Blazing Chrome Guide: Pro Tips, Boss Strategies and Gear Survival

1. Game Overview

Blazing Chrome is a brutal and stylish run-and-gun shooter set in a post-apocalyptic future where rogue machines have nearly wiped out humanity. You play as either Mavra, a hardened human warrior, or Doyle, a reprogrammed robot, as they storm across levels choked with mechanized enemies and epic bosses in a fight to destroy the machine’s power plant. The game features one-hit deaths, local co-op, multiple difficulty modes, and classic arcade pacing tempered by modern touches like assist bots and checkpoint systems.

• Developer: JoyMasher
• Publisher: The Arcade Crew (and CE-Asia for some regions)
• Release Date: July 11, 2019 for Windows
• Platforms: Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, exA-Arcadia
• Genre: Run-and-gun / 2D action platformer
• Core Loop: Start a level → shoot and dodge enemies → collect weapons & power-ups → reach bosses → study & learn their patterns → defeat boss → move on to next level or retry until mastery

Quick fact: Blazing Chrome has a mode called Blazing Chrome AC, an enhanced arcade version released for the exA-Arcadia system which added a new playable character, Zaku, who uses melee combat and grenade throw

2. Core Facts (quick reference)

Below is a breakdown of Blazing Chrome’s core mechanical systems, i.e., lives, weapons, bots, and level design, alongside how each feature shapes the way you play

System	What it does	Player impact
Lives and death	Players start with a limited number of lives and are killed by a single hit from enemies or hazards. When death occurs, equipped bots and non-default weapons are dropped.	Conservative play is encouraged because losing gear and bots on death increases rollback and resource loss; players are often more defensive as a result.
Weapons	The default machine gun is provided from the start; pickups include grenade launchers, particle/laser weapons, and an energy whip among others. Special weapons are lost on death and must be re-found.	Players choose weapons to match situations: spreads for crowd control, high-damage weapons for bosses. Risk versus reward is shaped by the chance to lose a picked-up weapon.
Assist Bots	Three bot types (Attack, Defense, Speed) can be collected; only one bot may be equipped at a time and bots are dropped on death.	Bot choice affects playstyle: Attack increases DPS, Defense grants extra hit capacity, Speed boosts mobility and jump options. Keeping bots alive is a common survival strategy.
Set pieces and vehicles	Certain stages include scripted vehicle, mech, hoverbike, and jetpack segments that change movement and combat rules.	These segments demand different tactics and memorisation; they break up the run-and-gun flow and can act as difficulty spikes or refreshing variety, depending on the player.

Note: Specific weapon stats, bot effects, and exact stage counts are catalogued in the official game guide and community walkthroughs

3. Combat Fundamentals, Weapons, and Bots

Combat is fast, reflex-driven, and emphasizes learning enemy patterns. The baseline starting armament is a machine gun and both weapons and bots are obtained as pickups during stages.

1. Starter and pickup weapons: The machine gun is the default. Pickups include a grenade launcher, an energy whip, and a particle cannon.
2. Bot behavior: Players can collect one of three bots: Attack bots fire alongside the player and increase damage when the player shoots; Defense bots provide extra hits (they act like shields) before breaking; Speed bots increase movement speed, firing rate, and allow a double jump for accessing high areas.
3. Death and equipment loss: When a player dies, they lose any equipped bot and any non-starter weapons (i.e. anything besides the default machine gun).

Pro Tip: Prioritize keeping a defensive bot active entering mini bosses and bosses because it changes encounter survivability significantly.

4. Levels, Bosses, and Progression

The campaign is organized into six themed missions (levels) with multiple mini bosses and at least one major boss per mission

1. Mission structure: There are four missions unlocked at the start, and two more are unlocked later. Each mission consists of several stages, with mini bosses interspersed before major boss fights.
2. Boss patterns: Boss fights use multiphase behavior, distinct attack patterns, and destructible or exploitable components; players and community videos document these patterns and counter-strategies.
3. Unlockables: Beating the game (on any difficulty) unlocks additional playable characters (Raijin and Suhaila) and extra modes like Boss Rush and Mirror Mode.

Boss Insight: Use early attempts to map a boss’s safe windows rather than burning lives.

5. Difficulty, Accessibility, and Platform Notes

Blazing Chrome offers three difficulty levels: Easy, Normal, and Hardcore. Easy and Normal modes provide unlimited continues, more lives at the start, and allow saving after completing individual missions. Hardcore mode becomes available only after beating Normal, and in it the player has fewer lives, limited continues, and cannot save between missions.

The game is hard even on lower difficulties because of one-hit kills, dense enemy/projectile patterns, and demanding boss fights. However, the developers introduced checkpoints within missions, generous use of continues, and support bots & pickups to help mitigate the difficulty curve. These features help new players adapt without overwhelming them.

In terms of accessibility:

• Controls are straightforward and responsive; aiming is directional but not fully 360°, and button remapping options are not available on at least the Switch version.
• Visual filter options are included (e.g. CRT or scan-line effects) to enhance retro presentation, though they are cosmetic and do not affect gameplay.

Regarding platforms: Blazing Chrome is available on PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One. It supports local co-op. The game runs well in handheld mode on Switch and controls translate nicely to consoles; however, some players report occasional input or platforming frustrations (especially with wire platforms) due to tight timing or collision detection issues.

Accessibility note:Blazing Chrome does not support a colorblind mode.

6. Practical Strategies and Advanced Pro Tips

1. Use the dash/roll smartly to dodge waves and boss attacks
   While holding the weapon-switch button, you can do a dodge roll or dash. This move does not deal damage, but it gives you invulnerability frames and lets you slip through tight projectile patterns. Timing this properly with boss or mini boss attack cycles saves more lives than simply firing non-stop.
2. Prioritize melee when enemies are close
   The melee attack is triggered when an enemy is very near and provides high damage at point-blank range. It also deflects grenades or missiles if correctly timed. In crowded rooms or when mobbing by weaker enemies, using melee carefully helps conserve ammo and reduce incoming projectiles.
3. Bot selection matters: defense bot is a big lifesaver
   Because many hits or situations are unavoidable, especially in later stages or boss fights, maintaining a Defense bot can be crucial. It gives you buffered hits/shields, giving room for mistakes. When aiming for high-difficulty runs (Hardcore or Boss Rush), keeping a defensive bot alive often means the difference between success and restart.
4. Learn stage enemy waves rather than just bosses
   Many stage segments become harder than the bosses due to sheer number or unpredictable trajectories of enemies. Practice these sections (especially waves) to master movement and pattern recognition so you can avoid damage and preserve weapons.
5. Save special weapons & bots for key segments
   Because non-starter weapons and bots are lost on death, it helps to treat them as resources to be used selectively. Holding onto them until mini bosses or big boss fights, or especially dangerous segments, can provide your biggest advantage. Don’t burn through them on easier enemies unless you need crowd control.

7. Conclusion

The game rewards pattern recognition, precise movement, and smart resource management. Apply the pro tips here to keep bots and special weapons alive for key fights. Practice vehicle and wave segments, learn boss phases, and treat weapons and bots as consumable advantages to be used strategically. With focused repetition and the strategies in this guide, you will turn brutal runs into consistent clears and conquer Hardcore and Boss Rush modes