In a world where robots run the show, you're left with the only two options: become a cockroach or fight back. Enter Blazing Chrome, the nostalgic lovechild of classic run-and-gun games that may have you flailing your arms about while avoiding laser beams and trying to remember what you just picked up. Spoiler: it was probably a headache.
Players take control of either Mavra, armed and dangerously human, or Doyle, the robot with a transformation so radical it would make Optimus Prime jealous. The gameplay is a pixelated whirlwind of jumping, shooting, and dodging explosive projectiles as you traverse through six action-packed levels full of enemy bots that are convinced conveying their 'love' means shooting at you. You'll start each level armed with a machine gun and can scavenge the battlefield for crazy weapons, including a grenade launcher or a whip that would make Indiana Jones raise an eyebrow. You’ll want to take full advantage of that whip when the enemies get up close and personal—because trust me, nothing says 'I love you' like a shotgun blast at point-blank range. The game supports two-player cooperative mode, so grab your brave (or foolish) best friend and dive into the chaos together. Because if you’re going to get annihilated repeatedly, you might as well laugh about it with someone. There are assist robots to help you on your journey. You've got attack bots that do the firing for you (hello, sidekicks!), defense bots to absorb hits like a buffet plate, and speed bots that transform you into a blur faster than your last decision-making skills in adulthood. However, death comes swiftly—one hit from those treacherous machines takes away a life. Which, by the way, can be adjusted based on the difficulty from 'casually lose your mind' to 'why do I even game?' The game’s difficulty will slap you awake before you can even order your post-game pizza, so be prepared.
Visually, Blazing Chrome is a nostalgic treat. It's got that retro pixel-art style you either love or it reminds you of why you avoided old games at the arcade. The backdrops are filled with enough detail to make you stop and appreciate them, if you can tear your gaze away from the onslaught of enemy projectiles. The graphics look like they were ripped straight from a glorious 16-bit era, and the only thing missing is the sweet smell of popcorn at your neighborhood arcade. But heck, at least there are explosions, and who can complain about those when accompanied by a good soundtrack?
In conclusion, Blazing Chrome is a delightful throwback that captures the spirit of classic run-and-gun games. Grab a friend, some snacks, and prepare for a punishingly good time. Just remember: if you start yelling profanities at the screen or contemplating your life choices as death number 63 approaches, you might want to take a break. Or you could embrace the madness—all the cool kids are doing it. You’ll thank JoyMasher later when you’re reminiscing about that time you utterly dominated your friends until they questioned why they ever agreed to play in the first place.