205, 205);
+	for (x = 0; x < 64; x++)
+		FCEUD_SetPalette(128 + x, palo[x].r, palo[x].g, palo[x].b);
+	SetNESDeemph(lastd, 1);
+	for (x = 0; x < 512; x++) {
+		FCEUD_SetPalette(256 + x, palo[x].r, palo[x].g, palo[x].b);
 	}
 }
diff --git a/src/palette.h b/src/palette.h
index a1bf2e8..d01b807 100644
--- a/src/palette.h
+++ b/src/palette.h
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ typedef struct {
 } pal;
 
 extern pal *palo;
-extern int ipalette;
+extern uint8 palette_game_available;
 void FCEU_ResetPalette(void);
 
 void FCEU_ResetPalette(void);
diff --git a/src/palettes/palettes.h b/src/palettes/palettes.h
index 7cb9013..9b5acee 100644
--- a/src/palettes/palettes.h
+++ b/src/palettes/palettes.h
@@ -1,20 +1,31 @@
-pal rp2c04_0001[64] = {
+#define EMPTY_PALETTE_1          { 0, 0, 0},
+#define EMPTY_PALETTE_4          EMPTY_PALETTE_1 EMPTY_PALETTE_1 EMPTY_PALETTE_1 EMPTY_PALETTE_1
+#define EMPTY_PALETTE_16         EMPTY_PALETTE_4 EMPTY_PALETTE_4 EMPTY_PALETTE_4 EMPTY_PALETTE_4
+#define EMPTY_PALETTE_64         EMPTY_PALETTE_16 EMPTY_PALETTE_16 EMPTY_PALETTE_16 EMPTY_PALETTE_16
+#define EMPTY_PALETTE_DEEMPH_X_7 EMPTY_PALETTE_64 EMPTY_PALETTE_64 EMPTY_PALETTE_64 EMPTY_PALETTE_64 EMPTY_PALETTE_64 EMPTY_PALETTE_64 EMPTY_PALETTE_64
+
+pal rp2c04_0001[512] = {
  #include "rp2c04-0001.h"
+ EMPTY_PALETTE_DEEMPH_X_7
 };
 
-pal rp2c04_0002[64] = {
+pal rp2c04_0002[512] = {
  #include "rp2c04-0002.h"
+ EMPTY_PALETTE_DEEMPH_X_7
 };
 
-pal rp2c04_0003[64] = {
+pal rp2c04_0003[512] = {
  #include "rp2c04-0003.h"
+ EMPTY_PALETTE_DEEMPH_X_7
 };
-pal rp2c04_0004[64] = {
+pal rp2c04_0004[512] = {
  #include "rp2c04-0004.h"
+ EMPTY_PALETTE_DEEMPH_X_7
 };
 
-pal rp2c03[64] = {
+pal rp2c03[512] = {
  #include "rp2c03.h"
+ EMPTY_PALETTE_DEEMPH_X_7
 };
 
 
@@ -30,7 +41,7 @@ pal unvpalette[7] = {
 
 
 /* Default palette */
-pal palette[64] = {
+pal palette[512] = {
 	{ 117, 117, 117 }, /* Value 0 */
 	{ 36, 24, 142 }, /* Value 1 */
 	{ 0, 0, 170 }, /* Value 2 */
@@ -95,4 +106,6 @@ pal palette[64] = {
 	{ 199, 199, 199 }, /* Value 61 */
 	{ 0, 0, 0 }, /* Value 62 */
 	{ 0, 0, 0 }, /* Value 63 */
+
+	EMPTY_PALETTE_DEEMPH_X_7
 };
diff --git a/src/video.c b/src/video.c
index 10b0c96..325ff0a 100644
--- a/src/video.c
+++ b/src/video.c
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ int FCEU_InitVirtualVideo(void)
       return 0;
 
    memset(XBuf, 128, 256 * (256 + extrascanlines + 8));
-   memset(XDBuf, 128, 256 * (256 + extrascanlines + 8));
+   memset(XDBuf, 0, 256 * (256 + extrascanlines + 8));
    return 1;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/vsuni.c b/src/vsuni.c
index 899ba7d..92f8c2e 100644
--- a/src/vsuni.c
+++ b/src/vsuni.c
@@ -292,8 +292,8 @@ void FCEU_VSUniCheck(uint64 md5partial, int *MapperNo, int *Mirroring) {
 
 	while (vs->name) {
 		if (md5partial == vs->md5partial) {
-			if (vs->ppu < RCP2C03B) pale = vs->ppu;
-			else pale = 5;
+			if (vs->ppu < RCP2C03B) default_palette_selected = vs->ppu;
+			else default_palette_selected = 5;
 			*MapperNo = vs->mapper;
 			*Mirroring = vs->mirroring;
 			GameInfo->type = GIT_VSUNI;