We Played Akatori and Here’s What I Thought

Akatori is an enjoyable, beautiful, and relatively short game, but it can sometimes be more difficult for the player than it needs to be. At least, that was my impression after finishing the adventure while fighting not only the enemies, but also my own questionable talent with a controller.

In the game, we take on the role of Mako, a young girl raised at the Phoenix Temple. She is a monk who embarks on an adventure across different worlds in an attempt to stop the so-called Amber Storms, which are corrupting nature and living beings.

And there is one important detail about Mako: she is a real brat.

Throughout the adventure, the protagonist is called a “brat” several times, making it very clear that she isn’t exactly the easiest person to deal with. This ends up becoming part of the character’s charm and the story itself.

Akatori has a simple but beautiful visual style

One of the things that immediately stands out about Akatori is its visual style. The game combines pixel art with 3D elements to create its environments.

Don’t expect extremely elaborate animations or detailed character illustrations during dialogue. Even the avatars used during conversations follow the pixel art style.

It may seem simple compared to other games in the genre, but it works very well. The environments are beautiful, with interesting landscapes that make it enjoyable to simply stop for a few seconds and take in the world.

Akatori features four difficulty levels, ranging from a more accessible option to a difficulty compared to the style of Dark Souls.

And there is good news for players who aren’t used to action games: you can change the difficulty during your adventure.

On Normal mode, the game isn’t extremely difficult. The problem is that, depending on the player’s skill, even regular enemies can become a considerable threat.

The map also helps quite a bit. Objectives are clearly marked, while new areas need to be revealed as you explore the world.

The collectibles, however, aren’t marked on the map. And they’re kittens. So if you want to find them all, you’ll need to pay close attention while exploring.

A different kind of skill system

The progression in Akatori is relatively simple, but it has some interesting ideas.

Throughout the adventure, Mako gains new abilities connected to the mysterious staff that gives the game its name. These abilities allow her to fight enemies, reach new areas, and explore places that were previously inaccessible.

There are also bells scattered throughout the world that take Mako to a special dimension where she has to fight enemies. After completing the challenge, she learns a new ability.

The problem is that the player doesn’t get to choose exactly which ability they want to unlock at that moment. The game itself determines what you will learn.

This can be frustrating for some players, especially when you find a path you’d like to explore but don’t have the required ability yet.

A short game that is worth playing

The Akatori campaign takes around three hours to complete, making it a relatively short experience.

But that doesn’t mean it’s a disposable game. Quite the opposite: its shorter length fits its concept well and prevents the adventure from becoming tiring.

The recommendation is to take your time, explore the environments, and pay attention to the details instead of simply rushing from one screen to another while defeating enemies.

And here’s an important tip: play with a controller.

The experience is much better that way, while playing with a keyboard doesn’t seem like the most comfortable option if you want to enjoy the game to the fullest.

So, is Akatori worth playing?

Yes. Akatori is a simple but genuinely charming experience.

It doesn’t compete with the biggest metroidvanias in terms of size or complexity, but it delivers solid combat, exploration, beautiful environments, and a protagonist with plenty of personality.

The game manages to challenge the player without turning every obstacle into an annoying experience. And even if you don’t usually play many action platformers, this adventure can still be a lot of fun.

The game is available on Steam.