Developer – ILCA, Inc.

Publisher – Bandai Namco Entertainment America Inc.

Platforms –   Xbox Series X |S, PS4/PS5, PC (Reviewed)

Review copy given by Publisher

It’s saddening to know one of the last things Akira Toriyama worked on was Sand Land, Not only did Akira help with guidance for the game, but he also created a new story arc for the 2024 original net animation adaptation of Sand Land. Sand Land premiered in Japan’s Weekly Shonen Jump magazine from May to August 2000 before being compiled into a single volume in November 2000. It was subsequently introduced to North American audiences by Viz Media in their English Shonen Jump magazine in 2003, followed by a graphic novel release in December 2003. More recently, Sand Land has been transformed into a CGI anime film, launched in August 2023, and an original net animation (ONA) series, which aired globally on Disney+ and Hulu from March to May 2024.

In alignment with the anime’s narrative, in this Action RPG, the game tracks Beelzebub, Rao, Ann, and Thief as they undertake a hazardous expedition across the desert in pursuit of the mythical Legendary Spring. Their journey entails facing daunting monsters and the malevolent forces of a tyrannical ruler. Throughout the gameplay, you assume the role of Beelzebub, the central playable character, experiencing the adventure from a third-person viewpoint.

The primary gameplay revolves around crafting tanks and various vehicles for your expeditions, using an extensive range of parts in different combinations. Additionally, you’ll be expanding your base into a bustling city within the expansive desert landscape in the city of Spino.

Regarding vehicles, the game offers options to customize the movement direction, allowing you to choose between following the camera or tank orientation according to your preferences. Additionally, the game features an “Auto-pilot” mode, which automatically propels your vehicle forward. An important detail to remember is that if your vehicle includes a Boost function and it’s activated while in autopilot mode, the boost won’t deplete, granting you a higher maximum speed than usual. However, the boost will gradually deplete if you’re detected. Nevertheless, if you manage to outrun the enemy, the boost will automatically recharge while you’re in autopilot mode.

Once you gain the Storage Capsule,you’ll be able to equip a loadout of up to five different vehicles to take with you on your adventures. As your vehicle fleet expands, your priorities for upgrades will also evolve. Other then the basic tank there is also upgrades for things such as , a motorcycle for exploration, a jump bot for accessing elevated areas, a battlebot for container transport, and a hover car for traversing specific terrain types. Initially, upgrades will cost materials and currency, but as the game advances, acquiring parts through gameplay will become crucial to create more useful and powerful vechiles.

When discussing combat mechanics, let’s delve into leveling up and offensive strategies. Beelzebub mainly focuses on enhancing special attacks rather than significant leveling advancements. On the other hand, Rao possesses four active skills—Vehicular Warfare, Poison Gas, Superhuman, and Pow-Pow—that enable him to actively participate in engagements. Furthermore, Rao’s Orders active skill temporarily boosts the attack potency of Beelzebub’s vehicle. His passive abilities not only enhance his active skills but also enable him to intercept nearby enemies during close-quarters combat.

Thief’s skill set primarily focuses on looting and gathering materials, which are essential for crafting and upgrading vehicles. With active skills like Boom Box, Thief Radar, and Plunder, he can uncover hidden items or pilfer them from adversaries while dealing damage. However, his passive abilities truly shine, as they boost currency earnings, improve item quality, and increase the number of drops from enemies, proving invaluable throughout the entire game. Ann specializes in vehicle support skills. Her four active skills—Fuel Saver, E. Maintenance, E. Repairs, and Quick Reload—offer significant enhancements to Beelzebub’s vehicle, capable of turning the tide in challenging scenarios. Furthermore, her passive skills enhance party health recovery and reduce vehicle ability cooldowns, making a considerable impact, especially during boss battles.

In any combat scenario, whether it involves melee or vehicle encounters, sustaining damage is inevitable. Health Drinks and Repair Kits, are scattered through the game and shops. While Ann’s passives increase the potency of vehicle recovery items , your going to want to focus on upgrading your town for better access to consumables.

Now that we covered Vehicles and Combat, I’ll briefly cover some important things to be aware of when it comes to exploration before we jump into different types of Quests . First is Radio Towers , every region of Sand Land will have one somewhere. Finding it and repairing it will add more detail to your map with regards to points of interest and notable locations such as ruins or settlements. The second thing your going to want to keep an eye out for is Water Supply Points, not only will interacting with these unlock fast travel points for you, but they’ll replenish your health and water supply.

Next let’s move to a more main part of the game , Quests. When it comes to quests in Sand Land , many of them will have different outcomes on the story depending on how you complete them. In addition to the main campaign quests and NPC side quests related to building up your town, you’ll find many other types, six different types to be exact.

Here’s a reworded summary of the different types of quests available in the game:

1. Rescue Quests: These quests involve rescuing NPCs who are under threat from enemies. These quests can be found scattered throughout the world.
2. Ruins: These are locations that can be discovered through exploration or revealed after repairing a radio tower. They vary in size and layout and often contain chests with items or ancient coins exchangeable with certain vendors. Some ruins may require specific vehicles, such as a hover car, jump bot, or tank, to fully explore.
3. Caves: These locations house numerous chests and may contain collectible diary entries. Some caves require a tank equipped with a rock-breaking weapon to access certain areas.
4. Buttes: These are solitary mini-mountains often holding chests or mineable resources. To reach their summit, you’ll need a jump bot. However, if they contain only resources, using Thief’s Item Picker skill allows you to collect them remotely when triggered near the butte.
5. Races: Throughout the game world, you’ll discover areas where you can participate in various races using specific vehicles. Prizes improve with your race ranking.
6. Bounties: These quests can be acquired from various locations, including your upgraded town. You can accept up to 5 bounties at a time, with the list of targets expanding as you progress. Completing bounties increases the level of your targets, resulting in better experience and rewards, including currency, crafting items, and unique vehicle frames.

That sums up the essence of Sand Land. It’s primarily a narrative-driven base-building game with elements of vehicle exploration. While the storyline contributes to the enjoyability, its the main focus in carrying the game and justifying its cost. However, the abundance of repetitive dialogues and similar quests can obscure the game’s objectives, making it feel more like a grind than an actual RPG. If you relish games abundant with side quests and repetition, you’ll likely find more enjoyment in Sand Land compared to someone who solely purchased it for their love of the Manga. Nevertheless, Sand Land still offers a somewhat enjoyable experience if you’re willing to endure hours of repetitive tasks.