Graze Counter

About

Graze Counter is a single player casual shooter game with fantasy, anime, dark fantasy and science fiction themes. It was developed by Bikkuri Software and was released on July 27, 2017. It received very positive reviews from players.

Graze the enemy’s bullets, Charge them head-on, and Wreak Havoc!! An exhilarating and dangerous shoot-em-up! This is a game for those with courage and survival instinct!

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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92%

Audience ScoreBased on 144 reviews

gameplay36 positive mentions

grinding1 negative mentions

Unique and satisfying grazing mechanic that rewards risk-taking by charging a powerful counterattack and shield.
Tight and responsive controls with fast-paced, polished gameplay suitable for both beginners and experienced shmup fans.
Well-designed stages, diverse unlockable characters with distinct playstyles, and a rocking soundtrack that enhances the arcade atmosphere.

Short game length with a limited number of levels and relatively low replay value after completion.
Poor English translation and weak story presentation, with minimal or confusing narrative elements.
Some technical issues such as awkward menu navigation, lack of quick restart and pause menu, and limited controller support.

gameplay
83 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
53%
4%
The gameplay of Graze Counter is highly praised for its unique and well-implemented "grazing" mechanic, which rewards players for skillfully maneuvering close to enemy bullets to build a gauge enabling powerful counterattacks and invincibility. This risk-reward system creates intense, fast-paced, and strategic gameplay that feels satisfying and accessible to both newcomers and veterans of bullet hell shooters. Though relatively short, the game offers solid replay value with multiple characters, difficulty levels, and a smooth difficulty curve complemented by tight controls and polished mechanics.
- “The gameplay expertly balances high difficulty with rewarding mechanics, encouraging players to master the art of "grazing" — narrowly dodging bullets to rack up points and boost their survivability.”
- “The grazing mechanic being tied to a gauge is nothing short of brilliant and leads to a really satisfying risk-centric banger of a game.”
- “Gotta give this shmup huge thumbs up, as it plays its 'risk vs reward' mechanics (to fly as near as possible to enemy bullets, to build up meter and increase firepower) in a refreshingly simple and straightforward manner, without overwhelming unexperienced players, yet offering a solid challenge for those feeling more confident and skilled.”
- “Covering all the basics of a typical shoot'em'up with the additional 'graze' mechanic to reward risky play is a fine foundation but without evolving the experience between levels it runs out quickly.”
- “Gameplay is quite bad as the controls are sluggish.”
- “[quote]thrash: intentionally impossible-to-dodge attacks, indistinct background, and a headache-inducing gameplay all come together to give you an illusion of a difficult shooter: it's not, it's just thrash.”
music
40 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
55%
42%
3%
The music in the game is widely praised for its energetic, adrenaline-pumping soundtrack that perfectly complements the fast-paced, old-school shmup gameplay and pixel art aesthetic. Many reviewers highlight its catchy, eurobeat-inspired tracks as a standout feature that enhances tension and momentum, with some calling it a must-have and a major reason to play. A few note that while generally excellent, the soundtrack may not be highly memorable for everyone, but it fits well with the game's theme and mechanics overall.
- “Audio design complements the fast-paced action with energetic music that heightens tension and reinforces momentum.”
- “The soundtrack fits the action and theme with a eurobeat medley somewhere between classic Megaman and Initial D.”
- “That's what I call a shmup of quality, plus the soundtrack is an absolute banger and the mechanics are very well made.”
- “But pass on the soundtrack until you play through the game; maybe you'll like it more than I did.”
graphics
29 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
28%
62%
10%
Graze Counter features clean, colorful pixel-art graphics with an anime-inspired aesthetic that balances charm and clarity, effectively highlighting chaotic bullet patterns without sacrificing functionality. While its low-resolution, retro style may not appeal to everyone, most find the visuals crisp and well-polished, complementing the smooth controls and unique gameplay. Overall, the graphics contribute to an engaging, fluid experience that stands out within the indie shmup genre.
- “Visually, Graze Counter embraces a clean, colorful pixel-art style that prioritizes clarity in the midst of chaos.”
- “What makes Graze Counter stand out is its smooth controls and crisp visuals, which keep the chaotic bullet patterns clear and manageable even in the heat of battle.”
- “A lovely shmup that encourages getting near the bullets instead of avoiding them like the black plague, the art style is really well done, everything sticks together perfectly, and you can easily tell what a bullet will do by their color, a well polished game.”
- “The graphics are terrible, lazy pixel graphics.”
- “It's fun enough, but it has a low replay value (once you beat the game), the graphics are of the low-grade 8-bit variety, and there are no Steam achievements.”
- “Besides a weird art style for character portraits and strangely quiet audio this game is near-perfect within the scope of what it is trying to achieve.”
story
19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
16%
68%
16%
The story in this game is generally seen as minimal and simplistic, with some users finding it confusing or poorly translated, while others appreciate the inclusion of light narrative elements mainly delivered through brief dialogues and pre-boss fight lines. It serves more as a backdrop to the gameplay rather than a focal point, with mission mode acting as both a tutorial and a way to advance the plot. Overall, the story is not a strong or immersive aspect but adds a minor layer of context without detracting from the main bullet hell experience.
- “Fun little bullet hell game with a decent story, soundtrack and amazing grazing mechanics.”
- “I really like that the game included bonus side missions and an extra chapter.”
- “The dialogue is simple and is pretty much just pre boss fight lines, but it's nice to see some little element of a story thrown in there without it being a drag or distraction.”
- “I didn't like the story or lack thereof with the nonsensical monologue interludes between levels.”
- “Sure, there is something of a plot summary on the Steam page (albeit a nonsensical one), but I think there should be a wall of text or quick cutscene in-game that explains what's going on in the game world.”
- “The story is not great, mainly due to a bad English translation, so pretty much none of it makes sense.”
replayability
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
34%
33%
The game offers strong replayability through its varied mechanics, multiple unlockable characters with distinct playstyles, and additional challenge modes. While the core gameplay is relatively short, the depth and intensity, along with character variety and modes, keep players engaged. However, some reskinned characters and lack of achievements slightly limit long-term incentives for some players.
- “While its content scope is relatively compact, the depth of its mechanics and the intensity of its gameplay provide strong replay value.”
- “Lots of replayability thanks to the variety of modes and characters.”
- “There's plenty of replay value because of unlockable characters that all play differently (e.g. spread shots and slower movement vs narrower shots and fast movement), and the main game itself - like most bullet hell games - is relatively short with only 5 (increasingly difficult) stages.”
- “The extra challenge mode adds a bit more replay value to it, but once you've unlocked every character and finished that, there's not much here outside of going for high scores.”
- “It still has its own replayability, being unlocking the 2 remaining characters and the other 4 stronger variants, which are sadly just reskins of the 4 main characters.”
- “The main game itself - like most bullet hell games - is relatively short with only 5 (increasingly difficult) stages.”
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game offers a well-balanced optimization system that allows experienced players to refine strategies and improve performance, while remaining accessible and enjoyable for less experienced players focused on basic survival.
- “This structure gives experienced players plenty of room to refine routes and optimize performance, while still allowing less experienced players to enjoy the game at a basic survival level.”
grinding
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Grinding is primarily focused on unlocking characters, requiring players to invest significant time to access new options.
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is subtle but effective, contributing to an enjoyable experience despite other flaws. It adds a lighthearted charm that keeps players engaged.
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game offers an emotionally accessible experience, making a typically niche genre approachable and welcoming for players who might usually avoid it.