There are so many different vehicles you’ve probably ridden over the years in video games. Obviously driving cars is the most common of these, but plenty of games feature bikes, skateboards, planes and so much more to get around at top speed. There are even a few video game trains, like the one you ride in The Legend of Zelda: The Spirit Tracks or the upgradable Choo Choo you use to escape Charles. None of the other digital trains I’ve ridden have controlled quite like the one in Denshattack! though, and that’s a hell of an understatement.
In the not too distant future, the world is completely screwed. The big cities of Japan have all had to hide under domes as corporate greed has decimated the earth, and the only thing connecting the rich people in these cities are train tracks. As one of those who doesn’t live under the domes you work as a delivery driver, until one day you’re noticed by a train enthusiast. He likes the way you ride and tells you all about the world of competitive train stunting, which you’d better believe is absolutely ridiculous.
When you first take control of your train you’ll learn how to move forward on your rail, then are slowly shown how to do things like sound your horn to raise blockades, slow down to dodge obstacles crossing the track, and of course jump into the air. While in the air you can switch tracks by barrel rolling left and right, and smash down to get back onto the ground. Learning the basics of train travel takes a bit of practice, but it’s a hell of a lot of fun.
After completing the first stage of this preview build at breakneck speed, I was introduced to the more stylish side of the game – the tricks. There are a ton of different stunts you can perform while in midair, from basic flips to massive rotations in every direction imaginable. These tricks are all performed by twisting the right stick in various motions, sort of like how the EA skate games work. It was a ton of fun trying to score big points while avoiding all the obstacles the train tracks threw at me, and looked suitably outrageous in motion.
It’s just not every day you see a train doing ridiculous stunts as it soars through the air, and I just couldn’t help but smile as I performed death defying feats in a vehicle I usually associate with particularly grounded travel. The wild side of Denshattack! doesn’t stop there either, with one stage featuring a Ferris wheel that you can jump on to roll through the course. This variety will be what keeps this daft train game chugging its way to my heart, and I can’t wait to see what else will be thrown my way in the full game.
Despite each stage of Denshattack! being fairly linear, there’s a lot you can perfect in each run. Tracks often have branching paths that’ll take you in different directions, and trying to find the best route to chase a higher score brought me the same high that the Olli Olli series has over the years. I was more than happy to play levels over and over even in this demo build, entering that score attack flow state and letting the gorgeous visuals and general bizarreness wash over me.
Stages have more than just scores to chase too, with various optional objectives and collectibles to find as you ride the rails. Those looking to get every last drop of value from this arcadey train skateboarding game will have a lot to keep them busy, and if the first four levels of the game are anything to go off I’ll be just as obsessed about perfecting my rail skills.
Denshattack! looks to be one of the wildest and most entertaining games releasing this year, and after playing an hour of it I’m already hooked. If you have any affinity for skateboarding games or arcade score chasing then you need to book your ticket for Denshattack! and head down to the station, because you don’t want this train to leave without you.
Denshattack! is coming PC, PS5, and Xbox.
