| Denshattack! | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Release Date | Gameplay & Story | Pre-Order & DLC | Review |
Denshattack! is a fast-paced 3D platformer where you speed through endless rails aboard your train in a far-future Japan. Learn more about the game’s plot, gameplay, release date, and our review of the game, and more.
Overview
What is Denshattack!?
Denshattack! is an off-the-rails 3D arcade platformer set in the distant future, where the conglomerate Miraido has transformed Japan's railway stations into interconnected hubs to improve transportation and deliveries across a network of safe domes that protect humanity from the toxic, unforgiving world outside.
Players speed through Japan's interconnected railway system while taking on the country's best Denshattackers, each with their own unique personalities, mechanics, and memorable boss fights. Every encounter introduces new gameplay mechanics that constantly shake up its arcade-y gameplay, ensuring no two chapters ever feel the same.
Denshattack! Features:
⚫︎ High-Speed Rail Platforming
⚫︎ Futuristic Japan Setting
⚫︎ Stylish Comic Visuals
⚫︎ Inventive Boss Battles
⚫︎ Single-Player Campaign
⚫︎ Energetic Soundtrack
⚫︎ Train Customization
For more gameplay details, read everything we know about Denshattack!’s gameplay and story.
| Digital Storefronts | ||
|---|---|---|
 Steam |
 Playstation |
 Xbox |
 Switch 2 |
$19.99 | |
Denshattack! Review: More Than Jet Set Radio's Heir
Ready, Jet Set, Go!
When Jet Set Radio launched on the SEGA Dreamcast in 2000, few could have predicted it would become such a beloved cult classic in the modern gaming era. It was the kind of game that checked all the boxes for a fresh action-platformer, blending counterculture with the effortless cool of skateboarding. On top of that, its soundtrack was something to behold, with every track carefully curated to immerse players in its funky, infectious beats.
With the Tony Hawk's Pro Skater franchise dominating the skating genre, there weren't many success stories that followed Jet Set Radio. Even spiritual successors like Bomb Rush Cyberfunk struggled to reach a wider audience.
Enter Denshattack!, a portmanteau of the Japanese word densha (which means train) and "attack." It takes a completely different approach to the action-platformer genre, sending players speeding across endless railways and grinding through a neon-soaked cityscape filled with explosive personalities and a soundtrack that captures the same kind of magic Jet Set Radio delivered in the early 2000s.
It has all the makings of a spiritual successor to SEGA's classic, but instead, the game carves out its own identity with an impressive blend of modern sensibilities, free from the limitations and unnecessary swagger of the games that came before it. Denshattack! proudly wears its inspirations like a fresh coat of spray paint, yet it remains unmistakably its own thing, propelled by its high-speed train mechanic into one of the most exhilarating audiovisual experiences of the year.
Denshattackers vs. The World
Denshattack! takes place in the distant future, where humanity has collapsed following a catastrophic climate event that left the world in ruins, forcing the survivors to live inside massive glass domes. In the aftermath, the powerful conglomerate Miraido spearheads the construction of an interconnected railway network across Japan, optimizing the delivery of goods and services between these isolated safe havens.
Little do these corporations know that a group known as the Denshattackers has been causing chaos across these zones, claiming the railways for themselves while fighting to free their cities from the oppressive grip of capitalist overlords. It's about as anti-establishment as it gets, and what better way to tackle those societal issues than with a kid driving an indestructible train and tearing through the city?
But to be honest, there's really not much to expect from Denshattack!'s narrative beyond a group of rebellious misfits taking on an oppressive system. Most of the larger story unfolds in the background, while your rampage across Japan's prefectures becomes national news, attracting the attention of civilians and some of the country's best Denshattackers.
The game presents its story in a visual novel-style format, occasionally breaking things up with comic book panels. But everything moves at such a frantic pace that very few moments are given room to breathe. As a result, many of the emotional beats come and go before they have a chance to truly land.
I admit, as much as I enjoy watching them topple buildings and bring down corpo-controlled satellites, most of the cast feels one-dimensional, with Emi being the clear exception. That's somewhat expected from a game with strong shonen influences, but I still would've preferred these characters to be more fleshed out instead of serving as little more than talking sprites between missions.
Much like Neon White, whose story is a mishmash of familiar anime and video game tropes, Denshattack! follows a similar approach, albeit with a little more heart put into its cast. But that doesn't mean everything about it falls flat. The characters are still charming enough to keep you invested between levels.
