Sand Land Reviews
Sand Land proves once again that Akira Toriyama and video games are a perfect match.
Sand Land's story, characters, and progression are among its best features, all of which stand out in the JRPG genre and are fondly remembered, even after the credits roll. While its open world may rely a bit too much on the open-world model that many gamers have come to dislike, its exploration still proves to be a rewarding venture that feeds into its satisfying progression system. ILCA and Bandai Namco Entertainment have created something worthwhile in Sand Land, suitable for fans of the original manga and newcomers alike.
Sand Land’s vehicular focus shows potential, but devolves into a by-the-numbers open world action game with storytelling that only occasionally manages to live up to the joys of the original work.
Sand Land is just another forgettable tie-in to add to the existing anime game pile.
I enjoyed my time with Sand Land, despite its many flaws. The vehicle gameplay feels great, and it’s the main pull for me – I didn’t mind that the side quests were pointless and the open world samey, because I had an incredibly powerful tank that could blow up small groups of enemies in two seconds. But if you’re hoping that this game will be the best adaptation of Toriyama’s manga series, you’re out of luck. I’d just watch the anime instead.
Sand Land has its shortcomings and feels a little overlong despite seeing credits around the reasonable 20-hour mark, but it maintains a charm throughout. Toriyama’s fun sense of humor is front and center with Beelzebub taking on the adventure primarily so his dad will give him an extra hour of video game time every day. I may not have had strong connections with most of the cast and was annoyed with a number of specific sections, but I liked spending time in Sand Land (and beyond) and seeing my garage upgrade and grow.
Sand Land's fantastic vehicular combat and adherence to the source material are let down by bland and repetitive stealth, melee combat, and mission design.
Much like the vast desert making up nearly everything in it, Sand Land can be rough and coarse at times, yet also provides a lot of beauty in various ways. The story is great, the characters are an enjoyable lot, and the vehicular combat and traversal are superb, marred only by annoying travel dialogue and bland levels at times. Whether you're a fan of the great Toriyama's work or not, there's still something special here to check out if you're willing to put in the effort.
A great premise with fun characters becomes a boring, empty wasteland in itself, as Sand Land makes adventures in customised tanks uninteresting and desperately repetitive.
Sand Land is a by-the-numbers anime adaption that is filled with great character design and some enjoyable vehicular combat.
Sand Land is a charming ARPG romp thanks to its madcap cast of vehicles that manages not only to faithfully adapt Akira Toriyama’s vision, but to expand on it in his trademark style to create something that will delight newcomers and old-school manga-heads alike.
Vehicles of all kinds, large scenarios and epic and endearing characters are the keys to Sand Land. A game that may not be a powerful triple A, but has plenty of elements to make manganime fans fall in love with an adventure that is one hundred percent Toriyama.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
SAND LAND is definitely a good open world game, but not a game that exactly lives up to Akira Toriyama's legacy. It is unfortunate that SAND LAND's release and Toriyama's death ended up so close to each other, but it makes you feel like they could have done more with a title that finds its strengths in how close it follows the manga and how nice the fights on vehicles feel.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Sand Land is all set to be your new favourite anime, with compelling characters, enjoyable combat and great anime visuals in video game form. You might just find that Akira Toriyama has saved the best for last.
Sand Land is an enjoyable game for those who love Toriyama's works, but it fails to fully stand out for its narrative quality or all the mechanics underlying its gameplay.
Review in Italian | Read full review
That's Sand Land in a nutshell, though. It's a vibes game more than anything else, charming, sometimes surprisingly incisive, and daring enough to be its own thing. That thing isn't always as engaging as it could be, but it's certainly unforgettable.
He doesn't invent the wheel, but his recreation of the desert world and, above all, his vehicle battles give him a lot of personality. Ideal for those who want a light and very Toriyamesque adventure.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Sand Land is a definitive adaption of a great Akira Toriyama manga, but just fine as a game.
SAND LAND is a brightly colored game version of the original manga, which is sure to please fans of Akira Toriyama's work. However, modern players will encounter boring side quests, and a poorly developed combat system and stealth.
Review in Russian | Read full review
Overall, the genre-bending elements of Sand Land and its lovable cast of misfits all work in its favor. The story is engaging, and the ancillary content like developing Spino and taking down bounties is quite enjoyable. Vehicle combat and customization are highlights, but the real standout is how the game captures not just Akira Toriyama's art style, but also the spirit and humor of the manga and its characters. It may not be an instant classic, but Sand Land is some of the most fun you'll have this year.