In Sand Land, Akira Toriyama transports fans to a dystopian desert world, starkly defined by severe water scarcity. Governed by a corrupt king who monopolizes this scarce resource, the populace is plunged into despair, setting the stage for a tale of rebellion and adventure. At the core of this narrative is Beelzebub, a demon prince disillusioned with his own realm’s disregard for human suffering, Sheriff Rao, a battle-weary veteran with invaluable desert survival skills, and Thief, a clever yet self-serving wanderer whose journey towards altruism is as compelling as it is essential.
Akira Toriyama originally conceived Sand Land as a short manga series, which he wrote and illustrated for his own enjoyment. Published in 2000, the series quickly captured the interest of fans with its post-apocalyptic desert setting where humans and demons coexist in a world struggling with water scarcity. The narrative centers around Beelzebub, a demon prince, and his adventures with an old sheriff and a former tank driver in search of a legendary water source.
The manga’s concise storytelling, combined with Toriyama’s iconic humor and character design, was initially serialized in Shueisha’s Weekly Shōnen Jump and later collected into a single volume. Despite its brief run, the series left a lasting impression, leading to its revival in various forms, including an anime series and a video game, which allowed fans to explore its world in more depth.
The narrative deepens with revelations about the true nature of the water scarcity, hinting at a conspiracy much larger than mere natural disaster. This introduces a critical turning point, shifting the quest from a search for water to a fight for justice. The climax of the story involves confrontations with both supernatural and human antagonists. The battles are intense, combining tactical ingenuity with raw power, showcasing Toriyama’s flair for dramatic and engaging combat sequences. Key revelations about the legendary spring and the king’s motives are unveiled, adding layers of intrigue and betrayal to the plot. The myth of the spring serves as both a literal and metaphorical oasis, representing hope and redemption.
The most charming bit of the story is easily character development. Beelzebub undergoes significant growth, transitioning from a rebellious prince to a leader with a cause, understanding the complexities of leadership and sacrifice. In contrast, Rao’s backstory is explored, revealing his motivations and past traumas that shape his actions. His relationship with Beelzebub is a pivotal element of the story, embodying themes of mentorship and redemption.
Throughout Sand Land, Toriyama constructs a vividly realized world marked by a sprawling desert landscape segmented into various kingdoms and outposts, each ruled by local warlords or remnants of a fractured government. These dominions showcase a stark contrast in how they manage the precious and scarce resource of water, underlining the severe disparities and conflicts that drive the narrative. Amidst this desolate setting, remnants of advanced technology play a pivotal role, blending old-world machinery like tanks with futuristic innovations such as sophisticated water purification systems. This juxtaposition not only enriches the plot but also emphasizes the thematic tension between survival and power, as these technological relics become central to the power struggles among the factions vying for control over water and, by extension, the populace.
He also interweaves themes of environmentalism and resource ethics, probing the morality of water commodification versus its status as a basic right. Leadership and sacrifice emerge as prominent motifs, explored through the contrasting styles and decisions of the characters, particularly Beelzebub and Rao. Their evolving leadership reflects a broader commentary on tyranny versus benevolence, echoing the central conflict between the oppressive monarchy and the suffering masses.
And within this multimedia franchise that rises right after Toriyama’s passing, the bittersweet feeling stays, but in a really positive way. The game adaptation by Bandai Namco and the anime series airing on platforms like Hulu and Disney/Star+ are Toriyama’s final gift to fans, showcasing his continued influence and the enduring appeal of his creative vision. The game incorporates elements of RPG, vehicle customization, and fast-paced combat, while the anime brings the vibrant world and characters to life, expanding on the original manga content. These adaptations serve as a testament to Toriyama’s legacy and also introduce new audiences to his work, blending adventure, whimsy, and a unique take on an extremely interesting story, largely ignored due to the success of his other works. But today, we review Sand Land the game, one of the most underrated experiences of the year.
Sand Land infuses its gameplay with a dynamic combat system that artfully blends close-quarters combat (CQC) with near seamless transitions to vehicle combat. This dual-mode fighting style captures the thrilling essence of navigating a post-apocalyptic desert environment. Players can engage in hand-to-hand combat using a variety of techniques, reminiscent of intense action sequences found in anime, but with a simplified movement system, reminiscent of platformers like Super Mario Odyssey.
The transition to vehicle combat adds a layer of strategic depth; players can jump into vehicles during skirmishes (and they will most likely stay in that mode during most battles), turning a typical fight into a high-octane battle. This system allows for a certain flexibility, catering to different play styles whether you prefer direct confrontation or engaging from a distance. By tailoring your vehicles to your play style and the moment’s necessity, the options are considerably abundant.
Exploration is enriched by this extensive vehicle customization options that are integral to traversing the expansive open-world map. Vehicles are not only modes of transport but also crucial tools for survival and combat, as previously mentioned. Players can access a diverse array of vehicle types — ranging from rugged all-terrain vehicles to fast-moving buggies — and customize their armor, weaponry, and speed to suit various challenges and enemy types. The ease of switching between combat modes — on foot to vehicular — enhances the fluidity of gameplay, making exploration both exhilarating and strategic. This feature ensures that players remain engaged, constantly testing different configurations and tactics to adapt to the ever-changing desert landscape.
