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Graze Counter

93%Game Brain Score
gameplay, music
story, replayability
93% User Score Based on 128 reviews

Platforms

PCPCWindowsWindows
Buy Nowfrom $3.43
Buy NowGet on Steam$9.99

About

In "Graze Counter" , players must save hostages held within the virtual network EDEN by fighting its evolved form. Graze enemy bullets to charge the Graze Counter Gauge and unleash powerful counters, or collect stars to enter Break Mode and deal significant damage. The fate of humanity rests on the shoulders of two pilot heroes.

Genres & Tags
Play Modes
Graze Counter screenshot

93%
Audience ScoreBased on 128 reviews
gameplay34 positive mentions
grinding3 negative mentions
  • Engaging graze mechanic that rewards risky play and enhances gameplay experience.
  • Charming pixel art and a fantastic soundtrack that complements the fast-paced action.
  • Variety of characters and difficulty settings make it accessible for both beginners and experienced players.
  • Poor English translation and lack of coherent story detract from the overall experience.
  • Some gameplay mechanics, like character unlocks, require excessive grinding, which can be tedious.
  • Limited replay value once all characters are unlocked and the game is completed, with no online leaderboards.
  • gameplay
    68 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay is characterized by its engaging "graze" mechanic, which rewards players for risky maneuvers and adds depth to the traditional shoot'em'up formula. While the campaign is relatively short and some find the core mechanics simplistic, the variety of unlockable characters and difficulty settings, along with polished controls and a vibrant aesthetic, create an enjoyable experience for both newcomers and seasoned players. Overall, the game successfully blends fun mechanics with a risk-reward system, making it a standout title in the indie shmup genre.

    • “An excellent little shmup with nice chonky pixel art and superb risk/reward mechanics.”
    • “The graze mechanic feels great and rewards an exciting, risk-taking play style.”
    • “Gotta give this shmup huge thumbs up, as it plays its 'risk vs reward' mechanics in a refreshingly simple and straightforward manner, without overwhelming inexperienced 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
    37 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its catchy and energetic soundtrack that enhances the overall gameplay experience. Descriptions liken the music to nostalgic 80s tunes, with some calling it a standout feature that rivals other notable soundtracks in the genre. Overall, the combination of engaging sound effects and a well-composed musical score contributes significantly to the game's charm and appeal.

    • “The music is like hearing the music on Gyrus back in the 80's for the first time; with headphones on, man, this thing is cool!”
    • “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.”
    • “The music is like hearing the music on Gyrus back in the 80's for the first time, with headphones on, man this thing is cool!”
    • “The soundtrack fits the action and theme with a eurobeat medley somewhere between classic Mega Man and Initial D.”
  • graphics
    23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game are characterized by a charming low-resolution pixel art style that resonates well with the retro aesthetic, complemented by a fitting soundtrack. While some players appreciate the visuals and find them polished and cohesive, others criticize them as lazy or low-grade. Overall, the graphics effectively support the gameplay mechanics, particularly the unique grazing system, making it a visually appealing experience for fans of indie shmups.

    • “Gorgeous low-resolution graphics, lovely lo-fi sound effects, and a bullet/enemy grazing mechanic that is really fun and easy to get to grips with.”
    • “A lovely shmup that encourages getting near the bullets instead of avoiding them, the art style is really well done, everything sticks together perfectly, and you can easily tell what a bullet will do by their color.”
    • “Charming 8-bit-esque graphics with a rocking soundtrack.”
    • “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.”
    • “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.”
    • “The graphics are terrible, lazy pixel graphics.”
  • story
    18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's story is generally considered weak, with many players noting issues such as poor English translation and a lack of coherent narrative. While some appreciate the inclusion of dialogue and side missions, the overall consensus is that the story is not a significant draw, with players primarily engaging with the gameplay mechanics rather than the plot. The mission mode serves as a tutorial, but it does not elevate the storytelling experience.

    • “Fun little bullet hell game with a decent story, soundtrack, and amazing grazing mechanics.”
    • “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.”
    • “The soundtrack is badass and the dialogue makes for a pretty interesting storyline.”
    • “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 cut-scene 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.”
    • “Unfortunately, I have a hard time recommending it because of a few downsides, such as the lackluster audio, terrible HUD that obstructs the game screen, and a boring attempt at a story.”
  • replayability
    8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's replayability is mixed; while it offers extra challenge modes and unlockable characters that enhance replay value, many players find that once the main content is completed, there isn't much incentive to return. The variety of modes and character abilities adds depth, but some elements, like reskinned characters, may feel less rewarding. Overall, the game is considered fun and addictive, particularly for fans of the genre, despite its relatively short length.

    • “Lots of replayability thanks to the variety of modes and characters.”
    • “Loads of replayability and really addictive!”
    • “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, with the challenge of unlocking the remaining two characters and the other four stronger variants, which are sadly just reskins of the four main 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), but the main game itself is relatively short with only five increasingly difficult stages.”
  • grinding
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players note that grinding is primarily focused on character unlocks, suggesting that it can be a time-consuming process that may detract from the overall enjoyment of the game.

    • “Grinding for character unlocks is tedious and feels like a chore rather than an enjoyable part of the game.”
    • “The amount of grinding required to progress is overwhelming and detracts from the overall experience.”
    • “I find the grinding mechanics to be repetitive and uninspired, making it hard to stay engaged with the game.”
  • humor
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Users note that despite some flaws in the game, the humor effectively engages them, contributing to an addictive scoring system that keeps players invested.

    • “The humor in this game is absolutely delightful, making even the most challenging moments enjoyable.”
    • “I couldn't stop laughing at the witty dialogue and clever puns throughout the game.”
    • “The comedic timing of the characters adds a unique charm that keeps you engaged and entertained.”
  • emotional
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted as being accessible and welcoming, particularly for those who may be hesitant to engage with the genre. It offers a friendly experience that can resonate with a broad audience, making it suitable for players of varying emotional comfort levels.

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