A Legacy Lives On: Sand Land’s Impressive Adaptation of the Iconic Akira Toriyama’s Dragon Ball Franchise

“Sand Land” is a highly anticipated title for many reasons. For one, it’s an open-world game in a market that’s saturated with the genre. But what really sets it apart is the fact that it was created by the legendary Akira Toriyama, known for his classics like “Dragon Ball” and “Dr. Slump”. The anticipation grew even more after Toriyama’s untimely death in March, making fans more protective of his legacy. Fortunately, the game lives up to expectations, proving to be a competent adaptation of the source material and showcasing Toriyama’s genius with its entertaining moments and complex vehicular combat system.

The game follows a post-apocalyptic world resembling “Mad Max”, where water control is used as a tool of subjugation by the powerful. The story focuses on unconventional heroes like Beelzebub, a demon prince, Sheriff Rao, and Thief. Their camaraderie drives the adventure as they deal with themes like prejudice, trauma, and exploitation while maintaining an optimistic tone. A new character named Ann brings a mysterious lineage and mechanic skills to the story.

The main focus of the game is on vehicular combat, offering players a variety of vehicles such as tanks, cars, motorcycles, and robots with unique abilities. While Toriyama’s creative designs shine in this area, other aspects such as hand-to-hand combat and stealth systems feel lacking in depth compared to vehicular combat. The open world may be varied in towns but lacks overall substance beyond repetitive activities as seen in the “Far Cry” formula.

However, despite these shortcomings,”Sand Land” still manages to be an enjoyable experience thanks to its endearing characters and Toriyama’s storytelling prowess. In conclusion, “Sand Land” serves as a testament to Toriyama’s ability to craft stories that resonate globally despite their flaws.