Summary
Continuing the revival of one of Akira Toriyama’s most underrated works,Sand Landis an upcoming action RPG adaptation of a manga from over 20 years ago. Coinciding with an animated film and anime series releasing in a similar timeframe, this title seems to be setting itself apart by making the most of its source material and featuring an open world experience. As players step into the shoes of Beezlebub as he leads his companions through their barren world, mechanics such as base building inSand Land’s hub city are set to deliver a sense of satisfying long-term progression.
The style of an action RPG is a fitting choice for adapting the linear plot ofToriyama’sSand Landmanga, but ILCA’s take on the IP blends gameplay elements from outside the typical mold for a more substantial offering. Sure, there’s traditional combat that sees Beezlebub at close quarters with enemies, but there seems to be an especially heavy focus on properly utilizing the game’s multiple vehicle options. This is further established throughSand Land’s impressive vehicle customization, an ethos which has also reached the player’s ability to personalize their own base.
Sand Land’s Twist on the Open World Formula
Enhancing the Manga’s Source Material
It’s likely apparent to any reader of the original story, but the footage that has been shown off so far has indicated thatSand Land’s game diverges from the mangafor the sake of featuring more engaging gameplay opportunities. The plot ofSand Landis a streamlined, single volume that was only briefly able to touch on some concepts, but the upcoming Bandai Namco title has taken some of these elements and fully realized them. Featuring an open world doesn’t necessarily portray the narrative with the most accuracy, but it’s a format that may seriously contribute to player immersion.
A Major Emphasis on Customization
There are hardly large parts of the manga dedicated to showing how Beezlebub and his allies work on their machines, butSand Land’s video game adaptationis committed to allowing players to build freely in several different ways. Not only can the player access different vehicles freely through capsules, but these can further be personally customized through the NPC Ann for both functional and aesthetic purposes. Yet another feature that reflects this side ofSand Landis the ability to completely transform the game’s hub city, Spino.
Spino Functions as a Growing Player Base in Sand Land
Upgrading the Hub Area is a Key Aspect to Sand Land’s Progression
Players will likely spend a lot of time exploringthe open world ofSand Land, but there’s also a place for them to return to between excursions. The city of Spino is more of a decrepit ruin than a proper settlement, but it contains the player’s garage and can support a fully customizable indoor base. Beezlebub has access to a personal room which can be filled with a multitude of unlocked furniture and made to fit different aesthetics, but this type of development can affect the greater city of Spino as well.
Developing Spino Will Foster a Community of NPCs
As shown inSand Land’s gameplayoverview, Spino is able to be built up over time with the help of certain NPCs who will periodically arrive as the city improves. It starts out with just merchants and a garage, but the city has been shown to have new buildings and unique NPCs that show up later in the game. This will probably take no small amount of resource investment on the player’s part given the state Spino begins in, but this sense of incremental growth could turn out to be one ofSand Land’s biggest lasting appeals.
