Star Wars: Galactic Racer is an invaluable addition to the racing game canon precisely because it is excellent, and because it is a game wholly different in style than each of the Forza, Gran Turismo, Need for Speed, and Mario Kart franchises before it. It is important and healthy for the continued development of the art form to experience innovation not only in licensed property but also in the very ways in which we play our favorite games, in genres we falsely believe to have already traversed their creative limits. With a stronger narrative, Galactic Racer wouldn’t just be making a case as one of the better games of the year; it would be in the conversation for one of the best Star Wars IP releases this century.
The latest offering from developer Undercoders is neither expected nor simple. Each time I thought I had Denshattack!’s gameplay or narrative pinned down, I was delightfully lurched in another screeching direction. There are a few key stops that Denshattack! makes during its nine-part tale that — no spoilers — make this well worth your time, and it boasts a vibrant world and cast of characters who have something critical to say.