As the author who cradled my childhood and adult life, Akira Toriyama, passed away. His latest work was shown on Disney Plus, along with an announcement of a game based on this universe: Sand Land. In a way, a little of him will remain with us forever. And with that in mind, I was delighted to be able to test Sand Land as a final tribute to the author who made so much of who I am today.
Not all that new.
Sand Land appeared in France in 2002 in a single volume. A little adventure in a single volume that was later adapted into a 13-episode anime. So yes, it’s hard to imagine a game with so little content. And yet, Bandai Namco offers us a faithful adaptation of the basic material. Yes, the game has undergone a number of changes to ensure that it’s not just a straight line.
On the story side, we find Rao, a Sheriff with a rather dark past, who joins forces with the demon for a single reason: to offer water to everyone. Because in the world of Sand Land, only one person owns all the water and sells it at an excessive price. The King. Our adventure finds Rao, Bellzébub and Thief scouring the desert in search of the secret water source.
To do this, you’ll have access to a variety of vehicles taken in part from the series. Rao’s jeep, for example, will be replaced by a Tank. Just like in the anime. Because we’ll be following each sequence as it unfolds. The fact that the title has been turned into an Action RPG is a pretty good idea, as we’re on a large open map with lots of quests and side-quests. All offering XP with talent trees. But also loot for your vehicles. This is something not to be overlooked, as it will be central to the game’s affontement.
The downside is that the map is a little over-exploited in terms of the various loot and chests to be obtained. So much so, that if you want to get ahead in the story, you’ll have to abandon a lot of them along the way.
Lack of Punch…
The downside comes in the walking phases. You can also fight Belzé with your fists. But the overall slowness and lack of fluidity give the whole thing a sluggish feel. It’s a pity, because it’s great fun to be able to go in a vehicle against various enemies, then get out and finish off with a punch.
The same goes for the infiltration phases, which lack a little depth and difficulty, making them just as drowsy as possible. It’s not one of the title’s strong points that makes you dread the next infiltration.
Vehicle combat, on the other hand, is a total success, even without difficulty. You’ll often just have to turn around enemies to avoid taking damage. But that doesn’t stop the pleasure of finding the enemy’s weaknesses at every turn. The use of blind spots, the fact that you have to use a foothold to shoot into the air… It’s all there to make combat interesting. And above all, it sticks to the anime, which uses the same mechanics.
In the end, yes, Sand Land is a good game. It doesn’t go all the way with its gameplay ideas. But it has the audacity to mix styles and offer an engaging story that isn’t distorted by the medium used. Anime fans will be pleased to see that the studio has respected every situation to the letter. The title has a lot to offer and will keep you entertained for many hours. If you’re a fan of Toriyama’s works. We can only recommend it with your eyes closed.
