Akatori Traversal & Parkour Moves

Akatori’s identity is kung fu parkour: Mako uses the same mystical staff that shatters Amber-corrupted knights to glide across chasms, hook distant anchors, and slide down temple roofs. Contrast Games built a 2.5D metroidvania where horizontal speed and vertical height are equally important—preview writers describe double jumps that cover “astounding ground” and bamboo stalks that launch you at angles determined by how far you pull back before release. This page documents every traversal verb in the demo and Chapter One prologue so you can read mechanics once and apply them across Monk Forest, Bamboo Location, and Underwater guides.

Combat strings live on Combat combos; input bindings live on Keyboard and Controller. New players should still skim Getting Started for overall progression context.

Core movement toolkit

The demo tutorial introduces these abilities in order:

Move	Input summary	Primary use
Run	Hold direction	Baseline exploration
Jump / double jump	Jump at apex	Height recovery; setup for glide
Glide	Hold jump mid-air	Cross wide gaps; slow descents
Wall cling / kick	Jump into wall	Vertical shafts in bamboo groves
Slide	Crouch on slopes	Momentum preservation downhill
Air dash	Dodge mid-air	Correct mistimed jumps; boss repositioning
Staff hook	Throw at anchor	Pull to distant points
Swim	Direction + swim up	Breath-limited underwater rooms

Full release may add gating upgrades behind story beats, but demo content already expects fluent chaining of these basics.

Glide mechanics

After a jump or drop, hold jump to deploy the staff as a glider. Glide:

• Reduces fall speed for precise landings on narrow bamboo perches.
• Extends horizontal distance when combined with double jump momentum.
• Can transition directly into staff hook if you release near an anchor point.

Stamina or duration limits apply on long falls—if Mako flutters weakly, find a ledge or hook before the ground spikes in Underwater exit shafts.

Wall cling and wall kick

Jump toward a climbable surface to cling. Press jump again to kick off diagonally. Advanced routes in Bamboo Location require alternating wall kicks with glides without touching poison floor vines.

Wall cling also enables combat—drop attack strings documented in Combat combos—but this page focuses on pure navigation.

Staff hook and grapple points

Glowing rings, wooden posts, and Amber-crystal outcroppings accept staff throws. Successful hooks pull Mako toward the anchor; recall optionally snaps the staff back if you need to abort.

Hook traversal differs from hook combat: traversal anchors auto-center Mako; combat throws use free aim. Mis-aiming in the serpent chase wastes seconds—study anchor placement in the Demo walkthrough.

Bamboo stalk slingshot

The Bamboo Location’s signature mechanic: grab flexible stalks, pull back with stick or direction input, release to launch at high velocity. Launch angle scales with pull distance—partial pulls make shorter hops between stalks; full pulls rocket Mako across entire screens.

Preview highlights call this the most “unusual” level design in the demo because it rewards experimentation. Practice partial pulls before attempting 100% completion routes in speedrun communities.

Slides and downhill flow

Enter slide on steep slopes or by crouching during sprint. Slide maintains speed into jump → glide chains, mimicking downhill snowboarding flow but with monk temple aesthetics. Monk Forest introduces gentle slopes; later demo rooms combine slides with enemy ambushes requiring instant Combat combo dismounts.

Swimming and breath management

Underwater sections replace stamina with an oxygen meter. Swim with direction; press jump to swim upward. Glide does not work submerged—plan routes using hook points and bubble vents shown in the Underwater guide.

Failure to track breath kills more demo players than combat in this biome according to community impressions.

Air dash

Ground dodge and air dash share one input with invulnerability frames. Traversal use: recover from misaligned bamboo launches; cross shorter gaps without spending double jump; reposition during Takatsugu the Sentinel platform phases in Chapter One (limited verticality but same dash rules).

Momentum chaining example

A typical high-skill demo sequence:

1. Slide into jump off Monk Forest ridge.
2. Double jump at cliff edge.
3. Glide toward bamboo stalk.
4. Partial pull launch to secondary stalk.
5. Full pull launch to upper platform.
6. Staff hook to ceiling anchor.
7. Air dash to safe ledge before enemy archers spawn.

Drill segments in isolation before full Demo walkthrough speed clears.

Chapter One differences

The standalone prologue spans two realms before the Takatsugu duel. Traversal is simpler—fewer bamboo slings—but staff acquisition (Fateful Encounter achievement) unlocks the same glide and hook fundamentals. Skills transfer directly to the main game launching August 5, 2026 on PC.

Troubleshooting

• Short glides: you released jump too early; hold through apex.
• Missed hooks: verify anchor glow; some require charged throw distance from Combat combos.
• Bamboo under-shoot: insufficient pull-back; walk further from stalk before grabbing.
• Underwater panic: ascend at 50% breath, not 10%.

Return to Controls hub or open Walkthrough hub for route-specific screenshots and enemy placement notes.