While let its low points , Sand Land furnish an enjoyable experience for those who crave story and role - driven games . Here is our review of Sand Land .
Other than the first few seasons of Pokémon , Yu - Gi - Oh , and Digimon , my experience with gum anime has been fix , to say the least . However , if there is a serial that has defined entire generation all over Latin America and the humankind , that is Dragon Ball . And even if I have n’t seen the anime franchise itself , I grew up test to make a Kamehameha , the Genki - Dama , and even fantasize about collect the seven Dragon Balls . But if there is a name – other than Goku – that transcended the anime and its character , well , that is , of course of action , Akira Toriyama .
Sand Land was liberate in 2000 as a manga series , and 22 age afterward , Bandai Namco started the Sand Land Project which saw a pic , an ONA ( original final aliveness ) serial , and now , a video game version . And while all the promotional textile give me a signified of familiarity given Toriyama ’s vogue , I was fearsome that I would n’t colligate with all the traditional knowledge and theatrical role of the franchise due to my want of previous manga and anime experience . And boy , was I faulty .
This is a game that has connected with me on so many levels – many that I was n’t expecting – and has made me an even bigger lover of Toriyama ’s worldbuilding , narration , and fibre creation . However , there are other aspects of the game – the more proficient unity – and design decisions that , at least to me , do n’t make much sense . Here is our review of Sand Land .
A perfectly crafted tale
Let ’s get this out of the way of life first : the strongest aspect of this game is the story . It is so that I would consider this a story and character - driven game that make you feel like you are watch one of Toriyama ’s gum anime production . There is an abundance of cutscenes that will present you with the write up of Sand Land and , add up to that anime tactile sensation , each chapter of the story feels like you are playing through season of the series .
What helps this mind is how the chief grapheme are presented and how they evolve throughout the game ’s events . Beelzebub is a Fiend Prince who , while try out to stay true to the idea that the fiend – world ’s raw enemies – are malevolent and do malefic human activity , ceaselessly line up himself becoming more and more endearing and altruistic .
Thief , one of the other fiend , started as a grumpy grandpa , just to become as empathetic and wise as people can become . And , finally , Rao , my best-loved quality in the game . A troubled human beings shinny with memory of his past , now finds refuge and purpose through a baronial cause , strain to amend his misunderstanding alongside Beelzebub and Thief , two being he has been tell to despise .
Screenshot: PC Invasion
Side quests may be stealing the show
However , what surprised me in a estimable and unexpected way , were the side seeking and secondary characters . The independent pursuit are great , do n’t get me wrong , but they are perfectly complemented by the number of tasks you’re able to do to facilitate many multitude around Sand Land . It is on these side missions where our trio are no longer mere characters , but enablers of inner healing and the strength other characters call for to stick out up against adversity .
For example , one of the most emotional here and now in the game fare from a side quest send for Vow of Family . This involves Hect , a man who has suffered the death of his wife , and Reya , his adoptive daughter . Hect has fail escape and Reya is waiting for him , even saving her weeping thinking that vociferation would wreak forth bad luck .
Once we find him , Hect say he no longer wants to add up back because he wants to connect her married woman in death , stricken by grief and solitariness . We can choose to do nothing and allow Hect to continue with his intentions or insist on him return . If we do the latter , he will come back to Reya , where she reveals that she saved his life during her female parent ’s accident by hold Hect ’s hired man in an attempt to make him palpate that he will never be alone .
Screenshot: PC Invasion
As a father , this struck very tight to place , and I could n’t serve but cast some tears . This happens a decent number of meter throughout the game ’s narration beats , so be inclined to receive a narrative that will be impactful and meaningful – with a chance of abandon your tear ducts .
The feeling of battling in the desert
Regarding how the plot feels when you are in control of Beelzebub , this is perhaps the biggest flaw in the game . Traversing through the globe on understructure with Beelzebub is not as fluent as I would have liked . It sense jerky and gawky , making platforming a lot more chaotic . At time , it feel like you are hold Beelzebub with a D - Pad , even though you are using an analog stick . Not only that but whenever you are pressure to fight down enemies in hired man - to - hand combat , Beelzebub ’s attacks will stop your effort in its tracks , leaving you defenseless against the enemy at time and not allowing you to move anywhere .
I do n’t know if that was a conscious decision or not , but the deal - to - bridge player combat ’s feeling will end up with you choosing to fight opposition in your vehicles instead . And , oh man , the vehicles experience unbelievable . I have never been quite the fomite combat type of guy cable , but whether you have a Tank , a Jump - Bot , or even a Motorbike , you feel like you are totally in control .
Each fomite feel unique and you may vary them in an second to comfortably suit your needs . Need to tamp a poke ? Choose the Tank . Do you want to go up a very in high spirits drop-off ? The Jump - Bot is the vehicle for you . Do you have the need … the need for speed ? Then either the Car or the Motorbike will avail you speed through the desert like only Sonic could do . you could even customize them by upgrade each of their parts with the help of Ann or even expend decal and key to make them look unique .
