Like the old times
Blazing Chrome is another retro-style game from JoyMasher, refined in details to best reflect the atmosphere of old times. Everything works great together: old-school pixel art graphics, CRT filters for the look of an old TV, strong synthetic music by Dominik Ninmark, mechanical sounds of shots and explosions, and even a greeting voice with the title and the final “Game over” like taken from a standing machine for games.
We have already received very similar platformers from JoyMasher, strongly inspired by the 80s – not only in appearance, but also in the plot. In 2012, they released the game Oniken, set in a post-apocalyptic world where humanity almost died out after the global war (sounds familiar), in which the main character – a representative of the resistance movement, here for a change being a ninja – has to deal with an evil military organization.
The mechanics of character movement also differ slightly. In both games, we can meet even very similar enemies, such as flying mechanical insects sticking out of the head walls on moving spines, or standing, shooting cannons. I have the impression that the creators are only improving their finished project, available on the market for a long time, but under a different title. Will they manage to surprise us with something?
Military post-apo
The presented world, in which we have to fight, is gloomy – it resembles one large, dilapidated factory, and at times a spaceship from an Alien . Sometimes it refers to the classics of the genre, which is Contra (there is even a board in the winter forest, as well as fragments in which we observe the characters from behind their backs, and the board appears in front of them in the back of the screen). Of course, graphically, there is absolutely no comparison between the two shooters, because Blazing Chrome is much more modern. As the creators themselves admit, their work is something between Contra and Metal Slug. Many military elements were taken from both games. An extremely interesting option borrowed from the latter is the ability to get into mechs and drive them. We will even come across several types of them. It is worth noting that the details have been taken care of here – when we jump on dilapidated cars while in the mech, they gently bend under its weight.
As in Metal Slug , attack helicopters also appeared. In one of the missions, we even have a unique opportunity to hang on the skid of a friendly vehicle.
Of course, the main characters here are also military.
Together or separately
The rebels are led by a laid back super soldier with long blonde hair – Mavra – and helped by a rebellious mohawk robot, Doyle.
You can play one or two of these characters at once in cooperative multiplayer. When fighting alone, you should definitely have your eyes around your head, because you have to react immediately to enemies appearing from all sides of the screen. We are dealing with running cyber soldiers, flying robot insects, jumping mantis and dogs that also walk on the ceiling. There are even huge worms that emerge from the ground in the desert like Dune bearers. Playing with an accompanying person is so much easier that you can sometimes make an appointment, for example, determining who is shooting in which direction. Then all this war turmoil is a little easier to tame – often only after repeated tedious practice of going through the same moments so as not to finally die.
Until the end …
As befits a suicide mission, surviving is quite difficult. This is very typical of old platformers and arcade games (especially the latter), the creators of which wanted the player to throw as many chips into the slot machine as possible. By default, there is no save-game option for this genre. Only after passing the full mission (including even a few longer locations and two or three super bosses) can we check it off permanently on the map.
We have checkpoints here from time to time, but they appear so rarely that it can be very annoying at times, as you have to go through a long fragment again in case of failure. Additionally, three difficulty levels are also provided: Easy, Normal and Hardcore Mode. They differ, among other things, in the number of lives available and the frequency of appearance of packages containing additional weapons and bonuses supporting characters.
Something Extra!
The packs contain powerful weapons that allow you to kill multiple opponents at once. We can find an explosive barrel, a grenade launcher and a laser cannon. The latter additionally has a special property that allows you to shoot a giant beam of fire that stretches across the entire screen.
A very useful option, practically unavailable in similar games before, is the ability to switch between your weapons. Unfortunately, when we die, we lose the one we are holding in our hands – but you cannot have everything that is not too easy!
In addition to weapons, we can also get other additional supports, called bots here.
These are: attack bot – a cannon that moves with the hero, which fires complementary shots slightly below the standard line of fire, defense bot, i.e. a useful cover that can withstand two hits, and a speed bot that allows you to move faster.
An extremely useful and convenient help is also the opportunity to lock the hero in one place, so that, for example, when standing over a precipice and aiming in different directions, he does not run forward by accident.
Quite a modern thing that comes to the game is the extensive stats and achievements list that add up over all the games. By looking at them, we will find out what to refine and what else can happen to us.
All weapons on board!
Blazing Chrome is well made, both graphically and sonically. The creators did not show off too much when inventing the plot – they already have very similar games in their arsenal. However, if someone has never had contact with them before, the story of Mavra saving humanity from destruction in the post-apocalyptic world should fully satisfy him.
In missions, we have a very fast action, which is additionally enhanced by energetic music.
And although the game is demanding when it comes to patience, dexterity and reflexes, as well as the perceptiveness needed to know where to stand to avoid shock, it makes up for this (for me) disadvantage with additional flavors in the form of the ability to switch weapons, control mechs, variety of opponents and attention to detail.
You can buy the game at GOG.com
