Akatori Review: Combat, Exploration & Metroidvania Verdict

In Akatori, you step into the shoes of Mako, a young battle monk raised in the Firebird Temple. The world is built around a fascinating but deadly substance called Amber. While Amber serves as the civilization's primary currency, it is also highly toxic to the touch, transforming anyone exposed to it into zombie-like creatures. Fortunately, monks like Mako are immune to "amberization" and serve as essential guides for the military.

The narrative kicks off when the Amber Storms begin devastating the world. Mako teams up with the god Akatori, a mysterious red bird sealed inside a magical staff, to stop these catastrophic events. The dynamic between Mako and her divine companion provides much of the game's personality.

Video Highlights:

• Mako's journey through the Amber Castle and five distinct biomes
• The unique currency system where Amber is both money and a deadly hazard
• The magical staff that serves as both a weapon and a traversal tool
• Boss encounters that require pattern recognition and strategic healing

The game's presentation is undoubtedly its strongest pillar. The blend of 2D pixel art sprites with 3D environments creates a striking visual identity. Character designs are appealing, and the Asian-inspired mythos is reinforced by an adaptive soundtrack that shifts dynamically based on on-screen action.

Akatori's combat begins with a basic three-hit punch-kick combo that Mako can perform on the ground and in the air. Early in the game, she acquires the magical staff, which functions similarly to the melee combo but adds range. The staff throw is arguably the most satisfying combat mechanic, allowing Mako to stun enemies from a distance before rushing in for follow-up attacks.

The Chaos System governs combat progression. Scattered throughout the world are purple bells that serve as portals to arena fights. Completing these encounters rewards Mako with new combat moves, such as the deflect skill that knocks back enemy projectiles. However, accessing these arenas requires a full Chaos Meter.

Filling the Chaos Meter is a grind. You must defeat large numbers of enemies without resting or dying, and backtracking to a bell after filling the meter often means redoing difficult platforming sections. This friction discourages experimentation and leaves the combat feeling serviceable but shallow for players who do not engage with the bells.

Healing uses a consumable item system rather than a refillable flask. While this works adequately, Rage Potions are the real game-changer. These consumables dramatically increase Mako's damage output, turning challenging boss encounters into manageable fights.

For a game that heavily marketed its parkour elements, Akatori's platforming is surprisingly standard. Mako's movement toolkit includes a double jump, an air dash, and a wall jump. While she controls smoothly, the level design rarely encourages creative traversal. The game lacks the fluid, momentum-driven movement that defines top-tier platforming experiences.

The platforming does improve in the latter stages. Mako eventually gains the ability to fling herself off bamboo shoots and ride air currents using a glider. These moments represent the first time the game truly feels like it is delivering on its parkour promise, but they come too late to redefine the experience.

The lack of invincibility frames when taking damage makes platforming sections punishing. Getting caught in spikes can rapidly deplete your health bar, and dying reloads your previous save, forcing you to recollect everything. This harsh penalty discourages the kind of creative, risk-taking play that great platforming encourages.

Progression is arguably Akatori's weakest aspect. The game qualifies as a metroidvania only in the loosest sense. Mako does not meaningfully grow stronger through play. There is no XP system, no skill trees, no gear, no charms, and no side quests. Beating bosses grants HP increases, and one shopkeeper sells another, but beyond that and the Chaos Bell combat skills, character development is virtually nonexistent.

Currency serves only to purchase consumables, with the exception of a single HP upgrade. This barebones approach to progression strips away one of the genre's most compelling hooks: the sense of becoming steadily more powerful.

Exploration suffers from similar issues. The game features five to six visually distinct biomes, including the striking Amber Castle and the atmospheric Amber Forest. However, the world is aggressively linear, with ability upgrades locked behind story progression. Backtracking is minimal and rarely rewarding.

Akatori earns a final score of 6 out of 10. The game possesses genuine charm with its striking visual style, satisfying staff throw mechanic, and a handful of enjoyable boss encounters. However, the overall experience never coalesces into something truly memorable.

The game sits firmly in the D Tier of metroidvania rankings. It has the shape of a metroidvania with interconnected biomes and ability-gated moments, but it lacks the substance that defines the genre. Combat and platforming are competent but unremarkable, exploration is unrewarding, and progression barely exists.

Akatori was developed by Contrast Games and published by Games Harbor and Esprit Games. It was released on August 5, 2026, on PC via Steam, with console releases planned. The game is priced at $14.99 (with a 15% introductory discount bringing it to $12.74 through August 12, 2026). It features 31 Steam Achievements, Steam Cloud support, and Family Sharing.

The game supports 10 languages including English, Russian, French, German, Spanish, Traditional and Simplified Chinese, Korean, Portuguese (Brazil), and Japanese. Developers recommend playing with a controller, and it runs flawlessly on the Steam Deck.