The funky anti-establishment punk attitude of Jet Set Radio is alive and well in Denshattack! And if that sets your kilt on fire, then you’re definitely in the right place. And if you’re not sure what’s going on, then stick around and find out why you should be setting your kilt on fire!
Denshattack’s Story and Futuristic Japan
In the future, A.I. and climate catastrophe collide. Domed cities are built by a giant tech corporation for people to live in while been constantly told that the outside world is too dangerous. But this story isn’t about them. Oh no no no! This is about the people that stayed outside the domes. Those that kept the old world running while living their lives to the fullest. You know, the real heroes of the story.
In this colourful, future Japan, most forms of transport no longer work. You are Emi, a ramen delivery driver whose unparalleled driving skills bring her into the world of Denshattack. A world of gangs and bosses and all kinds of bizarre shenanigans you could imagine. And then probably more you couldn’t.
What Is Denshattack?
If you’ve made it this far and are wondering what Denshattack is, especially since I threw a Jet Set Radio reference out there at the beginning, then think of it like this: Denshattack is Jet Set Radio’s sense of attitude and style by way of Tony Hawk and the criminally underappreciated OlliOlli World. Only instead of kick flipping and grinding skateboards, your heel-flipping and olling trains. And if that level of “what in the world” doesn’t get you excited, are you sure you even have a pulse?
Denshattack’s Wild Arcade Style
Calling Denshattack wild and over the top undermines just how bonkers this game actually is. It’s the sort of insane arcade madness you’d find back in the late 90’s and 2000’s, the sort of game that would define a platform and probably would have appeared on the Dreamcast.
Like Crazy Taxi and, of course, Jet Set Radio, this is the sort of game that AAA studios and publishers wouldn’t take a chance on making today. Which is sad since this is undoubtedly one of this years most bombastic gaming experiences that reminds you why video-games are so special.
It’s also one of those games that describing what’s happening onscreen simply doesn’t do it justice.
Visuals, Characters and Anime-Inspired Presentation
Denshattack’s visuals sport a bright, colourful and stylish combination of comics, manga and anime inspired design. It’s story is straight up, feel-good, Shonen anime as well as Emi only goes from strength to strength while befriending her rivals who tag along to see what other barrier she can smash on through. And while that is very true to the formula established by the likes of Dragon Ball, Denshattack never falls into the traps that anime usually does.
This is a feel-good story from beginning to end, with well written characters, plenty of absurd humour and a whole heaping of heart. It’s engaging from the moment Emi finds out what Denshattack is and never stops been a joy to explore.
Denshattack Gameplay and Controls
Denshattack epitomises the entire “easy to get to grips with, hard to master” mantra. Controls are incredibly simple. You can jump your train with the right trigger, brake with the left, switch lanes with the left analog stick while tricks are mapped to the right. It’s the speed at which it all moves that becomes the deal breaker, because boy is this game fast.
In the beginning it’s easy enough to olli a track while performing a kick flip, but with each new skill that’s added, like Manuals, combo tricks and wall-rides, the combinations required of you, and at what feels like warp speed at times, becomes increasingly challenging. One minute it’s just a heel flip and then the next it’s a wall-ride into a manual across some cell towers before riding a Ferris Wheel across a channel.
You’re reflexes need to be on the ball here if you want to make that lane jump before hitting a dead end sign.
Denshattack’s Bonkers Set-Pieces
And somehow, Denshattack manages to continue to top itself the further in you get. Whether you’re grinding across an airplanes wing or fighting a giant mech composed of other trains Megazord style, Denshattack continues to bring the weirdness and bonkers energy that’s so sadly missing from many games today. The last time I played a game that managed to constantly reinvent itself and escalate each new set-piece was with Bayonetta 3.
If it sounds like I’m at a loss for words to get the pure, beautiful madness of Denshattack across, it’s because this is a game you have to see. . . no scratch that, experience in motion for yourself.
Difficulty, Tricks and Mastering the Tracks
Even as a veteran Tony Hawker, and a relative master of trickonometry, Denshattack had me sweating on some of the later tracks. Before long, the advanced tricks will have you pulling off rotations worthy of any 2D fighter. And trying to land them all without bailing requires laser focus.
What is lovely about the game is that, even as the challenges escalate, the developers have maintained a prime focus on forgiving fun. Checkpoints are liberal and, outside of those tracks that require you to hit a high score to proceed, fairly fail state light.
Progression, Trains and Exploration
While Tony Hawk is clearly the major inspiration for each track, from the multiple Dares, read sub-objectives, to complete, to the high-scores you can aim for, the games progression system is a lot more like OlliOlli World. There’s a large map for you to progress through across multiple areas, multiple paths through each track and even secret exists to discover.
Collectibles in the tracks that you pick up are used to unlock new trains, each with their own special traits, and new train designs for you to customise your ride with. And when you’re not doing that, you can help the guy that got you into this mess in the first place, Fernando, with publishing his ‘Zine. It’s a fun little side mission that has you unlocking pages in a digital magazine that gives you more insight into the world and its characters.
Replayability and High-Score Challenges
There’s a huge amount of replayibility here as well. Like Tony Hawk, tracks are beautifully designed and it’s just incredibly fun replaying levels to reach higher scores while tricking the hell out of everything.
The main gameplay loop is stupidly addictive even before you factor in the hidden rails, secret exists and getting to know the map so you don’t bail into a cliff during a no crash run because of how blisteringly fast it all moves. This is a blink and you’ll miss it kind of game, so getting to know the layout is key to hitting all of those dares.
Denshattack’s Soundtrack
And like Jet Set Radio, it’s all backed up by a soundtrack almost as funky as that classic. I’d be remiss in not mentioning the games phenomenal soundtrack that is full of high-octane, groovy beats that match the onscreen chaos perfectly. The energy is high with this one.
Denshattack Review Verdict
Like Jet Set Radio, Denshattack hits that rarefied field where the product is just as much art as it is about enjoyment. And like that aforementioned classic, it’s a game whose praises I can sing across the rooftops all day.
There’s nothing quite like it out in the wilds right now and developers Undercoders have made something truly special, addictive and unique that perfectly captures the spirit of the late 90’s and 2000’s inventive arcade feel. Denshattack is more than prime Game of The Year material, it’s an instant classic that I’m going to keep coming back to for as long as I keep playing games.
This review was based off a Xbox playthrough.
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The game was provided to us for the express purpose of reviewing.