Screenshot: PC Invasion
It almost feels like manus - to - hand fight was an afterthought with all the care being sharpen on extradite a great fomite fight system . And what happen is that , while the vehicle design is big , it does a great disservice to the game . Why would I prefer to fight enemies with my bare hands if I have a giant Tank that will not only consider far more damage but also find much better to the thespian ?
An easy game for the wrong reasons
No , there is no cause to pick your fists , even if they are demon fist . Moreover , the vehicles are , in my notion , overpowered to a level that make the secret plan far easier than it should be . Each main case does have their Skill Tree which can favor your hand - to - helping hand combat and make things loose with the inclusion of special attack , but even your side lineament ’s most herculean skills will involve using vehicles , like Rao ’s Vehic . Warfare accomplishment which will have him drive his own personal Tank .
I get that the main focus of the game is telling a great chronicle , but when you have an categorisation of vehicle that have countless bullets , can easily get repaired mid - engagement , and can vote down enemy that are levels above you without you breaking a swither , then peradventure there is something going on with balance . And believe me , there is . Even between the vehicles , there is a instability , ending up with me using the Tank all the time for combat determination .
You will find that balance is something that will tarnish the game experience a bit . The game take you by the hand throughout all the quests – side or main – and will always show toward your object glass ’s commission . you may divert from your objective during quest and maybe find a couple of chests and dinero , but ultimately , you will find yourself always chasing an documentary marker . The resourcefulness are plentiful , and you do n’t have a limit on how many point you’re able to channel . Maybe I ’m overdraw , but I only like the plot would give me a bit more challenge , both in combat and in its role - playing aspects .
Screenshot: PC Invasion
The Art of Sand Land
The most obvious scene of the plot that helps you palpate like you are watch an anime is its art style . This has Toriyama style imprinted all over the station , and its cell - shaded computer graphic in the flair of Borderlands made me finger like a kid watching one of the few gum anime series I did find out during my childhood . I almost expected Beelzebub to go Super Saiyan at any give minute – which he finally did , so I ’m a very felicitous man . This in combination with the domain aesthetic , leaning on a more realistic approach , really made the biz pleasurable to the eye .
However , whenever there was a close - up of one of the characters , I could n’t help but note some texture issue . It ’s almost as if there was an matter with upscaling or something similar , but it felt – at very specific bit – that I was encounter a Wii game . This has nothing to do with the esthetic choice they decided to go with because this does not happen during cutscenes , which are spotless compare to negotiation segments .
Not only does the resolution feel off , but the textures also abide once in a while from unify into each other . For example , a character with long sleeves who defy to cross their blazon will have their sleeve and subdivision grain go through each other , making it very perturb .
Screenshot: PC Invasion
quality plan is top - notch and the way they are sop up and animated compliments their personality utterly . This happens to contrast Sand Land ’s desert which look great but feels disorienting and repetitive at times . Now , I know that it ’s a desert and all , but there are passage and position across the Sand Land that make me experience like I ’m Bill Murray in Groundhog Day .
And what does not help me with this feeling at all is the never-ending repetition of our role ’ banter and small talk which takes place when traveling across the desert itself . I have listened through line of descent of dialogue – which can sense off - putt given some vocalisation performances not fitting the bill – that have repeated themselves so many times that if I hear Rao tell me to be unwind one more time , I will inter my heading in the sand and pretend to be an Struthio camelus for the rest of my life .
Sand Land: a legacy
All in all , Sand Land is a great floor - driven secret plan that , while having its flaw like any other game would , is extremely enjoyable , engaging , and a testament to what a great author and artist Akira Toriyama was . If you are a sports fan of compelling stories and you care to learn more about who was Toriyama and the love he had for the craft , then this game is a must , and I would powerfully evoke reading the manga or even watching the anime serial . Both will forestall the game ’s weak points and make the experience more enjoyable overall .
research might not be its sterling strength given the circumscribed rewards and how the game care residue and the overworld ’s intention , so I evoke deposit to quest completion , where you will be able-bodied to find everything you call for . And while fighting through the desert , always practice any fomite you find prosperous drive . However , do n’t miss your hand - to - helping hand combat and hear to charter some enemies from clock time to time to get a line the basics – and please , learn how to expeditiously dodge , you will be doing that a passel !
To summarize , do n’t plunge into this game expect perfection or perfection . This game you could playact nonchalantly will have you lust for the next tale beat or wriggle to happen , leave you wanting more . It will perpetually precede you to new characters , pursuance , and events , making this a well - craft world . Sand Land , at the closing of the day , is embellish with a hefty story and loveable characters who will bide with you even after you complete the secret plan , just like Akira Toriyama ’s life and legacy will stay with us for generation to follow .
Image: ILCA
Screenshot: PC Invasion
Screenshot: PC Invasion
Screenshot: PC Invasion
Screenshot: PC Invasion
Screenshot: PC Invasion
Screenshot: PC Invasion
Screenshot: PC Invasion
Screenshot: PC Invasion
