#Iko's R1 Grand Finale Tour, Episode 9: Aki
faint saddle
From Caelum Noctis, it was only a quick jaunt across the ocean eastward to my next destination: Aki.
Aki is a Japanese word meaning “autumn,” befitting the biome it was founded in. The original name, at the settlement’s founding, was “Aki no Shima,” meaning “autumn island,” which, given the local geography, is also fitting. Aki is placed at the very end of a thin peninsula of autumn forest biome, which has a river running completely through it, making it truly an island. The settlement spans the entire island space.
Aki is situated at N2100 E1592. Being an island, access to all other biomes must be achieved by sea travel. Both calm forest and pine forest can be accessed via a river to the south, but they are not nearby. It’s impressive that the claim has been tiered to level 6.
The settlement is well designed, with districts spanning the western half of the island, the market, teleporters and travelers in the center, and housing in the east. Tier 4 walls delineate the boundaries of the cities, while, internally, tier 4 fences delineate districts. There’s an impressive placement of trees mixed into the cityscape, making the space feel more natural, while still developed.
The city has a very distinct aesthetic, and all parts of the island stick to it. It also feels traversable, as though it would be easy to work here. Impressive, given the space constraints. As I was walking around Aki, I was confronted with interesting camera shots no matter which part of the settlement I wandered into.
Even more impressive, given the space constraints, is that parts of the island are given over entirely to decoration, such as this small island of hexes in the southwest corner, or the park region on the eastern portion of the island.
Aki is a great example of form and function integrated with seeming effortlessness. There’s a lot to learn about settlement design here.
My only regret about visiting Aki is that I wasn’t able to learn anything about its history or its people beforehand. Regardless, I hope that its creators continue on to the new world, as I’m excited to see what they’ll create there!
