Blazing Chrome
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Rating Summary
Based on 65 critic reviews
OpenCritic Rating
Top Critic Average
Critics Recommend
Score Distribution
Unscored Reviews
Joymashers newest game is a good exercise on using nostalgia as an inspiration, but not directly copy it. Blazing Chrome takes a lot of games like Contra III and Metal Slug, but also includes mechanics from newest games so it doesn't feel just like a clone of other successful games.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
It is a title that, to an inexperienced like me in this type of games, has been very hard, and that surely will make it difficult for the most versed in the field. Still, its speed and speed are an adrenaline rush more than important, and that culminates with enormous satisfaction once you reach the end of each level.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Scored Reviews
Whilst clearly inspired by Contra, Blazing Chrome is more than capable to stand on its own as a great run ‘n gun. It shows how much Joymasher grew as a developer and it is by far their best game.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Blazing Chrome is a fantastic love letter to retro run and gun games that fans of Contra cannot miss and new players should experience.
EXCELLENT - It’s not often that a current day indie game can meet or exceed the IP its drawing inspiration from, but Blazing Chrome somehow manages to perfectly capture the Contra III essence with some modern day sensibilities thrown in. If you enjoy 2-player co-op run and gun shooters, this one needs to be on your Switch right now.
Top Critic
Blazing Chrome is a great throwback to games such as Contra; simple run-and-guns with swarms of enemies, awesome boss fights, special weapons, and a great soundtrack to go with it. With fluid controls, multiple difficulties, and a stage select so you can pick which stage to tackle in any order, Blazing Chrome is definitely worth picking up if you’re into Contra-style games.
Top Critic
Despite the short length, Blazing Chrome is an awesome experience that will bring you back to the golden age of 2D running and gunning. The sharp visuals, addictive gameplay and incredible level design had me grinning and sweating from beginning to end. If you’re itching for some side-scrolling action, Blazing Chrome is a must.
Top Critic
A throwback to classic 16-bit action titles, Blazing Chrome is a run-and-gun game that captures the co-op thrills and tough-as-nails gameplay found in Contra and Metal Slug.
Top Critic
Blazing Chrome an excellent throwback to the games of yesteryear, and a loving tribute to Contra and Metal Slug that establishes its own identity through beautiful art, fantastic design, and an excellent soundtrack.
Top Critic
Coming in hot after the release of Konami’s Contra Anniversary Collection, Blazing Chrome steals its thunder. It out-Contras Contra, basically.
Top Critic
Rad and totally kickass, Blazing Chrome stands as one of the best run n' gun games of all time. A worthy successor to the Contra crown from concept to execution.
Top Critic
Konami might be reviving Contra in its own way, but it is unlikely it will scratch the same itch that fans have been grasping for all these years. From the wild rail gun shooting sequence, to the frantic battle with a huge cycloptic Terminator knock-off, Blazing Chrome is worthy to be held in the same league of the action games that inspired it. This is easily one of the greatest 2D action games on the Nintendo Switch, and it is made all the better thanks to its accessible two-player co-op mode. It is fun with friends and enemies. It may not burn for long, but Blazing Chrome burns extremely bright.
Top Critic
Blazing Chrome understands exactly what made the older titles tick. It has the look and sound of classic titles, and it emulates the gameplay really well. The action is relentless, and boss fights reward skill over pure ammo dumping. The game doesn't go for adding on extras from other genres, relying instead on pure gameplay to drive the title. The short length, which was normal for offerings from that time period and genre, is buoyed by gameplay modes that feel worthwhile instead of tacked on. For run-and-gun fans, Blazing Chrome is an essential addition to the gaming library.
The whole package is just as near damn perfect as you could possibly ask for. This has gone straight on the list of my Game of the Year Contenders.
Top Critic
One of the best run 'n' gun shooters out there.
Top Critic
For those longing for a time when side-scrolling shooters ruled the roost, Blazing Chrome is exactly what you're looking for. Perfect for short sessions, its slick gameplay and old-school art direction make for an astonishingly fun game full of explosions, epic set pieces and spectacular boss battles. Its brutal difficulty may not be for everyone, but if you're up for the challenge, then get ready for one of the most accomplished 2D action titles in years.
When my only major gripe with this game comes from the stupid save file limitations, that’s a testament to how solid this game is, and I honestly even feel it’ll be one of the Indie classics people will look back on a decade from now.
Though it may be short, offering five levels (each with sub-levels, mini-bosses and end bosses) Blazing Chrome is quite easily one of the best run-and-gun games on the market. Period.
Blazing Chrome is another success story from the folks at JoyMasher. It’s a ton of fun and has surprising longevity. Once you beat the game once, on any difficulty, you’ll unlock all the other goodies the game has to offer. These include new playable characters, a harder difficulty, mirror mode and even a boss rush. That last feature is one I’m shocked I’ve never had in a Contra game before, and it makes perfect sense to include here. While it’s true you can get through Blazing Chrome in a few short hours, it’s time well spent. This is one of the few games I have played more than once just cause I enjoyed it so much, despite no achievements for doing so. Oh and while I didn’t try it out, Blazing Chrome also has local co-op, for the truly faithful Contra experience. While this probably won’t make any fans out of those who hate the genre, it’s a wonderful present to old fans like myself. And for $16.99, it’s a very affordable adventure. I’m pleased by the latest from JoyMasher, and can’t wait to see the next modern retro classic they have up their sleeves!
