If you told me one of my favorite games this year would combine Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater vibes with a fast-moving train that would give even the biggest daredevils whiplash, I would’ve said you had the wrong person. Denshattack! brings ridiculously fast speeds, blends them with skateboarding tricks and Pro Skater-style points, creating a Frankenstein’s monster that, unlike the horror character, has every reason to exist. I also suck at it.

In a brightly colored world that is apparently a dystopia, probably due to the huge number of random train tracks across the world and even within volcanoes, you play as Emi, who falls into the world of Denshattack, driving lightning-fast trains where your goal is not only to survive the many perils of each level, but also to look cool doing it.

As you pass through each course, you’ll go through Japan’s many regions, reimagined in a way befitting a My Chemical Romance Danger Days listen-through, as you and your gravity-defying train hop and grind. Yes, the train jumps, and yes, it’s as wacky as it sounds. I’m also absolutely dreadful at it, and yet, I can’t stop playing.

The gameplay is electric and chaotic, seeing you effortlessly drift around sharp bends and move in midair from one track to another. Early in the game, you’ll face a rival Denshattacker and, despite falling off the track, manage to ride a rolling Ferris wheel to another part of the level. It’s bizarrely great, delivering a pumped-up energy that now makes Tony Hawk’s games pale in comparison.

It’s difficult to compare it to another title. No other game has ever put me in the position of performing multiple tricks in a single jump while riding along at a speed that would send Marty McFly back to the future. The story remains fairly simple, seeing you fight against a sinister corporation, but the focus remains on the energetic gameplay.

If you’re looking to give it a shot, Denshattack! has a launch discount with Fanatical, giving you a Steam key for just $13.59 / £10.89 – that’s 32% off at release. You’ll need to test your speed skills before you even download the game, though, as this deal could quickly disappear.

So, if you’ve ever had the (really odd) dream of driving a train at speeds that Keanu Reeves couldn’t manage, this is a game worth giving a shot.

Disclosure: GameSpot and Fanatical are both owned by Fandom. This story was created in collaboration with Fanatical’s deals team.

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