In an industry dominated by blood-drenched trailers, colourful and quirky games can be a refreshing change. Experimental, wacky and pushing beyond the boundaries of the norm? Denshattack! ticks all these boxes in spades and, because of this, is a rather tricky concept to explain.
Imagine the arcade feel of SEGA’s arcade hits like Jet Set Radio with the addictive trick mechanics of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater, popped in a blender with the likes of Katamari Damacy – out pops a delicious concoction. Sprinkle a topping of 3D Sonic the Hedgehog goodness and Denshattack! is one hearty arcade meal. Is the unique concept worth the ticket or is the game a little too out there?
Unlike the franchises it plays homage to, there are a different set of wheels to zip about in this time. A train. Yes, a literal train carriage that darts about with lightning speed across a dystopian Japan. This train can literally jump, twirl and spin across tracks, drift along walls, turn into cable car, travel upside down and grind. It can even dip underwater. Because, why not? Denshattack! is far from a scenic tour around the Land of the Rising Sun. Instead, It’s a ridiculously fast, non-stop adrenaline rush to the finish line. Surprisingly, it works.
In this world, most of Japan has been isolated inside huge protected domes built by a questionable corporation. Thanks, climate change. Protagonist Emi and various others live off grid, outside the system in rural areas, connected by a decaying train network. Emi enjoys a peaceful life delivering ramen, but ends up roped into an illegal, extreme train sport called – you guessed it – Denshattack. The story isn’t particularly ground-breaking, but there is an animé charm to the characters in the downtime between levels. Those who want to just get stuck into the game’s lengthy roster of levels can skip the fluff, too. Neat.
There is quite a bit to get used to before becoming the Francis Bourgeois of this post-apocalyptic world. The left shoulder button breaks and turns round corners (Kirby Air Riders coded), the right jumps and the analogue sticks handle direction and tricks. There will be crashes. Lots of derailment, retries and eyes permanently glued to the track. With a little practice, it becomes second nature. On screen quick time prompts are helpful, with the game being surprisingly forgiving with how far back you go after a crash. No lengthy level restarts, credits or lives needed – just a quick hop back on track (pun intended) to give it another whirl. The more forgiving nature is a welcome and accessible approach, allowing the action to keep flowing. It leans more toward fun over frustration.
That said, Denshattack! is a challenging ride, especially in later levels where techniques learnt are stitched together. It’s not all getting from A to B, either, with a few different challenges on offer: trick score attack to races, intense boss battles to a set of missions. The different themed segments keep the surprise element throughout, with fun nods to other games and genres. Boss battles are particular highlight – unexpected, downright barmy and really cement just how inventive these ideas are. Denshattack! doesn’t take itself seriously, and that’s a good thing. For replay hunters: alternative routes, bonus requirements and trick opportunities help gobble up those coveted medals. No crash bonus? Give it a go, if you dare.
Storyline progression aside, there’s plenty to come back to and replay – even if it’s a case of sitting back, riding the loops and having an excuse to listen to the impressive soundtrack. Tee Lopes of Sonic Mania fame leads the roster, joined by several renowned composers: including Takenobu Mitsuyoshi, Richard Jacques, Shoji Meguro and Harumi Fujita. A fully danceable, foot-tapping electric and rock romp that fully makes use of their racing and animé game credentials.
Tracks are meticulously designed, too, often spanning rollercoaster-like loops, diving deep into tunnels, along floating buildings, deep underwater. There’s a rich, Japan-led cultural aesthetic and with plenty of variety to maintain interest. One moment it’s a dash though a decaying airport, a detour through a Japanese theatre production, swirling into ambient tunnels and blitzing vibrant forests. Mech battles? Giant baseballs? Guitar Hero styled track? Denshattack! has it all.
There’s a surprising amount of detail, too, despite just how fast everything is moving, bursting full of colour and charm at every turn. The art direction is proudly absurd yet refined and polished. On Nintendo Switch 2, Denshattack! runs at a slick 60fps, with performance remaining rock solid throughout. Even the more intense sections with explosions, effects and particles galore are no sweat for Nintendo’s portable box of tricks. Any drops or pop-in are barely noticeable, certainly not enough to detract from the unfettered chaos unfolding on screen.
Outside of the main campaign, there are some collectables to help add a bit of jazz to the train, extra vehicles and notes that expand the world’s lore – neat extras to round off the experience.
