Denshattack! Review – CHAOS INCARNATE

Denshattack! is one of those games where you just have to dive in and see what’s up. Who would’ve thought that train and skateboard tricks would go together so well? Certainly not me. Combining the style of Jet Set Radio, Tony Hawk and Sonic with an on-rails score attack system is somehow so addictive, that I couldn’t put Denshattack! down for its entire 10-hour runtime.

No Limits

You play Emi, a train enthusiast obsessed with freestyling them over half pipes and defying the laws of physics on the side. One moment you’re hopping from one train track to another, the next you’re wall-riding, then circling around tunnels like gravity doesn’t exist. It’s crazy, over-the-top level designs are the most anime, wacko creations you possibly could’ve thought of—and I couldn’t get enough.

The aim of the game is simple: make it to the end of semi-linear levels with the highest score possible. Throw in some races, trick arenas and objectives like picking up passengers or destroying buildings for good measure, and you’ve got a solid formula for fun. Even better are the wildly insane bosses you fight every 5-10 stages. Buildings will collapse, tracks will appear mid-air, and all sorts of weapons or objects will try to stop you from taking down huge monstrosities. It’s pure chaos, but it’s so entertaining.

However, it can be hard to actually see some of the wind-up animations or track hazards before it’s too late. Since there can be a tonne of stimulus on screen at times, it can get cluttered on occasion. Doesn’t help that some of the obstacles require ridiculous reaction times that will totally stuff up a ‘No Crash’ run. Even though you can pick up right where you left off, getting a flawless, high-score run with all optional objectives complete can turn into the sweatiest of sweat sessions.

Squeaky Tracks

Some of the later abilities, like the reverse gravity one, made me rage more than once. It can be so finicky to get right. I remember a level or two making you flip up and down, over and over, but it just kept stuffing up again and again. This really put a damper on things, especially since there’s such a strong progression of abilities learned along the way. 

To mitigate these troubles somewhat, you can purchase new trains that have different perks like: increased trick speed, longer manuals, easier grinds and a first-three-crashes-don’t-count-for-the-no-crash-penalty-checkbox. They all contain a negative trade-off, but do come in handy for certain stages or playstyles. Plus, each train can be customised to your heart’s content, with all sorts of colours, stickers and graffiti that Jet Set Radio would be proud of. I just wish the devs put more care into the story scenes, as most of them are just visual novel-styled cutouts that don’t feel as alive as the gameplay. Not that the story is worth writing home about; it’s clearly only acting as a vehicle for the plot. Pun intended.

That said, the music from main composer, Tee Lopes is absolutely awesome! As soon as I saw the roster of guest musicians like Shoji Meguro (Persona), Richard Jacques (Jet Set Radio), 2Mello (Bomb Rush Cyberfunk) and more, I knew we were in for a straight banger soundtrack, and the OST did not disappoint. Couple that with the swanky, stylish visuals, and you’re gonna get sucked in, big time.

Decision

Denshattack! is a stylish, adrenaline-fuelled mash-up of Jet Set Radio, Tony Hawk and Sonic that absolutely sticks the landing. Grinding across trains, chaining ridiculous tricks and chasing high scores is incredibly addictive, while the over-the-top anime-inspired levels and spectacular boss fights keep every stage feeling fresh. Throw in a killer soundtrack from Tee Lopes and guest composers like Shoji Meguro and Richard Jacques, plus loads of train customisation, and it’s hard to put down.

It’s not without its frustrations, though. Busy visuals can make hazards difficult to read, some obstacles demand lightning-fast reactions, and later mechanics (especially the reverse gravity ability) can feel frustratingly inconsistent when you’re aiming for perfect runs. If you’re after an arcade-style score attack game with heaps of style, satisfying progression and one of the year’s best soundtracks, Denshattack! is an easy recommendation.

By Anthony Culinas – Reviewed on PS5

Excellent

A ridiculously slick and addictive score-chaser, Denshattack! occasionally derails with unfair difficulty spikes and fiddly mechanics, but its incredible presentation and satisfying gameplay make it well worth the ride.

This game was reviewed using a download code provided by Fireshine Games. The Beta Network uses affiliate partnerships, however, this does not influence reviews or any other content published. The Beta Network may earn commissions for products purchased via affiliate links that are on the website.