Akatori Controls & Inputs
Every binding, combo, and movement tool Mako uses to fight Amber Storm corruption.
Akatori by Contrast Games is a 2.5D metroidvania built around one idea: Mako’s mystical staff should feel equally deadly in combat and indispensable during exploration. Whether you play on keyboard or controller, the same toolkit applies—light and charged strikes, aerial chains, staff throws with boomerang recall, gliding, wall hooks, slides, double jumps, air dashes, and swimming. This hub collects every controls page on the wiki so you can learn inputs once and apply them across the demo walkthrough, the standalone Chapter One prologue, and the full release launching August 5, 2026 on PC.
If you are brand new to the franchise, start with Getting Started for a broader onboarding path, then return here when you want precision on individual buttons and timing windows.
What you will find in this section
Each child page focuses on one slice of the control scheme so you are not scrolling through a giant table on a single screen.
- Keyboard controls — default PC bindings, remapping through Steam or in-game settings, and tips for Steam Deck players who see mismatched on-screen prompts.
- Controller layout — Xbox, PlayStation, and Switch-style face-button mappings, trigger usage for charged attacks, and why many players prefer analog movement for bamboo traversal.
- Combat combos — ground-to-air chains, staff projectiles, uppercuts, finishers, and how enemy stagger interacts with your combo meter.
- Traversal moves — gliding from height, wall clings, momentum slides, underwater breath management, and flexible bamboo stalk interactions.
Why controls matter in Akatori
Unlike action games where combat and platforming use separate button modes, Akatori blends both into a continuous flow state. A single jump might transition into a glide, then a wall hook, then an aerial light attack without Mako ever leaving the staff’s rhythm. Preview coverage consistently highlights timing over complexity: the inputs themselves are approachable, but landing combos while maintaining horizontal and vertical momentum is where skill expression lives.
The demo’s tutorial walks through the essentials in the Monk Forest before pushing you into vertical bamboo courses and a breath-limited underwater gauntlet. Chapter One, the separate prologue available on Steam, reintroduces staff acquisition and culminates in a duel with Takatsugu the Sentinel. Inputs learned in either experience carry forward.
Keyboard vs controller
Both input methods are fully supported. Keyboard players gain precise tap-dancing for frame-perfect dodges during boss fights; controller players often find analog stick movement smoother when navigating swaying bamboo or chasing the demo’s serpent sequence. Neither is objectively superior—pick the page that matches your hardware and cross-read the other when a technique feels awkward.
Recommended learning order
- Skim this hub, then read Traversal moves if you struggle with platforming sections first.
- Study Combat combos before the Chaos Arena or any boss encounter.
- Deep-dive Keyboard or Controller bindings once you know which moves you use most.
- Apply everything in the Demo walkthrough or Monk Forest guide with live enemies.
Settings and accessibility
Akatori exposes remapping in its options menu, and Steam Input can override defaults on Deck or Big Picture setups. If on-screen prompts disagree with your physical layout, fix bindings before blaming difficulty—preview impressions specifically call out prompt mismatches as a common early frustration. Rebind dodge and jump to comfortable fingers first; charged attack and staff throw can follow once muscle memory forms.
Cross-links for progression
After mastering inputs here, continue to Walkthrough hub for area-by-area routing, Chapter One for prologue achievements, and Getting Started for economy tips like saving medicine currency for difficult fights. Revisit this hub after major patches because Contrast Games continued tuning demo combat and bamboo responsiveness based on Steam Next Fest feedback.
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to the most common questions.
Does Akatori support both keyboard and controller?
Yes. The demo and Chapter One prologue both support keyboard and gamepad. Choose whichever feels better for aerial combos versus bamboo traversal, and remap in settings if prompts do not match your device.
Where should I learn controls first?
Start with the in-game tutorial in Monk Forest, then read the Traversal and Combat Combos pages here. They explain timing windows the tutorial only briefly mentions.
Can I remap keys on Steam Deck?
Yes. Use Akatori's in-game rebinding plus Steam Input if on-screen button icons still show Xbox glyphs while you use a different layout.
Are Chapter One controls the same as the main demo?
The core staff moves match, though Chapter One is a shorter prologue with fewer upgrades. Everything you learn transfers to the full game and the February 2026 demo.
Which page covers staff throw and recall?
See Combat Combos for offensive staff throws and Traversal for hooking walls or distant anchors. Both use the same throw input with context-sensitive results.