Blazing Chrome completely nails its homage to the Contra franchise, so much so, that it feels like a better version of it.
Blazing Chrome is a suprisingly massive action orgy, that plays like a spiritual successor to the legendary Contra Hard Corps with a theme from Terminator, which doesn`t bring up anything new on the table, but is simply awesome in its whole execution. A must-buy for fans of Contra and friends of bombastic run and gun action with lots of love in detail.
Review in German | Read full review
Top Critic
With Blazing Chrome you kind of get what you get: it's an hour and change shooter that pays extreme homage to the Contra series. JoyMasher has already proved that they "get" the bygone eras of retro gaming with Oniken and Odallus, and now they have yet another triumph to add to their resume.
Top Critic
A good game is still a good game regardless of generation.
Top Critic
Blazing Chrome is a nice mixture of contra and metal slug series. It has both positive and negative points from these 2 nostalgic series, But in the end, Blazing Chrome is really one of the best run and gun 2D shooter games you can experience in this generation. Be ready for a really tough challenge in this old-school style hardcore game.
Review in Persian | Read full review
Blazing Chrome is a must-buy for retro fans. It looks and plays great - albeit with a few frustrating aspects inherent to the genre - and is even more fun, and chaotic, in coop.
Blazing Chrome knows perfectly how to strike a chord to make us believe that we are dealing with a real retro game, with a simple and direct gameplay typical of the time and with a sound and visual section that will keep us with a smile on our face. On the other hand, the game has a short duration that leaves the player wanting more and a system of aids that may be in dissonance with the rest of the elements. Otherwise, a safe bet for entertainment.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Top Critic
Blazing Chrome is the coin op you didn't play in the arcade, the cartridge that never came out for Neo Geo, the game you didn't know you missed so much. A game with spasmodic, sadistic and punitive action, just as we liked in the 90s.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Top Critic
The best Contra game for decades, even if it's not an official sequel, with amusingly over-the-top action and a great co-op mode.
Top Critic
Blazing Chrome is an amazing package that does exactly what it sets out to do and is for people who know what they want from it. By the same (arcade) token, it is difficult to recommend to anyone who even begins to question whether it’s a game for them.
Top Critic
Blazing Chrome is a pleasant gift to the bored fans of the classic Contra with fun gameplay, well-balanced high difficulty and beautiful pixel styling. If you have already finished Cuphead and are waiting for something hardcore and interesting in the format of side-scrolling shooter, you can safely buy this project. The game will not disappoint you.
Review in Russian | Read full review
Top Critic
Blazing Chrome doesn't try to be anything more than a classic run-and-gun and easily exceeds expectations, although the length does leave something to be desired.
Top Critic
Blazing Chrome's success comes from taking inspiration from the best 16-bit run-and-gun games -- with everything from the detailed pixel art, to the fierce two-player action feeling like a glorious homage to Contra III: The Alien Wars.
Top Critic
Blazing Chrome is more than a simple hommage to the Contra and Metal Slug series : the game also take liberties to offer the genre a new and strong challenger. With two very different styles and a delightful pixelart look, there is much more than meets the nostalgic eyes in this complete run and gun.
Review in French | Read full review
Top Critic
Great things come in small packages.
Top Critic
Blazing Chrome is an incredible run'n'gun that succeed in all of it's goals. A must for action games nostalgics.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Top Critic
Blazing Chrome is a fantastic slice of retro run 'n' gun that deftly pays homage to a golden era of side-scrolling shooters. Badass.
Top Critic
Blazing Chrome is a game that makes feels like I stepped into a time machine and arrived back during the heydays of the forgotten Run N' Gun arcade shooter genre. Challenging, fun and one of the best games 2D shooters I've played in quite some time.
Top Critic
Blazing Chrome is a true old-school throwback to the glory days of Metal Slug and Contra. It may pay a little too much homage to its forebears, but there's plenty of satisfying hardcore action on offer for the faithful.
Top Critic
Blazing Chrome is a short, blazing run and gun experience well worth the lower price tag that accompanies it.
Top Critic
A straightforward and to the point Contra-like experience sums up Blazing Chrome well. With six levels that will probably only take you an hour or three to clear the first time through, it's a tiny bit light on content, but thanks to the co-op and unlockable modes, more mileage can be squeezed out of this short and sweet joyride.
Top Critic
Packing retro aesthetics and just the right amount of challenge, Blazing Chrome is the best run-and-gun in years. Though it is a bit on the short side, it perfectly encapsulates the pure kinetic energy that put the genre on the map.
