Denshattack – A Love Letter to 90s Arcade Gaming

Posted on August 7, 2026 by RecordKilla86

Every once in a while, a game comes along that completely catches you off guard. Denshattack is one of those games. It released in the middle of July, and honestly, I haven’t been able to put it down since.

From the moment I started playing, I could tell this wasn’t trying to be another cookie-cutter indie title. If you grew up playing games like Crazy Taxi, OutRun, and Jet Set Radio, you’re going to feel right at home. It captures that fast-paced arcade energy that made those games so memorable while still carving out its own identity.

On paper, the gameplay sounds simple enough. You’re pushing a train through different environments at insane speeds, pulling off tricks, and trying to reach your destination as quickly as possible. It sounds like a formula we’ve seen before, but don’t let that fool you. Denshattack has a personality all its own.

One thing I really appreciated is that the game doesn’t spend hours holding your hand. It teaches you the basics and then trusts you to figure things out. By the time you reach the second or third world, the game expects you to remember everything you’ve learned. It becomes just as much a memory test as it is a test of your reflexes. If you haven’t been paying attention, the later stages will let you know pretty quickly.

That learning curve might turn some people away, and that’s okay. This isn’t a game designed to please everyone. It’s made for players who enjoy improving through repetition, mastering mechanics, and chasing better times. For me, that’s exactly what keeps me coming back for “just one more run.”

Outside of a few small learning curves, I think Denshattack is phenomenal. Right now I’m working toward earning Gold on every stage, and I haven’t gotten tired of it yet. That alone says a lot. The soundtrack deserves its own shout-out too. It perfectly complements the game’s high-speed gameplay and keeps the adrenaline pumping from start to finish.

There were even moments that reminded me of Air Gear. If you’ve seen the anime, you’ll know exactly what I mean. It’s not a direct comparison, but it gives off that same stylish, high-speed, over-the-top energy that made Air Gear so much fun.

Playing Denshattack also made me think about Sega’s upcoming Jet Set Radio and Crazy Taxi revivals. I genuinely hope Sega studies what this game does so well. It would be disappointing if those legendary franchises returned feeling safe or stale while a smaller game like Denshattack delivers the kind of excitement fans have been asking for.

At the end of the day, Denshattack isn’t for everybody—and that’s perfectly fine. It knows exactly what kind of experience it wants to deliver and doesn’t compromise to appeal to everyone. Games like this remind me why I still love arcade-style gameplay.

Final Verdict: 10/10

Denshattack is one of the most enjoyable arcade games I’ve played in years. It’s fast, challenging, rewarding, and packed with personality. The only thing I’d love to see in the future is some DLC with additional tracks—but honestly, that’s just me being greedy because the game already feels complete as it is.