Developed by ILCA, the fabulous studio behind One Piece Odyssey, Sand Land is the new game published by Bandai Namcoand marks the latest release from Akira Toriyama, who sadly left us recently.
Check out our review of Sand Landwhich was only possible thanks to a review key provided by Bandai Namco Brazil.
A world with extreme water scarcity
In Sand LandThe demon prince Beelzebub and his partner Thief are summoned by the fearless sheriff Rao to embark on an adventure to find a Legendary Lake hidden in the desert.
However, you must beware of the many dangers that lie in the desert. From bandits to wild animals and, of course, the Royal Army, which has a big secret up its sleeve.
Sand Land has a dynamic and minimalist gameplay
It brings a striking open world to the narrative of the series that makes lovers of the manga and the recent anime fall in love, Sand Land It's minimalist in what it sets out to do, but it does its job very well.
On the outskirts of Sand Land you won't see much movement, after all, it's a big desert. But you'll find main and secondary missions, some enemies from the Royal Army and some animals like velociraptors and more.
As you move around with the vehicles you unlock in the course of the story and engage in combat with enemies, get to know these features of the game's structure:
- Water meter: Sand Land has a water meter, which serves as a cure for Beelzebub. You can use it not only to heal yourself, but also to be reborn during a battle if you have water in your bottle. Refuel at a water supply point
- Skill tree: Like most games today, Beelzebub and his companions earn skill points every time they level up. Spend them on techniques for the character.
- Skills of allies: Thief and Rao also have a skill tree in Sand Land.
- Power of darkness: Whenever you take damage or suffer, Beelzebub will accumulate the power of darkness. You can use it to perform special abilities.
- Stealth: Surprising many, there is a stealth mode in the game. In it, you can identify enemies and lurk in places.
In terms of the gameplay in general, that's what you'll find in the barren lands. But, of course, there's a bit more to the structure of the game than that, which I'll detail below.
The structure of Sand Land can be repetitive
Following in the footsteps of some open-world games already on the market, the open world of Sand Land can become repetitive a little too quickly.
Perhaps this is one of the few defects we can find in Sand Land. Here are some of the highlights of the game's open world:
- Story missions: Around the map you'll find story missions, most of which will take you on linear missions.
- Rescue missions: Protect people who are being attacked by monsters or gangs and earn rewards.
- Ore veins: Break the ore veins you find to upgrade vehicle parts.
- Military bases: Explore military bases to collect resources, weapons and tanks. This is the ideal time to make good use of stealth mode.
- Vehicle customization: In Spino's garage you can create, upgrade and exchange vehicle parts. This allows you to completely customize your vehicle, from its weapons to its suspension and more.
It's worth noting that there isn't a great variety of missions. They're all very similar, and the main story is the highlight in this respect.
Is Sand Land worth playing?
Yes, this is a much shorter review than most, and there's a big reason for that. I could in fact give many more details of Sand Landbut if I do, I'll ruin your experience.
There are many things to discover in Sand LandBut none of these things are actually behind many of the other game mechanics. Despite being an open world, the main focus is on the main story.
The open world was basically designed to give context to everything that happens in the manga and anime, which, by the way, are represented in the game with about 90% fidelity, with only a few additions that further enrich the narrative.
I didn't find any problems with the gameplay, story, soundtrack or anything like that. In fact, the biggest problem with this game is its open world, but at the same time, it seems to make a lot of sense for the whole purpose of the world created by Akira Toriyama.
This may not be a game that has been so successful, let alone one that has received its due praise, but it is certainly an open letter to everything that Akira Toriyama has delivered to the world, and will surely win over every player who gives it a chance. Sand Land.
Sand Land is now available for PC, PS4, PS5 and Xbox Series.
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