Review

SAND LAND

Sand Land is an action RPG inspired by the popular manga of the same name, created by the legendary Akira Toriyama, known for Dragon Ball. Developed by ILCA and Bandai Namco Entertainment, the game emphasizes both combat and vehicle exploration, reflecting Toriyama’s passion for technology. But does the game deliver an excellent experience for anime and manga fans, or does it fall short of expectations?

Story

The first part of the story follows the original manga, which consists of 14 chapters released in the late 1990s. Set in a desert world called “Sand Land,” humanity struggles with a severe water shortage. You play as “Beelzebub,” the Demon Prince, who sets out with retired general “Rao” to find a new water source to save Sand Land.

The second part expands on the anime adaptation, introducing new events and a fresh adventure for Beelzebub in a region called “Forest Land.”

Gameplay

Beelzebub and his team explore the vast desert searching for the “Legendary Spring.” The open-world map is large and empty, so you’ll spend a lot of time searching.

Vehicle customization and exploration are major gameplay elements. Initially, you start with basic vehicles like a small car and a motorbike. Later, you unlock a tank, which is excellent for combat when equipped with heavy armor and a powerful cannon. Combat becomes smoother as you dodge attacks and fire back at enemies.

As you progress, you unlock specialized vehicles and various customizations, allowing you to upgrade weapons and enhance your tank’s abilities. However, the weapon variety is limited, and crafting new parts can feel tedious, as there’s no clear comparison between new and existing equipment. Enemies also scale with you, which reduces the sense of progression.

Beelzebub is powerful in hand-to-hand combat, with light and heavy attacks, dodges, and counters. However, he struggles against flying robots and larger enemies. You can carry up to five vehicles and unlock active and passive skills for Beelzebub and companions like Rao and the thief, but their combat contributions are minimal.

Graphics

The game’s art style is heavily inspired by anime, with vibrant lighting, colors, and character designs. It feels like watching a high-quality anime, enhancing the immersion, especially with its comedic moments. Fans of Japanese-styled games will love the visuals, but those less into anime might not enjoy it as much.

Performance

The game runs smoothly on PS5, maintaining 60 FPS at 4K resolution, matching the performance of the Xbox Series X. There were no frame drops or technical issues during gameplay, providing a stable and seamless experience.

Final Rating

7/10

Sand Land’s story and characters are its highlights, leaving a lasting impression even after the ending. While the vehicle combat and exploration add excitement, repetitive missions can dampen the experience. The open world is enjoyable to explore but can feel monotonous at times. Despite its flaws, the game remains a nostalgic treat for fans of the original manga.