Sand Land (Computer)
Official GBAtemp Review
Product Information:
- Publisher: Bandai Namco
- Developer: ILCA, Inc.
- Genres: Action RPG
- Also For: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S
Game Features:
True to its name, Sand Land is set in a desert-filled universe. It is the result of wars and natural disasters that have led to a dehydrated world where water sources have dried up. Inhabitants struggle with limited water supply on a daily basis and this has led to Sheriff Rao to seek assistance from an unusual group to find a new source of water: the demons of Sand Land.
Indeed, this land is also home to literal, yet surprisingly friendly demons. Son of Lucifer and Fiend Prince Beelzebub, along with fellow demon Thief, agrees to join Rao to find a legendary spring that could remedy their woes. And so begins an eventful adventure across Sand Land with a group of misfits.
A land filled with Akira Toriyama’s charm
From its looks alone, Sand Land bears the obvious, unique touches of Akira Toriyama. The character and environment design, with the mix of science fiction and fantasy elements are typical of the late artist, and his charming art style is perfectly depicted in this game. It is even refreshing to see his skills being put on display in a new title which is not Dragon Ball related.
Toriyama’s charm is also evident in the game’s plot which deals with contemporary topics with a comedic touch. For instance, Beelzebub agrees to join the eco-conscious quest but only at the promise of getting more video game time from his father. While the cast of characters can often feel generic and lacking in depth, some inevitably strike as intriguing as you get to learn more about them over time. This game serves as a good entry point to the Sand Land story as it retells and expands upon the original manga from 2000.
The overall presentation is very much on point as the in-game aesthetics make the game look like an anime. Gameplays sequences are also often interspersed with cut scenes, further blurring the distinction. However, these transitions happen quite often and can be divisive. To some it might be off-putting for the gameplay to halt every so often. But to others, this can make the “playing an anime” aspect feel more prominent.
Feels like playing Sand Land, the open world anime
Sand Land’s presentation is very much anime-like and the game also very much feels like playing an anime. You control Beelzebub from a third-person perspective and are free to roam across the game’s varied open world environments. Despite the sandy nature of the universe, environments do vary from army bases to caves to cities and more. The generous fast travel option from the map lets you quickly move to an area that you’ve previously explored.
While Beelzebub is the main protagonist, you also occasionally get to play as other characters and also use different vehicles for traversal as well as combat. There is also a variety of gameplay sequences such as sneaking missions, platforming sessions and QTE events. There are, of course, side quests such as bounty hunting or assisting town dwellers. Completing some of the latter will help expand towns and, in doing so, help you acquire new items. These add a welcome dynamic and diversity to the gameplay, even if the mixture of gameplay genres do not always feel cohesive and sometimes overstay their welcome.
As an RPG, Sand Land features the classic gamut of skill trees. These allow you to unlock new abilities for your party and upgrade your vehicles as well. Unlocking new skills and upgrades is essential as your party, as well as your vehicles, will assist you in combat. These unfold in real-time, allowing you to put Beelzebub’s skills to the test. Hostile encounters do offer a fair challenge, especially boss fights which require paying close attention to the foe’s weakness. Once you’ve identified the appropriate approach, chaining combos and unleashing special attacks feel satisfying.
One of this game’s focus is the use of vehicles in not only exploration but combat. Some enemies can only be defeated with specific vehicles and you'll have to take the driver’s seat to counter them. Swapping between a mecha for a fist fight with other robots or using a tank to gun down drones makes for an engaging combat mechanic. However, having to swap machines to avail of their specific use can feel repetitive.
A decent entry point to Sand Land
Despite being set in an interesting universe with unique characters packing Toriyama’s touch, Sand Land falls victim to typical open world game issues. The expansive environments, although varied, are devoid of activity and don’t entice exploration as much. Having a more streamlined approach might have worked better.
As for one of the gameplay highlights - vehicular traversal and combat - it comes with its own sets of challenges. While customising and upgrading vehicles can make it feel like it’s a creation of your own, the process can also be overwhelming with the number of materials required for each part. This can lead to some grinding where you have to scavenge for specific materials to build a machine to progress further in the plot.
The generic-sounding characters can also be a contentious issue for some, although their designs and slow-paced character development can grow on you. Despite attempting to vary the gameplay with sequences of different genres, they don’t always feel satisfying.
Yes, Sand Land is not a perfect game and is not the hit I wanted it to be. The plot doesn’t have the same draw as Dragon Ball Z and the gameplay does not always coalesce in a satisfactory way. But if you’ve been looking to experience a new universe from Akira Toriyama, then this game will deliver on that. The iconic artist’s touch is apparent throughout the game which serves as an adequate entry point to the Sand Land universe. It’s not reinventing the genre but I’ve enjoyed it as a light action RPG set in a charming universe.
SAND LAND — Launch Trailer
Verdict
- Original universe filled with Akira Toriyama’s charm
- Fun vehicle combat
- Varied gameplay segments (even if they’re hit-or-miss)
- Cumbersome vehicles building and upgrades
- Open world environments are often barren
- Interruption of gameplay segments can be divisive
