I had the privilege of attending last year’s gamescom ONL, where the talented YouTuber and Easy Allies alumnus, Kyle Bosman, unveiled the first trailer for the vibrant cel-shaded trick-based 3D platformer, Denshattack!. Developed by the indie studio Undercoders, based in Barcelona, Spain, the game has already garnered attention for its previous titles, including Koa and the Five Pirates of Mara and Treasures of The Aegean. The debut of Denshattack! captivated me with its electrifying platforming action, featuring fast-moving electric trains performing impressive skateboarding-like tricks. Since that moment, it has remained firmly on my radar.
Earlier this year, my colleague Hayes Madsen echoed my enthusiasm after experiencing Denshattack! firsthand. He described it as “the kind of game you play for just a few minutes, and you already know it’s onto something, just through the sheer joy it brings to play.” After investing around 15 hours into the game and rolling credits myself, I can confidently say that Denshattack! not only meets expectations but also stands out as one of the year’s best games, setting a high bar for the 3D platforming genre.
Exploring the World of Emi Araki
In Denshattack!, players embark on a journey with Emi Araki, a 19-year-old ramen delivery driver in the hot spring city of Beppu, Ōita Prefecture, Japan. Emi dreams of riding the elusive “VACTRAIN,” an underground train designed to traverse the country in just an hour. However, her world is shaped by climate catastrophes that have forced people to live under protective domes created by a mega-corporation named Miraidō, which governs the state and operates the VACTRAIN.
A chance encounter with Fernando, an artist contributing to a fanzine that exposes Miraidō’s wrongdoings, propels Emi to leave her ravaged hometown. Together, they set off to confront Miraidō in Hokkaido, navigating a landscape filled with friends and foes. Their journey leads them to join the Denshattack, a competition among Japan’s top train drivers, where they face off against AI-operated rivals from Miraidō.
While I won’t delve into spoilers, I found the story to be heartfelt and engaging, with a cast of characters that I grew fond of, a remarkable feat for a game centered around high-speed train antics.
Gameplay Mechanics and Challenges
Gameplay in Denshattack! draws inspiration from classics like the boost-style Sonic the Hedgehog games, EA’s skate series, and particularly titles like Jet Set Radio and Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2. Players are challenged to achieve high scores, discover unlockables, and perform stunts against opponents. The controls are intuitive yet challenging to master, especially as players progress through the 46 Japanese prefectures featured in the game.
The initial levels focus on teaching the basics, such as drifting and jumping, while later stages introduce more complex maneuvers, requiring players to execute intricate combinations like ground smashes into grinds followed by wall jumps. Although I encountered some frustrating moments with certain mechanics, the moments when everything clicked together were exhilarating, often leaving me eager for just one more attempt at a level.
Diverse Levels and Replayability
Denshattack! comprises 60 levels spread across eight distinct regions, each set in unique locations like a derelict airport, an empty baseball stadium, and the bustling capital city of Tokyo. The levels vary in style, including linear and race formats, with the standout feature being the boss battles. While the developers have showcased only the first boss, a Sailor Moon-inspired Gundam made of train cars, there are more surprises in store. However, not every boss battle hits the mark, and the game does lose some momentum towards the finale.
Completing races or boss battles is just the beginning, as Denshattack! features a scoring system that tracks tricks performed, completion times, and objectives achieved, known as “dares.” While many dares are enjoyable, some can feel tedious, adding a layer of replayability that completionists will appreciate. Personally, I found mastering levels to be a challenge, achieving it only once, and certainly not by accident.
Visuals and Soundtrack
Visually, Denshattack! excels with its vibrant anime cutscenes and an impressive soundtrack featuring guest composers like Shoji Meguro from the Persona series and Takenobu Mitsuyoshi from the SEGA Sound Team. The lead composers, Tee Lopes, Sean Bialo, and Andrew One, create an unforgettable auditory experience. Among the standout tracks, “Set for Destruction,” featuring Lotus Juice, resonated with me, perhaps due to my affinity for the Persona franchise.
However, I did encounter some navigation challenges within the game. While colour-coded traffic signs provide guidance, there were moments when determining the next step became difficult, particularly in sections with predetermined paths.
As I reached the conclusion of my journey with Denshattack!, I found myself thoroughly enchanted by the game’s overall package. Despite a few imperfections, it stands out as a must-play title, especially in a gaming landscape often dominated by uninspired AAA releases. In this context, engaging with Denshattack! feels like a refreshing reminder of the heart and artistry that video games can embody.