Denshattack! Review – All Gas, Some Brakes, and One Wild Ride

When I booted up Denshattack! on my Steam Deck and was greeted by the main menu song, I knew I was in for a treat. It was “Black & Yellow” by Canadian musician Sean Bialo. The guitar chords, warbling synths, and DJ scratches radiated feelings of heroism and hope, like I was goddamn Superman or something.

From that point on, Denshattack! grabbed my attention and never once let go. With its chaotic gameplay, inspiring soundtrack, and memorable style, I loved every moment I played. It’s all gas and no brakes. Well, some brakes if you want to drift properly.

Game Name: Denshattack!
Platform(s): PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, PC (Steam)
Reviewed On: PC (Steam Deck)
Developer(s): Undercoders
Publisher(s): Fireshine Games
Release Date: July 15, 2026
Price: $19.99

Denshattack! follows a spunky young girl named Emi on a delivery run, and by pure chance runs into photographer Fernando who notices her skill and introduces her to the world of extreme sports via Denshattacking. Emi then goes on a journey throughout Japan to prove that she has what it takes to outrace her opponents, while also taking down the evil Miraido corporation. Due to the escalating climate crisis, cities have become domed areas only accessible to the few while the rest of society deals with the fallout outside.

That might sound sinister, but Denshattack! is anything but dark. Its tone is similar to Hi-Fi Rush, delivering more of a defiant “stick it to the man” vibe. It’s silly and doesn’t take itself too seriously. The cast of characters is also just as colourful as the game’s vibrant palette.

For example, Yoshie is a nepo baby influencer inspired by the Japanese gyaru fashion subculture, while Madoka is a typical teenage delinquent armed with a baseball bat who only cares about getting stronger. Many of these characters are based on Japanese media tropes, but they’re wonderfully well-rounded and charming. They bring tons of personality that meshes well with Emi’s, and no matter how large the cast becomes, everyone feels like they’re pulling their own weight in the story.

Denshattack!’s gameplay is a fun blend of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater and Jet Set Radio. You’ll crash through different stages while racking up points, and there’s a lot to keep track of while moving at such high speeds. You’ll need to avoid obstacles by jumping and turning left or right onto different train tracks, balance yourself while grinding on rails, and, of course, perform tricks in the air by flicking the right stick in different directions. Every action adds to your total score, and it’s satisfying to watch the combo multiplier continually climb.

However, the main issue I have with Denshattack! is its controls. Given how quickly everything happens, I sometimes feel like my inputs don’t always register properly. I specifically had problems with wall-running. Whenever I encountered a section that transitioned into a wall run, my train sometimes wouldn’t connect with the wall, causing me to crash and redo that segment. It happened often enough to make me wonder whether there are simply too many mechanics crammed into Denshattack!.

At the end of every stage, you’ll earn a medal depending on how many points you scored, how quickly you completed the level, and which side objectives you accomplished. Earning the top rank on every stage also adds plenty of replayability for anyone familiar with games such as Devil May Cry and Neon White.

Don’t worry, though, because Denshattack! isn’t a one-trick pony. Aside from reaching the finish line, some stages involve racing other vehicles for first place or delivering items to specific parts of the level. These objectives help switch up the pace so that not every stage is simply about reaching the end. There are even cinematic boss battles against a mech and, somehow, a typhoon. I didn’t know you could literally fight back against a natural disaster, but apparently you can do that here.

By gathering collectibles hidden throughout each stage, such as coins, you can purchase unique trains with special abilities. For example, one train reduces inertia while travelling through tunnel loops, making it easier to control and helping you avoid crashes. The trade-off is that you’ll earn fewer points while performing those loops. Another train ensures that derailing other vehicles during a race adds to your combo, but decreases the boost you receive from properly drifting around corners. These benefits and trade-offs provide additional depth by giving you more choices in how you approach each objective, whether you’re trying to earn more points or achieve a higher rank.

Denshattack! is also delightful to look at. Its art direction is immaculate, taking inspiration from comic books and manga while mixing in elements of urban street culture. It reminds me of The World Ends with You, particularly through its emphasis on youth culture, bold colours, and rebellious attitude. One aspect I especially like is the loading screen, which depicts the inside of a subway car. Whenever a new character joins the cast, they’re added to the loading screen, where they hang out with Emi and the others. It’s a nice touch that helps sell the growing sense of camaraderie.

The aforementioned music is another huge highlight. The soundtrack offers an eclectic assortment of genres, ranging from hip-hop and J-pop to punk rock and more. Many of the tracks could fit right into games such as No More Heroes and Persona. Hell, developer Undercoders even recruited composers including Tee Lopes, known for Sonic Mania; Takenobu Mitsuyoshi of SEGA fame; and Richard Jacques, known for his work on Jet Set Radio, to contribute to the soundtrack. Persona composer Shoji Meguro and rapper Lotus Juice contributed as well. You can practically hear the authenticity and heart poured into every track.

Verdict

It’s rare for a game to have both substance and style, but Denshattack! nails both. I hopped aboard expecting a fun commute, but what took me by surprise was the breakneck speed of its gameplay, coupled with eye-catching aesthetics and an earworm of a soundtrack accompanying the journey. Unlike my city’s local metro, Denshattack! was one train ride I didn’t want to get off.

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Review Disclosure Denshattack! was provided to us by Fireshine Games for review purposes. For more information on how we review video games and other media/technology, please review our Review Guideline/Scoring Policy.