10 Times Video Game Spiritual Successors Were Better Than Official Sequels

10. Blazing Chrome (Contra)

Even though Contra has had some decent sequels over the last decade or so, none have come close to matching the classic series. In fact, Konami's bullet-hell shooter has been surpassed by many spiritual successors, including Metal Slug and Vampire Survivors.

Then there's Blazing Chrome. JoyMaster's sidescrolling platformer is so masterful at emulating its inspiration, many players would genuinely believe it's a forgotten run-and-gun from the SNES/Genesis era if they played it with zero context. The trailer also perfectly nails the cheesy 90's vibe to a tee.

While blasting at the screen-filling bosses and listening to the catchy chiptunes, it's easy to forget this isn't an official Contra sequel. Although critics took umbrage with the brutal difficulty curve and outdated controls, these factors further highlight how well this kick-ass clone captured the spirit of Contra.

Blazing Chrome couldn't have come out at a better time, since it was released the same year as the abominable Contra: Rogue Corps. Every aspect of this twin-stick shooter screams "bland," whether it's the graphics, the bosses, or the tedious mission structure. 

The recently released Contra: Operation Galuga was a huge improvement, but it still came up short when compared to Blazing Chrome.