SAND LAND is a Gorgeous Akira Toriyama Adventure with Little Depth – review

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As a seasoned gamer with over two decades of gaming experience under my belt, I must admit that Bandai Namco’s SAND LAND is a visual masterpiece that falls short when it comes to gameplay. Having grown up with Akira Toriyama’s iconic manga and anime series, the stunning recreation of his aesthetic in this game was a delight to behold. However, despite the beautiful graphics and charming characters, SAND LAND is marred by repetitive open-world gameplay and a stretched-thin plot that leaves much to be desired.

The manga artist Akira Toriyama, known for creating Dragon Ball, has a lesser-known work brought to life by Bandai Namco in the form of SAND LAND. Regrettably, while its graphics are captivatingly beautiful, they don’t compensate for monotonous open-world gameplay and a storyline that seems overextended.

1. In this tale, we traverse with Demon Prince Beelzebub through a barren landscape called Sand Land. Partnering with a human sheriff, he embarks on a mission to unearth a concealed oasis and restore its life-giving waters to the parched desert. With most water sources depleted after prolonged conflict, this secret haven is humanity’s—and demonkind’s—last hope for survival.

During this voyage, Beelzebub encounters an array of vibrant figures. Among them is Thief, a minuscule goblin dressed as Santa Claus when navigating his tricky hide-and-seek stages. Additionally, there’s Ann, who resembles Bulma and assists you in creating tanks, mechs, and other useful items for your adventure.

1. It’s delightful to witness the adoption of Akira Toriyama’s extraordinary art style in SAND LAND this year, following his passing. Toriyama’s unique blend of fantasy and technology is beautifully portrayed, as tanks and motorcycles coexist with dinosaurs and demons sporting sharp jawlines and exaggerated physiques.

In the same vein as Bandai Namco’s contemporary Toriyama games, SAND LAND boasts an impressive visual appeal. The manga’s intriguing cast comes to life with meticulous attention to detail and the trademark lively animations characteristic of such a vibrant franchise.

The majority of scenes featuring the main characters are delightful, while encounters between Beelzebub and his father Lucifer occasionally elicit a subtle nose-wrinkling response. This story bears the distinctive mark of Toriyama’s style, but its gameplay lags somewhat in comparison.

Previously noted, SAND LAND serves as an expansive, albeit basic, open-world video game. It bears some resemblance to the 2015 Mad Max game in anime style. Players will traverse a desert landscape, accept quests, and enhance their vehicle to battle progressively tougher adversaries.

1. If you’re finding it monotonous to maneuver around using a mech or a tank, you can always jump out for some hand-to-hand combat. By the way, Beelzebub is quite agile in battle, with combos and special abilities that send enemies soaring away!

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1. In SAND LAND, no fighting technique stands out as exceptional; they’re merely satisfactory. Over time, the game can become quite repetitive, with the majority of your time spent moving from location to location, slaying a set number of monsters. The excitement is often rekindled when you discover a new weapon for one of your vehicles, but other than the occasional puzzle dungeon, there’s not much else to keep things fresh.

1. It’s frustrating that SAND LAND often prolongs most game sequences. This means you have to repeatedly traverse the same territory for tasks such as speaking with someone and returning, which takes around fifteen minutes each time. Although there are chances for combat along your path, they eventually become tedious rather than enjoyable.

Despite the monotonous battles, barren landscapes, and bothersome missions, Beelzebub’s voyage will leave you enchanted. A unique allure pervades this game that few others can match. It could be the endearing visuals or the humorous banter that keeps you pushing forward.

Review
Sand Land
SAND LAND looks phenomenal, recreating the late Akira Toriyama’s style with ease, but it’s charming looks can’t balance repetitive gameplay that stretches even minor quests into heavily grating tasks.
6 out of 10

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2024-07-30 14:14