The hit counter/chain is also added to and extended by destroying the surrounding environment, such as shooting out windows, railings, fruit stands, and concrete barriers. As the player scores continuous hits on enemies in short periods of time, his hit counter increases, giving score bonuses and compliments from other characters at certain milestones (Scoring a 30, 60, 100 hit chain, etc). Unlike its Time Crisis counterparts, Razing Storm puts a unique emphasis on the player's score and performance, with frequent checkpoints, score reports, and commentary for hit chains to let the player know how he's doing, and how he compares to other players before him. As the player keeps progressing without taking damage, the warning time shrinks and projectiles travel faster, forcing the player to defend much more quickly and efficiently to avoid damage while moving forward, much like the Virtua Cop series. Different from most Time Crisis games, clear warnings are given when an enemy has locked-on and is about to attack, usually in the form of a shrinking crosshair mark around an enemy's gun, or a yellow triangle around flying projectiles. When the life marks drop to zero or bellow, the game is over. A one-half mark is taken away for accidentally shooting a civilian in certain situations, but several one-half marks can be earned (even above the default amount) by covering allied squad members in other situations. Players have a limited number of life marks (a default setting of three) and one mark is taken away for every hit of damage they take and whenever the timer runs out. This forces the player to attack and take risks rather than hide behind their shield, or they will face damage from the timer running out. The game also has a time limit on each section. Releasing the pedal allows the player to take cover behind the shield, reloading their weapon and rendering the player impervious to all types of damage, but leaves them unable to attack. Pressing down on the pedal allows the player to put down the shield and attack, but leaves them open to enemy fire. Razing Storm is similar to many of its Time Crisis Rail-Shooter counterparts, namely Crisis Zone, using the signature Foot-Pedal cover system, but providing the player with a Machine Gun as the default weapon and a handheld ballistic shield. (Strategic Combat and Rescue), sent to capture the leader of the rebels, Paulo Guerra, who masterminded an attack on the United States. Razing Storm's story places the players - referred to as Alpha One and Alpha Two in-game - in a massively destructible environment to fight futuristic terrorists and renegade soldiers in a South American country under a bloody revolution as part of a special forces unit called S.C.A.R.