Sand Land (2024), the latest action-adventure game from ILCA and Bandai Namco Entertainment, has caused some debate among manga readers that can be summarized this way: some consider it to be an independent story-arc adventure, others contend it acts both as a continuation of an original manga published back in 2000 (carrying the same title). So, which side has it right? Is Sand Land the solution or just more smokescreen that makes things look through the fog? A definite answer is impossible to get (like many things in life, like philosophy) but, in any event, it is worth investigating and learning about it. The journey is many times better than the destination, so let us navigate this fascinating desert journey that Sand Land offers us and find out together its connections to the source material at the beginning of the millennium, as well as what it may signify for potential newcomers.

The Link with the Past

Sand Land's inconsistency stems from its source material because why else would the game have the same name as the Manga book? Akira Toriyama himself (known to players through Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot) created one short manga series in 2000 titled Sand Land that took place after an apocalyptic desert event and featured Beelzebub and other unlikely allies working together (attempting to locate water sources, and more). Similar to Cowa, another of Toriyama's comics, Sand Land was collected in a tankobon manga and it is 14 chapters long. The game is inspired by this book, so here is the link to the past. However, the video game is not a 1 to 1 representation of the book, how could be, after all, it is a short comic that tells a story, whereas the video game does more.

Bridging the Gap for Newcomers

Sand Land the video game is an adaptation and in a way, a sequel of its respective manga counterpart, keeping much of what makes it special - among those, themes, characters, and plot elements - intact while expanding upon these in a manner the limited manga could never do. Sand Land is clearly one ideal entry point for newcomers to the universe. Sand Land's world of quirky characters and fantastical creatures features familiar elements from both media (including characters from the Dragon Ball series), so it is worth starting here. If you have the chance to buy Sand Land and play it, and at the same time enjoy the Manga book, you will experience both sides with rich narrative tapestries to explore.

So, who will get the most value out of Sand Land? This desert adventure is perfect for:

• Fans of Akira Toriyama's work: The vibrant world design and quirky humor will delight fans of Dragon Ball and other Toriyama creations (Dragon Quest, Chrono Trigger, Blue Dragon, Dragon Ball FighterZ, Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot), and being able to recognize some new work in Sand Land is a gift.
• Exploration enthusiasts: The vast desert world filled with loot, hidden secrets, and ancient ruins is a mesmerizing playground for those who buy cheap PS4 games and love to uncover every nook and cranny of the new game.
• Casual RPG players: This is not a role-playing game but it features elements of this genre, so if you're looking for a lighthearted and engaging RPG experience with a focus on fun over extreme difficulty, Sand Land fits the bill (and gives you some change back).

Verdict

Sand Land is a delightful, visually striking open-world adventure that makes it possible to admire once more the art of Akira Toriyama. It is simply enjoyable and adds a fresh breath to the genre via its distinct art style. The engaging story, exploration focus, and quirky characters are among its key strengths that enhance, in my opinion, the work of Akira Toriyama. Some purists might find similarities with its source manga disappointing but they are missing the point: the game is not the book. Its expanded narrative options and accessible entry points make this game great for newcomers who should be appreciative of the entire work. 

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Hello and welcome back to What To Play! We've returned from a little hiatus, which you definitely noticed and have been very sad about, of course. It's finally edging towards spring here in the UK, but don't let that tempt you into going outside, there's video games to be a-playin'!

As ever, this is where we'll round up the best games from the month gone by, and the things we're most excited to play from the month ahead - plus, any other suggestions for what might complement it. Here's What To Play This May 2024.

Availability: Out now on PC, Switch, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S.

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Before I was even old enough to qualify as a teenager, I was obsessed with the works of Akira Toriyama. Dragon Ball, Dragon Quest, Dr Slump, Chrono Trigger - everything Toriyama-related I could get my hands on blew my 13-year-old mind.

It didn't take me long to get around to Sand Land, Toriyama's 14-chapter-long manga released all the way back in 2000. I was young and naive, fresh off the back of completing Chrono Trigger for the first time, but something about a video game adaptation of Sand Land immediately wormed its way inside my brain. Toriyama and video games had already proven to be a perfect combo, so I thought the scrappy, video game-obsessed protagonist Beelzebub and the barren, gang-filled wastelands of Sand Land were an obvious lay-up.

Then I grew older, and naturally I became more cynical. Sand Land's story was barely long enough for a film adaptation, let alone a video game, and a couple of fight scenes and a few tank battles couldn't provide enough inspiration for an in-depth combat system. Then, on the 1st of March, Akira Toriyama passed - long after his work on Sand Land was complete. My apathy transformed into dread. The odds seemed stacked against developers ILCA. Surely this would be another Mobile Suit Gundam: Crossfire or Astro Boy: The Video Game, one more uninspired, frigid anime game for the bargain bin. I don't think I've ever been happier to have been proven wrong.