The open-world design is vast and immersive, offering players the freedom to explore, settle camps, and farm resources. Settling camps is a strategic element that players can utilize to manage resources, plan their next moves, and fortify against enemy attacks. Resource farming is critical as it supplies the necessary materials for vehicle upgrades, weapon enhancements, and more. These mechanics encourage players to interact deeply with the environment, making strategic decisions that influence their survival and progression in the game.
The artificial intelligence of enemies significantly enhances the gaming experience by presenting a variety of attack formations and adaptive behaviors that challenge players to continuously strategize and adapt their approach in combat. The diversity in enemy tactics is not just a testament to the game’s complex programming but also enriches the gameplay, making each encounter unique and engaging.
Enemies utilize a range of combat strategies that can shift dynamically during battles, reflecting the harsh, unpredictable conditions of the desert environment. For instance, smaller, more agile enemies might swarm in large numbers, attempting to overwhelm the player, while larger creatures use powerful, slower attacks that require quick dodging or the use of specific vehicles to counter effectively. This variety forces players to not only master their own combat skills but also to think critically about the best strategies for different enemy types.
Moreover, the game introduces legendary monsters that roam the desert, adding a layer of excitement and peril to the exploration aspects. These monsters are not only formidable foes but also key to the game’s narrative, often guarding essential resources or blocking paths to critical locations. The presence of these creatures underscores the importance of continuous upgrades to the player’s vehicles and weapons. Engaging with these titans can be daunting but rewarding, providing rare materials necessary for high-level upgrades and sometimes even unlocking new areas of the map.
Continuous upgrades are crucial as they ensure readiness for a variety of enemy encounters and preparedness for the evolving challenges posed by both the AI and the harsh desert conditions. This gameplay mechanic emphasizes the importance of resource management and planning, integral to advancing in the game. Players must balance the immediate benefits of upgrades with potential future needs, adding a strategic layer to the resource farming and camp management aspects of the game.
The title also incorporates stealth gameplay elements that are reminiscent of Metal Gear, offering players strategic options to avoid direct combat or gain advantages by sneaking up on enemies on certain moments of the game. This stealth mechanic adds a layer of depth and variety, allowing for multiple approaches to gameplay that cater to different player preferences. On other moments, in-doors exploration may resemble Nier Automata’s 2D sequences.
Additionally, the game’s soundtrack may draw to an extent inspiration from Nier, noted for its haunting and atmospheric compositions. This influence is evident in the exploration segments, where the music and sound cues play a pivotal role in building a captivating and sometimes eerie desert environment, enhancing the exploratory and mysterious feel of the game.
The soundtrack itself stands out as one of the most compelling elements of the game, significantly enhancing the immersive experience it offers. Crafted to evoke the desolate and expansive nature of the game’s desert setting, the music layers haunting melodies with robust, dynamic rhythms that respond to the gameplay’s intensity. This meticulous sound design not only complements the visual aesthetics but also deepens the emotional impact of key narrative moments, echoing the game’s themes of desolation and survival.
Sand Land captivates players with its visually striking design, deeply inspired by the distinctive artistic flair of Akira Toriyama. The game translates Toriyama’s renowned style into its digital landscape, featuring vibrant, detailed environments that blend the fantastical elements of his artwork with the gritty realism of a post-apocalyptic world. Character designs retain Toriyama’s signature approach, with expressive features and dynamic poses that bring each character to life in vivid detail. This art style not only pays homage to Toriyama’s legacy but also ensures that every frame of the game is visually engaging and rich with color and texture.
The graphical quality is particularly noteworthy on the PlayStation 5, where the game’s performance is optimized to take full advantage of the console’s capabilities. The PS5’s powerful hardware allows for higher resolution textures and more complex lighting effects, which are pivotal in creating immersive game environments. The enhanced performance on PS5 ensures that these visual elements are displayed with stunning clarity, making a 4K display the ideal choice to experience the game’s artistic nuances. The high-definition visuals on a 4K screen sharpen the details of the environment and characters and enhances the overall sensory experience, making the desolate yet beautiful landscapes even more compelling and colorful.
While it offers a visually stunning and immersive gameplay experience, especially on high-end consoles like the PS5, it is not without its technical imperfections. Occasional glitches and issues with the character faces and movement systems do occur. These issues sometimes affect the fluidity of the experience, particularly during casual dialogue sequences. The character movement system, although generally smooth, has been noted for its simplicity and repetitiveness, which can detract from the depth expected in story sections.
Sand Land admirably translates Akira Toriyama’s creative vision into a compelling interactive experience, blending rich narrative depth with robust gameplay mechanics. Despite having areas needing polish, the game distinguishes itself with a unique blend of tactical combat and exploration that captures the essence of its source material. Its visual and auditory presentation enriches the experience, making it a must-play for both fans of the Toriyama and newcomers seeking an engaging story set within a vividly realized world. As such, Sand Land concludes Toriyama’s legacy with an extremely remarkable experience.
