Earlier this month, the world misplaced a one-of-a-kind inventive expertise with the information of Akira Toriyama’s passing. Whereas Dragon Ball will at all times be Toriyama-sensei’s best-known work, he leaves behind a legacy filled with many different imaginative worlds throughout video games, anime, and manga. Earlier than leaving us, he labored with Bandai Namco to flesh out considered one of his quick manga creations additional: Sand Land. Alongside a brand new anime collection, Toriyama-sensei gave enter on a videogame adaptation of Sand Land that will permit gamers to discover this distinctive world for themselves.
The basic manga Sand Land lives on in Bandai Namco’s new sport, which ventures past the place the unique story concludes. Learn on to search out out what new adventures await our mech-powered demon hero within the wetlands, caves, and Forest Land. Talking of Forest Land, we even have a reveal of latest gameplay from the woodland biome.
Each demon has his day
Sand Land follows the exploits of Beelzebub, the prince of a tribe of demons dwelling in an enormous desert surroundings generally known as Sand Land. Due to his heritage, Beelzebub is mischievous, spoiled, and snarky, however he’s additionally acquired a tender spot for serving to others in want and a robust sense of justice — even when he received’t admit it. Sand Land is going through a disaster: water is changing into more and more scarce, as a egocentric human king is hoarding the live-giving useful resource. Whereas Sand Land descends into chaos as preventing over the restricted provide intensifies, Sheriff Rao approaches the demons to assist liberate the water provide. Beelzebub, his handservant Thief, and the ever-mysterious Rao to assist Sand Land and perhaps even realms past.
Sand Land is an motion RPG with an enormous world to discover. You instantly management Beelzebub, who’s accompanied by companions Thief and Rao. Beelzebub is the one who will get within the thick of many of the motion, utilizing hand-to-hand fight and darkish magic to beat his foes. The opposite characters present help and recommendation, bantering with the Prince about present occasions and suggesting the place to go and what to do subsequent.
Beelzebub is fairly nimble on foot, however one component that units Sand Land aside from different titles is its emphasis on autos. Beelzebub can purchase and improve an enormous number of candy rides: bikes, tanks, hovercraft, dune buggies, and extra. Every automobile is tailored for sure terrain and fight conditions: bikes can get you round fundamental terrain with ease and velocity, whereas jump-bots might help you spring as much as larger floor, and tanks are, nicely, tanky. Autos you purchase might be upgraded and customised with weapons, paint, and symbols to make them every uniquely yours.
What’s particularly helpful is that Beelzebub can name upon a lot of his autos with a couple of button presses. All it takes is a poof, and also you’ve acquired some mega mobility or heavy firepower proper subsequent to you, able to go. In fact, these machines aren’t invincible, and also you’ll have to preserve your ammo shares replenished. Nonetheless, when it is advisable scale that cliff or cross that moat, you’ve acquired your mandatory gear at hand–and generally you may simply hijack one thing neat-looking you discover mendacity round. Typically, your candy experience would possibly even be alive.
Into the woods
Sand Land is a big sport. Not solely do you could have all of Sand Land to discover — and the bottom of Spino to rebuild — however the story continues previous the manga’s ending and introduces a complete additional setting to discover: the verdant Forest Land.
After preventing by a sprawling dungeon, we washed up on this new surroundings. It was clear it will be no stroll within the park — there was plenty of sinister scheming among the many Forest Land army. We had been then tasked with rescuing a lass named Ann from her captors. It’s not a straightforward feat since she’s holed up in a fort teeming with guardian troopers.
However Beelzebub is aware of easy methods to be a sneaky little satan and has simply the proper strikes to creep up on—after which scare the bejeezus out of—some hapless troopers who’ve by no means seen an actual demon earlier than.
Not everybody’s going to faint once they see a scary face, although. Fortuitously, that’s the place the tank is available in. Bringing out the massive weapons and making professional use of the tank’s particular Outrigger skill laid waste to Ann’s captors—and once we confronted off in opposition to the boss, we acquired to hijack some candy melee-mashing battle armor to deliver residence with us.
Taking over the world
Sand Land is brimming with sidequests and actions exterior the primary story missions. Beelzebub is keen to show his greatness, and to that finish, he’s joyful to assist his fellow demons and, nicely, perhaps some people too. Monster issues? Particular deliveries? Unexplored territory? This Prince can deal with all of it.
In fact, with miscreants operating rampant throughout Sand Land, it solely is smart that there could be bounties on a number of the extra infamous creatures and criminals. A number of gangs named after card fits occupy their territories and don’t take kindly to intruders. One such gang, the Hearts, has a novel sense of decor for his or her not-so-hidden hideout. If Beelzebub can infiltrate their HQ, he’ll discover that there’s an enormous bounty on the chief—however he’s not happening with out a battle.
Sand Land appears set to ship on a major promise: immersing you in Toriyama-sensei’s massive, stunning world and epic story. With graphics that seize the manga’s intricate linework, characters and interactions crammed with intrigue and humor, and a complete lot of raptor-riding, magic-wielding, tank-busting motion, it’s onerous to think about a greater tribute to the life and legacy of Akira Toriyama.