Top Critic
Despite some issues, Blazing Chrome can be considered as a true spiritual to Contra Hard Corps. If you're a Contra fan, you'll find most of the things you wanted in a Contra title in this game as well and will be quite pleased with what you'll get. But the rest of players and especially those who are inexperienced in the Run 'n Gun genre might have issues with the game's difficulty and the amount of available content
Review in Persian | Read full review
Top Critic
A wonderful game for Contra fans. Painfully short, though.
Review in Russian | Read full review
Top Critic
This adrenaline-pumping, tough as nails run-and-gunner, isn't retro-inspired, but pure retro! Besides that, it's also tons of fun. That being said, it has a couple of issues, like some annoying hit-boxes, a lack of balance in terms of difficulty and weaponry, and, finally, the fact that it doesn't add anything new to the genre. It's great, but it could be so much more.
If you adore Contra, you will absolutely love this game.
Top Critic
Blazing Chrome isn't some grand reinvention of the shoot 'em up genre at large, but for the most part, it does a masterful job of utilising the genre's best conventions. Definitely worth checking out.
Depending what difficulty setting you select, Blazing Chrome can either be too easy or too hard, thankfully it is endlessly replayable alone or with a friend. Blazing Chrome is my favorite from JoyMasher yet, and it is on-par with the challenge of their other releases. This is a 16-bit game with an 8-bit challenge that makes for an instant classic. In turn, it stays authentic to the era in terms of difficulty, presentation, and feel. In Blazing Chrome's case, this is an exciting game that nails the era with an 80s and 90s feel that's perfectly complimented by its gameplay and even end-credits song.
Boasting challenging run and gun gameplay, an impressive amount of replayability, and an unmatched level of nostalgia, Blazing Chrome is a must have.
Do you nostalgically reminiscence about good old Contra from time to time? Are you looking for its spiritual successor? You can stop now. Blazing Chrome is here.
Review in Czech | Read full review
Top Critic
I found that 'Blazing Chrome' was best played with a controller. The D-Pad on my 8BitDo controller makes the game much better to play, especially when setting the angle for diagonal shots, but now with the Switch Lite on the horizon with its D-Pad on the handheld, this is almost a non-issue.
Top Critic
Blazing Chrome it's a love letter to a genre and two specific sagas, with a top notch pixel art, levels with different gameplay and local coop for two. But, at the same time, it doesn't go far away from the original run and gun formula. It venerates it more than innovate it, and because of that all you will see have been done before in other games.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Top Critic
Blazing Chrome’s premise is simple. And that’s why it’s such a blast to play.
Top Critic
Playing Blazing Chrome is like going back to the arcade golden era.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Overall Blazing Chrome is an excellent game and well worth the price. With the Leaderboards this gives you a reason to come coming back and playing. Also once you have completed the game there are some surprises which I will not spoil here.
Top Critic
Blazing Chrome is a classic shooter that might not be appealing to the newer generation of gamers, but it's perfect for old school shooter fans or those who are willing to give it a chance.
Review in Persian | Read full review
Blazing Chrome's explosive action and old-school aesthetic delight, even though the experience ends too quickly.
Top Critic
Blazing Chrome is an authentic retro run 'n' gun experience that'll surely satisfy genre fans. That being said, there are many frustrating moments that are difficult to overlook and the amount of content is a little thin, too.
Top Critic
If you're into your classic shooters and don't mind a few cheap deaths along the way, Blazing Chrome is a pulse-pounding thrillride that wears its influences proudly on its sleeve.
Top Critic
The run-and-gun gameplay felt great, I liked the over-the-top level design, the story was a neat throwback to a time when game stories were simple, and the bosses were memorable. I just wished the game wasn’t so frustrating to get through.
Top Critic
A frantic co-op shooter in the same vein as Contra, Blazing Chrome is an electrified, 16-bit inspired run-and-gun game that will keep your trigger finger numb and your profanities loud.
Top Critic
Blazing Chrome is an modern take on classic run and gun arcade classics. It's difficult to ignore the strong influence Contra had on the game's development, but either because of or in spite of this it's still a lot of fun to play, especially on co-op. Anyone who wants something new with the classic Contra or Metal Slug style gameplay can't go wrong with Blazing Chrome, but even though it's a good time, it doesn't really bring anything new to the party.
Blazing Chrome is challenging, well put-together, and replayable as heck, even if it comes off as familiar at times.
Top Critic
For better or worse, this title has the overall feel of a relic. As an older gamer who grew up with arcades, it should hold high appeal to me. Yet I can't help but find myself thinking more about the games it's trying to emulate, at least when playing solo
Top Critic
Joymasher's Blazing Chrome is a retraux action game which seeks to woo Contra aficionados with its challenging run-and-gun pixelated gameplay.
Top Critic
Blazing Chrome is so close to achieving what it's sets out to be – a fun retro 2D arcade shooter. There's sadly just too many issues to be overcome by the player to find the fun. If the development team are willing to put additional time into Blazing Chrome with patches and updates, then this could be well worth a punt. As it stands, Blazing Chrome is both too limited and too frustrating to recommend.