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SAND LAND is a new action RPG that is based on the Japanese manga series that was written and illustrated by Akira Toriyama. Powered by Unreal Engine 4, it’s time now to benchmark it and examine its performance on PC. For our benchmarks, we used an AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D, 32GB of DDR5 at 6000Mhz, … Continue reading SAND LAND Benchmarks & PC Performance Analysis →

The post SAND LAND Benchmarks & PC Performance Analysis appeared first on DSOGaming.

Akira Toriyama, the mangaka whose work in video games included designing the characters for two of the most influential RPGs ever made, Chrono Trigger and Dragon Quest, on top of creating one of the most influential series across all of pop-culture in Dragon Ball, has passed away.

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Akira Toriyama, the creator of Dragon Ball and the artist behind Dragon Quest, Chrono Trigger, and numerous other works, has died. He was 68.

News of Toriyama's passing was made public by the official Dragon Ball Z X (formerly Twitter) account on March 7. According to the statement, …

Not only is Akira Toriyama the creator of Dragon Ball, but he is a prolific manga writer, creating over 40 manga series. One such series was Sand Land, a manga about a desert world inhabited by survivors looking for water. Think Mad Max by way of Dragon Ball. For reasons …

SAND LAND has released the official gameplay overview trailer for Akira Toriyama’s upcoming action RPG, SAND LAND. This trailer will detail most of the key features of this new role-playing game, so make sure to watch it. In SAND LAND, players will dive into a desert world where both humans and demons suffer from an … Continue reading SAND LAND gets an official gameplay overview trailer →

The post SAND LAND gets an official gameplay overview trailer appeared first on DSOGaming.

Bandai Namco Entertainment shared new gameplay details in its latest overview trailer for Sand Land. The latest video details the party, combat, vehicles, and more in the Sand Land game.

In the Sand Land game, the party will primarily consist of Beelzebub, Thief, Rao, and Ann. While Beelzebub is the main playable character, the other party members each contribute during combat and in exploration in some way. Thief is able to assist with getting additional items from enemies or finding rare loot while exploring the world of Sand Land. Rao can ride on tanks and attack enemies temporarily during combat. Ann is able to increase the performance and efficiency of vehicles. Many different skills for the party can be unlocked by using skill points on their individual skill tree.

In combat, Beelzebub can utilize light and heavy attacks on ground and in the there. Dodging can also be done in midair or sideways on land. Beelzebub can also sneak behind enemies and scare them into unconsciousness.

Some of Beelzebub's special abilities include turning his body to metal, or activating his Dark Release, an area-of-effect attack that blows enemies away with a dark blast of energy from his body. While in combat, items can be utilized to power up his attack, defense, or power of darkness. Water can also be used to heal HP, and it can be restocked at water supply points.

There are plenty of vehicles available in the game, including a jump bot that bounces over high cliffs, hover cars that glide over water, and heavy armor that can clear pathways by lifting or blowing away obstacles. Only five vehicles can be carried at a time, so players must plan ahead over which ones to bring while exploring the world of Sand Land. Also, if a vehicle is destroyed in combat, then it is an automatic game over.

Vehicles can be customized by Ann in her garage. Players will be able to build, upgrade, and equip vehicles while in the garage. Some upgrades that can be made to vehicles include adding rocket launchers, lasers, machine guns, and shotguns. Engines and suspension can be upgraded to boost the performance of a vehicle, and optional parts can unlock special performance skills for vehicles. The back room of the garage is customizable with a variety of different pieces of furniture.

Spino City is also the home base for Beelzebub and his party which contains the garage as well as various merchants. As side quests are completed, items are recovered from across the world map of the Sand Land game, and enemies are defeated, Spino City will grow and upgrade with new NPCs and merchants.

There is plenty of side content in the game including races to test vehicle speed, bounty hunts against strong enemies, and the battle arena which allows Beelzebub to fight against strong bosses.

The gameplay overview trailer for the Sand Land game can be viewed below:

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZtuVeC8Uxjw[/embed]

The Sand Land game is based on the original manga created by Akira Toriyama and ran in Weekly Shonen Jump. The game will focus on the storyline of the manga, but features a brand new story elements and characters.

The Sand Land game will release on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and PC on April 26, 2024.

The post Sand Land Gameplay Detailed In Latest Overview appeared first on Siliconera.