Summary
Coming later this year,Sand Landis an action RPG from Bandai Namco based on a lesser-known manga series byDragon Ballcreator Akira Toriyama. Originally released in 2000, the story only lasted for a single volume, following the adventures of Demon Prince Beezlebub alongside his companions Sheriff Rao and Thief as they embark on a journey to restore water in their desolate world.Sand Landcame to a relatively quick conclusion and has ultimately fallen under the radar of many of Toriyama’s fans, but its video game adaptation appears to be bringing a faithful representation of the series to a new generation.
Dragon Ballis an undisputed behemoth of anime that has received even more attention recently as people honorthe legacy of Akira Toriyamafollowing his passing, but several smaller works of his have begun to be met with more recognition. Most of these outings consisted of involvement in game projects like theDragon Questseries orChrono Triggerapart from various one-shots, butSand Landwas able to reach a full fourteen chapter volume in 2000, years afterDragon Ballhad concluded. This relatively untouched IP has started to see more love with its animated movie adaptation and an upcoming anime which is set to delve into a new arc, and its game seems ready to continue this streak through bringing players into the same world.
Sand Land’s Single Volume Provides a Concise Level of Source Material
The Story of the Demon Prince Beelzebub and Sand Land
Many works by Toriyama have a distinct sense of shared style, butSand Landsets itself apart through a premise far removed from the approach to the fantastical seen in works likeDragon Ball.Sand Land’s setting is apost-apocalyptic wasteland world, with weapons and machinery prominently utilized for combat.
The protagonist, Beelzebub is the prince of the demons in this world, but these creatures refrain from killing in this lore, and he displays his heritage through proficient martial combat. TheSand Landmanga seriesfollows the prince and his companions as they fight against the forces of a greedy, water-hoarding king and seek a source of water to help return the world to a more lush state.
Sand Land’s Game Seems Set to Stay Accurate While Embellishing the Manga’s World
Extending a Miniseries Into a Full-Length Release
From the footage released so far, theSand Landgame appears firmly rooted in staying true to the source material while also willing to step outside of it for the sake of the player’s fun. It’s obvious that several enemies featured inSand Land’s gameplayare not encountered in such a manner during the manga, but creating a satisfying action RPG experience with proper progression naturally requires more fights. With elements such as a greater focus on vehicles apart from the tank and the apparent prevalence of side activities like bounties and racing, players can expectSand Landto go beyond the manga’s pages while still hopefully featuring everything from Toriyama’s original story.
The Potential to Grow Sand Land’s Legacy
The primary reason that it makes sense for aSand Landgame to add original content is not just the fact that the manga only consisted of one volume, but it also ended with a definitive conclusion to the story’s main conflict. This remained the case for over two decades, but the IP’s revival during the past couple of years has opened up the door for this franchise to grow in a way that its upcoming game might contribute to. TheSand Landanime serieswill be diving into “Forest Land” for the new “Angelic Heroes Arc” around the time of the RPG’s launch, so there’s no telling how much the franchise may be growing to incorporate together.
