Akatori: Сhapter One

About

Akatori: Chapter One is a metroidvania game with action platformer elements, where you play as the young monk Mako. Explore the Land of the Emerald Peaks, befriend a red bird companion, and use your staff as a weapon or platforming tool. Fight, jump, and uncover secrets in the first two of over ten biomes, leading to a climactic battle against a mighty opponent.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

93%

Audience ScoreBased on 542 reviews

gameplay98 positive mentions

stability8 negative mentions

Visually stunning with a beautiful blend of 2D pixel art and 3D backgrounds.
Innovative gameplay mechanics, particularly the use of the staff for both combat and traversal.
Smooth and fluid movement, making exploration and combat enjoyable.

Combat feels a bit unresponsive and lacks impact, making it less satisfying.
Some areas suffer from performance issues, including frame drops and lag.
The dialogue and story elements can be tedious and lack depth, making it easy to skip.

gameplay
202 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
49%
50%
1%
The gameplay of "Akatori" has been praised for its innovative mechanics, particularly the use of a staff that enhances both platforming and combat, providing a unique twist to the metroidvania genre. Players have noted the fluid controls and engaging combat, although some mechanics, such as the staff's throw and recall functions, have been described as clunky or slow. Overall, while the game shows great potential with its captivating visuals and intriguing mechanics, it requires further polish and optimization before its full release.
- “Akatori presents a well-rounded gaming experience with its compelling story, innovative gameplay mechanics, beautiful visuals, and adaptive soundtrack.”
- “The mechanics work great, the level design is good, the combat has nice impact, flawless gameplay flow, beautiful art direction and overall a super fun and engaging experience!”
- “Whether bouncing off surfaces or using it as a makeshift platform, the staff mechanic adds a layer of depth and excitement to movement rarely seen in the genre.”
- “I hope they refine the staff jump mechanics a bit though as those can be really frustrating.”
- “It truly makes me sad to say I can't recommend this game in its current state; it feels like three years only went into making the backgrounds and story, rather than focusing on the core gameplay.”
- “The game feels kind of slow, to the point where the trailer looks sped up. Slow gameplay is okay and can be done well, but I feel this game would play better with more fast-paced combat and movement.”
graphics
144 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
65%
33%
2%
The graphics of "Akatori" have received widespread acclaim for their stunning pixel art and smooth animations, often compared to the HD-2D style popularized by Square Enix. Players appreciate the unique blend of 2D and 3D elements, which create a visually captivating experience, although some have noted minor graphical issues and performance lags that may require optimization. Overall, the art style is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's appeal and immersive gameplay.
- “The graphics of this game are very good; it's an action game.”
- “Visually, 'akatori' dazzles with its pixel art aesthetic juxtaposed against lush 3D landscapes.”
- “Absolutely gorgeous visuals (second best metroidvania in terms of visuals in my opinion behind Ori games).”
- “However, although I know that this is basically just an early build of the game, there are still some minor complaints for me about this game... like, one thing I've noticed is that there are some sections of the game where it basically lags which I feel like it's either the game needs more optimization or maybe just that it needs a graphics settings to reduce the intensity for us low-spec PC gamers.”
- “I also encountered some graphical issues, and even had some frame drops.”
- “- the visuals are weak and could do with substantial improvements.”
story
90 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
60%
4%
The story of Akatori, while not groundbreaking, presents a compelling quest involving the firebird and the protagonist Mako as they seek to uncover the source of corruption. Many players find the narrative engaging but note issues with dialogue quality and pacing, leading to a somewhat confusing experience. Overall, the story shows potential for development, especially given its early chapter status, but suffers from predictability and lack of depth in character interactions.
- “Akatori presents a well-rounded gaming experience with its compelling story, innovative gameplay mechanics, beautiful visuals, and adaptive soundtrack.”
- “The story intrigued me and I want to find out more (the 'chaos' reminded me of the infection from Hollow Knight, probably is what they took for inspiration), the movement is fluid, the combat is fun, loved the staff mechanic... and this is just the tip of the iceberg, right?”
- “Good start, nice environments, fluid movement, potential for an epic story.”
- “Story-wise, just basing off of this demo, it feels kinda confusing with all this 'chaos' shenanigans.”
- “Dialogue/story writing was also a chore to get through; too wordy and dumping of info without any distinct character - making it difficult to feel attached to world-building/story.”
- “It truly makes me sad to say I can't recommend this game in its current state, it feels like three years only went into making the backgrounds and story, rather than focusing on the core gameplay.”
music
54 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
37%
52%
