Sand Land Reviews

A stunningly realised rendition of Akira Toriyama’s work, Sand Land matches its aesthetics with fun, breezy systems and a charming, if clumsy, tale of war, friendship, and hope.

The sweet heart of Toriyama beats here, but it alone can’t help to make Sand Land compelling for most.

Welcome to Sand Land, a world where water is difficult to come by and Mad Max weirdos are out to cause havoc. Did Sam Wachter survive her visit to Sand Land? Or was she crushed by a Jump Bot?

It took a long time for Sand Land to transition from manga to other mediums, but I am certainly glad we have gotten the opportunity now to appreciate another of Toriyama’s creations in multiple ways after his passing. Sand Land as a game is a solid action RPG that tries some new things with the vehicle-based combat on top of a standard regular combat system, albeit with some flaws, along with keeping you invested for much longer through the captivating story largely propelled by the likable characters themselves. For those who have watched the anime and want to explore this world or those who know absolutely nothing about the story going in, Sand Land is a worthwhile experience for anybody looking for a fairly safe RPG that will give them about 20-30 hours of gameplay overall, even more so if they appreciate the art style of Toriyama.

Sand Land’s great tank combat combined with a solid storyline wrapped up in Akira Toriyama's stylings make this a little gem of an action RPG despite a few faults here and there.

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.

If you appreciate adventures with a lot of variety and heart then you'll love SAND LAND so let's gas-up and head out to the desert.

An adventurous story paired with explosive vehicular combat that brings a popular story to life albeit with less than stellar graphics and cutscenes.

With a extraordinary art style, touching story and interesting gameplay loop, SAND LAND ended up really hitting home with me.

Sand Land manages the tough task of translating an enjoyable story without overdoing the open-world mechanics in the process. It’s rough in places but is a respectful adaptation of Toriyama’s work and a pleasant experience throughout.

Sand Land's vehicular combat is entertaining from start to finish, but bizarre progression pacing and the repetitive nature of the side content makes this a hard sell for those approaching the series for the first time.

Sand Land proves once again that Akira Toriyama and video games are a perfect match.

Simplicity is the name of the game here, but you'll still come away happy.

Sand Land seems to be part of a relatively recent push to adapt the manga of the same name, originally released throughout the year 2000. A film adaptation was released last year, an animated series earlier this year, and now the official video game’s out. Sand Land was created by the late Akira Toriyama, perhaps most famous for the Dragonball franchise, and a legend in the games industry due to being the illustrator behind games like Chrono Trigger, Blue Dragon, and Dragon Quest. Sand Land...

Akira Toriyama’s final works is now a video game that hopes to introduce you to an arid world that needs saving. Does it offer what you want in an open-world game or leave you wanting more? Find out in our review.

Sand Land is not just another adventure, it's a thrilling journey through the creative landscapes of Toriyama's imagination. It's an oasis of content ready to be explored form one grain of sand to the next. With Beelzebub leading the charge, this game promises a haven of juicy content and vibrant character development amidst the dry, vacant desert setting. All I want to say is that fans should eagerly anticipate the release, it's clear that Toriyama's legacy continues to captivate audiences that will draw you into worlds where even deserts are brimming with life. So, grab your favorite juice and prepare for an RPG experience that'll leave you parched for more!

SAND LAND is the video game adaptation of the manga and animations of the same name by the late Akira Toriyama, creator of Dragon Ball. The manga series was serialized in Shueisha’s Weekly Shōnen Jump magazine in 2000 and ran for 14 chapters, later compiled into a Tankobon in the same year.

A story-driven game, Sand Land is a masterfully crafted world created by Akira Toriyama that finds finds itself in a conflict between its powerful narrative and a lack of detail on elements such as hand-to-hand combat and world design. Overall, an enjoyable game.

