Highlights

  • Sand Land is an action RPG based on a lesser-known manga by Akira Toriyama, offering a unique post-apocalyptic world and combat style.
  • The upcoming game aims to stay faithful to the source material while adding new elements like vehicular combat and side activities for players.
  • With an animated movie and upcoming anime series, the Sand Land franchise is set to grow, offering fans a chance to explore new adventures.

Coming later this year, Sand Land is an action RPG from Bandai Namco based on a lesser-known manga series by Dragon Ball creator 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 Land came 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 Ball is an undisputed behemoth of anime that has received even more attention recently as people honor the legacy of Akira Toriyama following 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 the Dragon Quest series or Chrono Trigger apart from various one-shots, but Sand Land was able to reach a full fourteen chapter volume in 2000, years after Dragon Ball had 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.

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Beyond Dragon Ball: The Other Works of Akira Toriyama

While Akira Toriyama is famous for Dragon Ball, his catalog of work stretches far beyond the iconic series.

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, but Sand Land sets itself apart through a premise far removed from the approach to the fantastical seen in works like Dragon Ball. Sand Land's setting is a post-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. The Sand Land manga series follows 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, the Sand Land game 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 in Sand Land's gameplay are 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 expect Sand Land to 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 a Sand Land game 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. The Sand Land anime series will 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.