Yoshie, for example, is a gyaru and the game's first major boss before eventually joining your growing entourage. She spent her family's fortune building her own Gundam-like vehicle, a backstory that subtly reflects the game's criticism of greed and unchecked capitalism. As more characters join your train, they gradually fill it with personality and charm. Even if most of them don't receive much development, their colorful designs and quirky personalities add plenty of life to the adventure.
It's not particularly bad, unlike a lot of games that force their storytelling. There's still a compelling reason to care about these characters, especially Emi's growth as a Denshattacker, as she gradually reveals more of her backstory during the game's quieter Onsen conversations while rallying her friends to take down a megacorporation. Even so, it's not quite enough, because Denshattack!'s best moments are when you're in the driver's seat, pulling off 360s, landing kickflips, and speeding through its exhilarating railway stations.
Gameplay Rules and Grinds!
There's simply no way to fully understand Denshattack!'s gameplay by just watching footage or looking at screenshots. At its core, it's a full-on platformer. If you've played games like Crazy Taxi, Sayonara Wild Hearts or the recently released Sword of the Sea, then you'll recognize some of the ideas Denshattack! borrows, such as weaving through obstacles and relying on precise movement. Instead of building itself around rhythm game mechanics, however, it focuses on delivering a stylish 3D platforming experience where you pull off all kinds of flashy moves while riding a massive train through dystopian Japanese cities.
Denshattack!'s gameplay is incredibly addictive, but before it clicks, it throws players into a steep learning curve, especially for those unfamiliar with this style of game. There are so many systems to keep track of, from honking your train's horn to trigger environmental interactions and drifting at precise moments to pulling off a variety of tricks while airborne. If you're not the type to think and react quickly, things can become frustrating fast, especially in the later stages where all of these mechanics are layered together and constantly put to the test.
But that's exactly what Denshattack! is all about. It's a game built around reflexes, and its biggest appeal lies in how rewarding it feels to master over time. Pulling off stylish air tricks to rack up higher scores, chaining grinds without crashing, and maintaining your momentum all become second nature the longer you play. Before you know it, you'll find yourself chasing the highest rank on every mission while hunting down collectibles cleverly hidden in plain sight throughout each level.
And the best thing is that none of these challenges are required to finish the game, as they only exist to encourage players to improve and beat their own scores.
That said, there are still plenty of ways to enhance the gameplay experience through the game's customization system, which lets you unlock different trains, each with their own unique stats. These options allow you to tailor your playstyle to each level. For example, you can choose a train that adds an extra +1 combo to every trick at the cost of a much harsher score penalty whenever you crash, or opt for something more specialized like the Hip Flip, which features a smaller grind radius but rewards skilled players with significantly higher point gains.
Then there’s Denshattack!'s distinct mechanic called the "Flow State" or "Yaoyorozudoro", which opens up new railways and shortcuts once you've sped through obstacles and performed Manual tricks without failing. It's a system designed for players who love optimizing their runs and chasing higher scores. They’re pretty much suited for the best players, but anyone good enough to achieve this can shave valuable seconds off their time while leading to secret areas and collectibles.
Once you've mastered the dance of Denshattack!'s gameplay, it becomes increasingly clear that this is where the developers poured most of their attention, rather than its storytelling. While games like Jet Set Radio and Bomb Rush Cyberfunk have carved out passionate niche communities with hip hop and funk, there's something about Denshattack! that feels more approachable to a wider audience. Part of that comes from its simple, easy-to-follow story about a group of young volcanoes, but it's mostly thanks to its hyperkinetic gameplay, which constantly introduces new mechanics and outrageous set pieces that break away from established formulas at every turn.
Music to My Ears
The music and visual presentation are also what make Denshattack! such a joy to experience. Like a marriage between Hi-Fi Rush and Scott Pilgrim, its charming 2D character sprites, cel-shaded environments, and comic book-style cutscenes come together to create an aesthetic that perfectly complements the game's energetic personality.
Right off the bat, your ears are instantly greeted by the game's infectious soundtrack. It doesn't matter what kind of music you're into, Denshattack! always seems to find the right track for each level. And after replaying the same stage countless times because I crashed one too many times, those songs start to burrow into your brain until you can't stop humming them.
The soundtrack doesn't just mimic the tunes of Jet Set Radio, either. Instead, it draws inspiration from a wide range of influences, from Initial D's high-energy Eurobeat and J-rock anthems to pop, funk, and electronic tracks that still capture that unmistakable Jet Set Radio vibe. At one point, I genuinely thought one song featured Rihanna, only to realize it just sounded like her.
