Adapting a manga into video game form is always a journey fraught with challenges, especially in maintaining the original essence of the work while incorporating interesting and relevant gameplay innovations. "Sand Land," inspired by Akira Toriyama's manga, is a bold step in the exploration of the open-world genre. The game promises an exciting adventure that exploits vast explorative freedom, but also carries the responsibility to meet the expectations of fans who have long idolized the original work.

This boldness arose not only from a desire to expand the existing story, but also from an effort to combine distinctive visuals with gameplay mechanics capable of maintaining Toriyama's unique narrative. Sand Land also offers more than just replication; it strives to provide new nuances that can enrich existing experiences, navigating between fidelity to the original source and creative freedom that allows players to experience Toriyama's world in an entirely new way.

Well, coincidentally the author got the opportunity from Bandai Namco to review Sand Land, after playing it for approximately 10 hours, here is the author's review which might help you before buying it. Come on, check it out together, guys!

Lacking Storyline

Sand Land takes players into a post-apocalyptic world plagued by injustice, exploring the complicated coexistence of demons and humans who together fight a corrupt government. The center of the story itself focuses on Prince Beelzebub, the devil's prince, who has a charismatic personality and firm leadership, making him suitable as a symbol of resistance to tyranny. He not only becomes a central figure in this struggle but also depicts a profound internal transformation, struggling between his demonic instincts and the desire to effect positive change.

Apart from that, there are also Rao, a war veteran who is tormented by his past, and Thief, one of Prince Beelzebub's aides who accompanies him on his adventure. There is also a female character named Ann, a genius mechanic with a deep understanding of the vehicle technology that players will use throughout the game.

They are not only teammates, but also symbols of various aspects of humanity and redemption of the mistakes they have made. Unfortunately, too often the dialogue and plot developments fall into cliché patterns, which tend to lack the emotional impact that should be interesting and deep. The story of Sand Land actually has many moments that can be emotionally draining, but along the way the author feels that the great potential was not executed well, let alone delving into the internal conflicts of each character or the consequences of their struggles, which should have been more exciting.

Nevertheless, Sand Land tries to offer a story that is quite complex and layered, where the character's struggles and growth are presented through a rich and action-packed story. Players will be invited to experience not only the brutal action of the conflict presented, but also the hope and strength of unlikely alliances, reflecting the potential for healing and change in a world filled with chaos.

So, can Prince Beelzebub defeat the forces of tyranny and stop the chaos? Find the answer by playing Sand Land!

Exciting and Interesting Gameplay

Sand Land offers an exciting journey into a vast and dynamic open world, where exploration and vehicular combat are at the heart of the gaming experience. This game is equipped with an innovative and complex vehicle system that allows players to summon and switch between five different types of vehicles according to the needs of the situation at hand. From tough Old Reliable Tanks for large-scale battles, agile Jump Bots for navigating tight spaces, to specialized Mechs for close and long-range attacks, each vehicle offers unique features that increase the depth of strategy in combat.

Estimated to take up to 25 hours to complete, Sand Land takes players through a variety of environments ranging from scorching deserts to dense forests full of mystery. This environment not only offers views that are pleasing to the eye but also provides various challenges and diverse gameplay scenarios. However, despite the rich visuals and environmental variety, the gameplay can sometimes get stuck in a repetitive pattern.

Vehicle-focused missions and challenges often don't fully exploit the potential of the game's expansive and varied world, which can detract from the depth and richness of what should be a more dynamic and evocative experience. These criticisms show that while "Sand Land" has a solid gameplay foundation, there is still room for improvement in utilizing its elements more effectively to avoid feeling monotonous.

Visuals and Performance

Sand Land boasts impressive visual prowess in adapting Akira Toriyama's iconic art style into 3D. This game successfully translates the distinctive character designs and imaginative vehicles often seen in Toriyama's work, with compelling details and textures. The vehicle sequences, which are the core of the gameplay, show impressive dynamics and speed, while the cut scenes reflect the nuances and emotions of the original manga, providing visual depth that strengthens the narrative.

