Denshattack! Hands on Preview
For those outside of Australia, Nintendo Indie World showcases tend to air around midnight our time. After a long day of writing and editing, despite running on empty, I still love staying up to see a lineup of incredible indie games that we will soon get to play. It’s also exciting when games and demos shadow drop shortly after the presentation, perking me up more than a lethal dose of coffee ever could. Denshattack! is a game I have been following on social media for a while, so I was genuinely surprised to see it confirmed for Switch 2 this June. Even better, a demo is available right now, giving us the chance to go hands-on and see what it is all about. What’s it like? Get aboard, choose your track, and prepare to go off the rails as we dive into Denshattack! on Nintendo Switch 2.
So, what’s Denshattack!?
Denshattack is probably best described as a cross between trains, Skate, and a bit of Scott Pilgrim for good measure. It is stylish and full of personality right from the start, putting you in the conductor’s hat of Emi as she uses her train to deliver ramen in a hurry. Your ramen customer tells you all about the world of Denshattackers, and that prompts Emi’s curious spirit to take up the sport on the spot. It’s a nice introduction, first giving you the basics of controlling the train by teaching you how to brake and boost around corners, lean into turns, do basic jumps and track switching, and choose multiple directional paths to get to where you need to be.
Then, the real training begins (pun intended). You will learn all about tricks and rotations, completing Emi’s crash course into Denshattacking before finally unleashing her into this new world she’s discovered. The art of Denshattackking is not as simple as one would think. You have to race along a train track while pulling off moves like kickflips and 720 spins, using the right stick much like you used to in Skate, all while staying on the tracks, jumping obstacles, and avoiding hitting the environment around you. The levels in the demo also feature optional objectives that encourage you to experiment. Chasing those goals pushes you to take riskier paths, attempt bigger tricks, and really push yourself to the limits with the scoring system rather than simply racing to the finish. It is all very stylish and slick, and already feels like a very unique experience on Switch 2.
Performance on Switch 2 is great, with smooth frame rates even during high-speed sections and big trick combos. The cel-shaded art style is fantastic, giving the world a vibrant, comic-inspired look that really pops. It suits the energetic, over-the-top personality of the game perfectly. You can also customise your train with stickers, models, and colour schemes, which adds a fun layer of personalisation and flair as you play. Small touches like these make Denshattack feel like a world you can put your own stamp on while racing through it.
With the demo only taking about 20 minutes to clear before unlocking the trick park, I went right back in and started again. I was having that much fun. Denshattack already feels like a winner on Switch 2. There are a lot of mechanics to master, but it all plays so well even in this early form. The game already feels polished, and despite a few controller quirks that may have just been a skill issue on my end, pulling off tricks while smashing a locomotive around corners is an incredible experience.
Denshattack feels like it has all the makings of a runaway indie success. Even in its early demo form, the game is polished, fast-paced, and bursting with personality. The combination of inventive tricks, high-energy train racing, and stylish presentation makes it stand out on Switch 2. There is clearly a lot of depth to master, from chaining tricks to navigating multiple tracks and completing optional objectives. The gameplay is rewarding, accessible enough for newcomers, but layered enough to keep experienced players coming back for more. I cannot wait to see what else the team has in store for Denshattack. If the demo is anything to go by, this is one indie that will not only capture attention but also keep players engaged long after launch.
I’ll leave you with some trick park gameplay and encourage anyone interested to check out the demo for themselves. Denshattack! is already on the right track to become a breakout indie hit, and I cannot wait to see what else is in store for this title!
Enjoyed our Denshattack! Hands on Preview?
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