Over the course of my 10-plus-hour playthrough, I ended up discovering quite a few favorites that immediately found their way into my Spotify playlist. The track Bullet Train
became an instant favorite and has been on repeat in my playlist ever since.
Gorgeously Gonzo
One of the things I enjoyed most about Denshattack! is how it reimagines Japan through its delightfully weird aesthetic to suit its arcade platforming adventures. Much of the country has fallen into ruin, with the railway network serving as one of the last pieces of infrastructure still keeping society together. Even so, the game never loses its sense of wonder, constantly reminding you of Japan's beauty as you blaze through its vibrant levels.
Landmarks like Mount Fuji become your personal playground, letting you scale the iconic peak through the power of anime as you drift, grind across seemingly impossible railways, and ride gusts of wind that launch you even higher. Familiar locations like Shibuya also make an appearance, though they're now overcrowded and blanketed by the ever-present influence of the Miraido megacorporation, reinforcing the game's themes without sacrificing its sense of awe.
Each of Japan's eight regions serves as a playground for the game's high-speed platforming, and each one introduces its own main antagonist in what feels like a Scott Pilgrim against Evil Exes showdown. Every boss comes with unique mechanics and cinematic set pieces, and no two chapters ever feel the same because there's always another surprise waiting around the corner.
One particular highlight was Chapter 5, where I was blown away by how all of the game's systems came together. The rush of soaring through the wind, chaining together tricks at breakneck speed, while Lotus Juice rapped over one of the game's catchiest tracks created one of my favorite gaming moments of the year. It was the payoff to a boss fight that had been building for several levels, and it exceeded every expectation I had.
Everything clicked into place. The craziest part is that it wasn't even the final boss. There were still plenty of encounters waiting ahead, and somehow the game kept finding new ways to top itself.
Is Denshattack! Worth It?
All Aboard, No Questions Asked
Denshattack! is worth every penny if you're the type who enjoys a fast-paced platformer wrapped in stylistic Japanese flair. What games like Jet Set Radio, Crazy Taxi, and maybe even Sunset Overdrive achieved with stylish movement across massive, colorful environments has been captured here. While its levels are fairly linear, the game more than makes up for it with inventive level design, unforgettable boss encounters, and a stellar soundtrack that'll keep ringing in your ears long after each stage ends.
Though be warned, there's a steep learning curve to mastering its gameplay. But once you string together each Denshattack! move, everything starts to click, turning every encounter into an addictive and satisfying thrill of perpetual momentum.
Though there are still things it doesn't quite get right, especially its underwhelming story. Its barebones shonen-inspired narrative never leaves much of an impact, but it's also not something you're meant to take too seriously. The game's gonzo, off-the-rails energy helps compensate for its one-dimensional cast, while its art direction oozes so much style that you barely dwell on those shortcomings.
The gameplay is where your attention should be, and thankfully, that gameplay loop remains consistently exhilarating from beginning to end.
For just $20, Denshattack! gives you a one-way ticket to Japan and then some. It feels like a love letter to Japanese pop culture, embracing everything from over-the-top anime sensibilities to flashy arcade action. It celebrates those influences by delivering one of the zaniest experiences imaginable, complete with speeding trains, stylish tricks, and a mission to tear down the system. It's easily one of my biggest Game of the Year contenders and proves there's still a strong market for these kinds of unapologetically crazy games.
FAQ
Is Denshattack! an online game?
No, Denshattack! is not an online game. It is strictly a single-player experience.
How Long is Denshattack!?
Denshattack!'s main story takes around 10 to 15 hours to complete, but it also depends on how much time you spend replaying levels and hunting for collectibles.
Is Denshattack! a sequel to Jet Set Radio?
No, Denshattack! is not a sequel to Jet Set Radio, but it is what many would call a spiritual successor. That said, developer Undercoders proves it's much more than that, carving out its own identity with fresh ideas and an unmistakable sense of style.
What are the System Requirements to Play Denshattack! on Steam?
The System Requirements as listed on Steam are as follows:
| Specifications | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| OS | Windows 10/11 with the latest updates | |
| Processor | Intel Core i5-6600K (4 * 3500) or AMD Ryzen 3 2200G (4 * 3500) | Intel Core i5-9600K (6 * 3700) or AMD Ryzen 5 1600 (6 * 3200) |
| Memory | 12 GB RAM | 16 GB RAM |
| Graphics | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti (4096 MB) or AMD Radeon RX 570 (4096 MB) | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 (6144 MB) or AMD Radeon RX 580 (8192 MB) |
| Storage | 8 GB available space | |
| Additional Specs | Direct X12 | SSD required |
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