Sand Land is experiencing an oddly timed resurgence. Its creator, Akira Toriyama (Dragon Ball), recently passed away unexpectedly, effectively pointing a spotlight on his 24-year-old creation just as it was being adapted to film, anime, and video game. The video game has been my entry point into this world with characters, vehicles, and architecture that all resemble Dragon Ball beyond even just an art style, and I enjoyed the opportunity to live in a brand new Toriyama world and story. Other elements of the game, like its animation and performances, vacillate between high and low quality, but ultimately, Sand Land is the kind of experience I want from adaptation – the opportunity to spend time in a big, realized world with a story that pulls you all the way through.

A bright and vibrant world filled with dull combat and a plodding story.

SAND LAND is a fun JRPG with an emphasis on fun vehicular combat and an enjoyable story, and it is very playable on the Steam Deck.

It’s amazing that we’re still getting incredible new games as this year rolls on, though no doubt leading up to a hefty drought of good games as the layoffs of today come to roost. Still, we should enjoy them while we have them and Sand Land is one of the best this year.

“Sand Land is a definitive adaption of a great Akira Toriyama manga, but just fine as a game.”

Sand Land's another disappointing case of Licensed Anime: The Game.

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.

Whether you dig Sand Land’s vibes and want to go full Mad Max with its combat or experience one of Akira Toriyama’s classic stories told in a fresh package, Bandai Namco and ILCA sold me on this world and its characters, and if you give it a try, you might just get sucked in like quicksand.

You're better off just watching the anime.

Sand Land for Xbox Series X|S not only does a great job bringing one of Akira Toriyama’s arguably lesser-known works to life, but is also a lovely way to say goodbye to a man who has had an incredibly huge impact on Japan’s manga and anime industry as well as the world of video games. Although it’s not necessarily an evolutionary experience on the action RPG front, it should still be a fun ride from start to finish for fans of the genre and source material.

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.

Sand Land replicates both the unmistakable style and iconic character of Akira Toriyama’s work with color, authenticity, and passion. As an open-world adventure game, however, it is both conventional in gameplay and repetitive in design, resulting in a good-looking, great-sounding but overly simplistic adventure that nails the charm and aesthetic, but not the excitement and dynamism. A stylish but average escapede that never really gets out of first gear.

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.

While there are plenty of things to do in Sand Land, the primary focus is on its vehicle combat. It's a bit like Twisted Metal, a bit like the buggies in Jak 3, and full of customization. Additional vehicles are unlocked over the course of the game, with Beelzebub creating quite a few. From there, parts and vehicles can be customized and upgraded with materials either bought from vendors or found in chests across the wasteland. Different obstacles and battles require strategizing with different vehicles, and toggling between primary and secondary weapons to avoid getting obliterated during reloading times will keep players on their toes.

SAND LAND is a gorgeous and heartfelt game that brings together unlikely allies on an epic quest. It is fun to play, beautiful to look at, and an unforgettable journey for everyone to enjoy.

Speaking of cutscenes, this game has a lot of dialogue, available in English and Japanese voiceovers. I stuck with English and enjoyed the main cast’s performance, though I did take issue with voice direction at times. Rao especially, as sometimes he’d be yelling in situations that don’t call for it, or suddenly go from talking in a normal voice to barking out dialogue. Secondary characters were hit and miss, sometimes doing pretty well with the material at hand and other times really phoning it in.

The recently-departed Akira Toriyama left behind a rich gaming legacy between contributing to the likes of Dragon Quest and Chrono Trigger and the many, many, many Dragon Ball adaptations, and that legacy will only continue to build after his death. Sand Land is one of Toriyama’s more recent, lesser-known creations, but it’s been given a serious push over the past year, receiving an anime film, streaming series on Disney+, and now a video game from Bandai Namco and One Piece Odyssey developer ILCA.

Dive into a desert world where both humans and demons suffer from an extreme water shortage - SAND LAND. Meet the Fiend Prince Beelzebub, his chaperone Thief, and the fearless Sheriff Rao, and follow the team on an extraordinary adventure in search of the Legendary Spring hidden in the desert. The end is only the beginning, as beyond this arid ground lies a new realm to explore. PS5 version reviewed. Review copy provided by company for testing purposes.