11%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the ambient tracks and orchestral elements, while others find it forgettable and lacking intensity, particularly during combat and boss battles. Many reviewers noted that the soundtrack enhances the overall experience but also pointed out areas where it feels underdeveloped or absent, leading to moments of emptiness in gameplay. Overall, while the music is generally considered decent, there is a consensus that it could benefit from further refinement and more memorable compositions.
- “Akatori presents a well-rounded gaming experience with its compelling story, innovative gameplay mechanics, beautiful visuals, and adaptive soundtrack.”
- “Beyond that, it's a beautiful game that plays extremely well, it has a great soundtrack with tight controls, and I'm really looking forward to when we get the full release!”
- “Very nice platformer game with great music and effects.”
- “I understand the changes in music, but sometimes the levels feel empty and boring without it, especially the two mini-bosses.”
- “My biggest gripe was with the lack of sound effects (refilling your health should have a sound cue) and the music was really, really dull.”
- “Now for the music, or lack thereof to be more precise.”
optimization
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
67%
17%
The game's optimization has received significant criticism, with players reporting stuttering, low frame rates, and performance issues, particularly in specific areas like Mirror Lake. Many users noted a lack of optimization options in the settings, leading to choppy gameplay even on low-spec PCs. Additionally, control mechanics and audio cues are inconsistent, indicating a need for further tuning and improvements before the full release.
- “I'm hopeful that there will be optimization for Steam Deck done prior to the full game being released.”
- “The story is good despite a short demo, but the game should definitely be optimized for performance and gameplay.”
- “I played this game on my low-spec PC, and while I faced some bugs, I appreciate the development effort. With some optimization, it could be even better.”
- “Not much in the way of optimization in the settings; obviously, dropping the resolution helped like always, but I was still averaging around 30 fps for a pixel art game.”
- “I played this game on my low-spec PC, faced some bugs, and it needs optimization. Sometimes controls like jump mechanics won't work; this needs to be fixed before the game releases.”
- “But the controls seriously need more tuning. This could be so much more without the performance issues such as missing audio cues, button presses not registering, and a wonky UI.”
stability
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability is marked by notable glitches, particularly with the rolling/dodge mechanic, which can result in erratic behavior such as double rolls or unresponsive inputs. While these issues are acknowledged, some players suggest embracing them as part of the overall experience, which is otherwise enhanced by impressive art and music.
- “The rolling/dodge key is buggy - sometimes it rolls twice, and sometimes it eats the input afterward, which includes jumping down to a lower platform (down + jump).”
- “[h3]Questionable mechanics / glitches[/h3]”
- “Slightly buggy but great art style, music, depth of mechanics.”
grinding
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, particularly in combat where countering feels more like a chore than an engaging mechanic. The limited options for dealing with larger enemies can also contribute to a frustrating experience, although some players appreciate the eventual satisfaction of overcoming these challenges. Overall, the grinding elements detract from the enjoyment of the game.
- “The dialogue is a little tedious — although the old men playing go was a nice touch, and they allude to Hikaru no Go and Sai, which was great — and the combat is meh.”
- “As a result, countering feels more tedious than a fun countermeasure; it's just dodging and then hitting them again.”
- “Big flying things are sometimes tedious to take down due to very restrictive anti-air options.”
atmosphere
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its exceptional beauty, complemented by a compelling story and intriguing gameplay mechanics involving unique weapon usage. Overall, the art design significantly enhances the immersive experience.
- “The art and atmosphere are exceptionally beautiful.”
- “So far the atmosphere and story, along with the twist regarding what you use as a weapon, are captivating.”
emotional
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its ability to evoke excitement and anticipation, reminiscent of beloved titles like Ori and Celeste. Players express a deep appreciation for the intricate combat mechanics, which not only enhance gameplay but also create a sense of pride and nostalgia for classic fighting games. Overall, the emotional connection stems from the game's potential to deliver a rich and engaging experience.
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The reviews highlight that the character design and enemy aesthetics are visually appealing, contributing positively to the overall experience. However, there is no specific mention of character development in terms of narrative or growth.
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Reviews highlight a strong resistance to the prevalence of microtransactions and loot boxes, with players expressing concern over the pay-to-win model that undermines fair competition. Many users advocate for a more balanced approach to monetization, emphasizing the need for integrity in gameplay.
- “Together, we shall weather the storm of microtransactions and loot boxes, standing tall against the tide of pay-to-win villains like noble knights in a digital crusade.”