As I launch off a towering vertical ramp, my train spins gracefully through the air, twisting onto another upright track. The rush of speed is palpable, accompanied by vibrant Japanese onomatopoeia and sparks flying in every direction. Below me, the picturesque Japanese countryside unfolds, adorned with cherry blossom trees and shimmering blue waters, creating a stunning backdrop to this high-octane experience.
Game Overview
What is this thrilling ride? It’s a whimsical adventure where trains perform gravity-defying tricks across a stylish, post-disaster Japan, all fueled by the power of friendship. Priced at or £, this game is developed by Undercoders and published by Fireshine Games and Boltray Games. It has been reviewed on an Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX with an RTX 5090 laptop and 64GB of RAM. While it offers no multiplayer or VR options, it has been verified for Steam Deck compatibility.
However, as the initial excitement fades, the experience reveals a freight train’s worth of issues. The gameplay mechanics, which should allow for smooth navigation through corners or exhilarating bursts of speed on straightaways, often feel disjointed. The tracks themselves are whimsically fragmented, replaced by half pipes, trampolines, and even ferris wheels, creating a chaotic environment that strays far from a serious simulation.
While I never expected Denshattack to be a meticulous simulator, I did hope for a deeper engagement with the train aspect of the game. The title itself suggests a focus on trains, yet much of the gameplay revolves around flashy tricks and stunts rather than a genuine connection to the railway theme.
Gameplay Mechanics
The game’s design seems to prioritize a futuristic, trick-based score attack experience over player creativity. Unfortunately, this leads to a frustrating dynamic where personal expression is sidelined. Each stage is crafted to tell a story, filled with wild events and supportive characters cheering me on as I navigate through collapsing structures and bizarre scenarios, including giant mechs and laser-spewing kaiju. Yet, the game rarely allows me to forge my own path or strategize effectively.
Instead, I find myself reacting to a barrage of visual cues that often lack clarity. The warning icons for upcoming dangers can be misleading, and the color choices sometimes blend too seamlessly into the background, making it difficult to discern obstacles. This constant battle against the game’s design leads to a repetitive cycle of trial and error, where failure results in minimal learning opportunities.
Moreover, the game’s internal consistency feels shaky at best. My abilities to perform stunts or navigate tricky surfaces seem to flicker unpredictably, leaving me grappling with the mechanics. Attempts to think outside the box are often met with punitive measures, as the game enforces strict rules about contact with various surfaces. The water’s surface, for instance, is off-limits except in select stages, creating an arbitrary barrier that stifles exploration.
Narrative and Themes
Despite its strong anti-corporation and environmentalist themes, the game struggles to integrate its narrative with its gameplay. For example, freeing Nara’s famous deer is a significant event, yet many challenges revolve around scaring animals with the train’s horn. The train itself feels like a mere prop in a story that could thrive without it, as the trick mechanics often serve only as a means to navigate scripted events rather than enhancing the overall experience.
In essence, Denshattack finds itself lost between two diverging tracks. It lacks the clarity needed for serious score attack play while being too cumbersome to fully embrace the absurdity of its comedic moments. As I navigate this chaotic landscape, it becomes evident that the game struggles to define its identity, leaving players yearning for a more cohesive and engaging experience.