However, despite these visual successes, the game's overall presentation is at times disappointing. The cut-scenes often feel stiff, with animations that don't flow naturally, which destroys immersion in crucial moments of the story being enjoyed. The voices of several characters are also inconsistent, there are several characters that sound less convincing, which can detract from the authentic impression that should be conveyed well. Even though this is actually a small flaw, it still makes the playing experience feel less fluid, especially as this game is adapted from an anime which could have been better.

Despite its flaws, Sand Land still provides some stunning visual moments that really draw players into its vast and colorful world. These aspects, when done well, manage to bring Toriyama's world to life in new and exciting ways, showing the potential that exists in the fusion of traditional art and modern technology. However, to achieve greater consistency in performance and presentation, more attention to detail and improvements in animation and voice acting techniques are required.

Sand Land Performance on PC

The author played the Steam version of Sand Land on a PC with medium specifications such as an i5-9400F, GeForce RTX 3060, and 16GB RAM and used 1 TB SSD storage media. As a result, this game feels smooth without any problems. Playing at 1920 x 1080 resolution with all High graphics settings and a frame limit of 120 FPS is quite pleasing to the eye. Seeing how every character, environment, and every effect displayed is very good.

The author also didn't find any annoying bugs, so there are no complaints about the quality of the graphics and gameplay at all. This proves that Bandai Namco has carried out excellent quality control before they release it.

Customization and Interaction

Sand Land has deep customization elements through an advanced vehicle upgrade system, allowing players to customize every aspect of their vehicle to suit a variety of combat scenarios. Vehicles can be equipped with a variety of weapons, armor and special modules that not only improve their performance but also visually change their appearance, giving each player a unique impression. This customization isn't just limited to appearance: engine replacement, chip installation, and performance adjustments will affect how the vehicle operates on the battlefield, giving players complete control over their strategy and playing style.

Additionally, in-game interactions include a variety of activities that enrich the player's experience. While basic interactions with the environment and non-player characters tend to be simple, Sand Land occasionally adds elements such as puzzles and infiltration missions that require more thinking and strategy than just combat power. These elements add depth to the gameplay but are often less consistent in holding the interest of players, who may find some parts of the game less challenging or too predictable.

However, innovations in vehicle customization and the diversity of tasks present provide opportunities for players to be actively involved in developing their abilities and testing the effectiveness of the modifications they implement. Vehicle updates and developments serve not only as tools to progress in the story but also as a means to enhance the overall gaming experience, encouraging players to experiment with various combinations to find out what is most effective in certain situations. This creates a satisfying feedback loop between the player, the game, and the narrative moving forward.

Verdict

Sand Land presents an interesting contrast in the world of video game adaptations, combining moments of brilliant adaptation with periods that tend to be monotonous. While the game manages to capture the essence of Akira Toriyama's work in some aspects, it has trouble consistently doing so throughout the game. The primary focus on vehicular combat is both a strength and a weakness, often at the expense of deeper narrative exploration and richer character interactions.

Overall, Sand Land is a commendable attempt at bringing a beloved manga to life in video game form, but it still leaves fans wanting to get more from the experience on offer. The game is solid but unspectacular, capturing the moments that make its source material special.

From a technical perspective, despite some shortcomings such as less varied enemy AI and monotonous boss fights, the vehicle system stands out as a superior feature. The ease of changing vehicles to suit the needs of the situation adds dynamics and excitement to the gameplay. However, the hand-to-hand combat aspect often feels lacking in depth and tends to be repetitive.

Despite its flaws, Sand Land still offers a fairly satisfying experience while maintaining some of the core elements that made the original manga so beloved. However, the repetition in quests and lack of creative challenge may reduce its long-term appeal for some players.

For fans of Toriyama's work and fans of the genre, Sand Land is still worth checking out, especially to enjoy the innovation in vehicle mechanics and interesting visual design. However, those looking for a deeper narrative experience and consistently challenging gameplay will likely feel that "Sand Land" still has some areas for improvement.

For Sand Land's score, the author will give a score of 8/10!