Bandai Namco's 'Sand Land' Game Expands Akira Toriyama's Manga with Engaging Gameplay

Bandai Namco has released a video game adaptation of Akira Toriyama's manga series 'Sand Land', developed by ILCA. The game expands on the original 14-chapter manga and 2024 anime adaptation, following the adventures of demon prince Beelzebub and his companions as they search for a legendary spring in a drought-stricken, post-apocalyptic world.

The open-world action RPG offers an immersive experience, seamlessly blending thrilling vehicular combat, deep character development, and engaging exploration. Players control Beelzebub as he joins forces with Sheriff Rao and mechanic Ann to traverse the harsh desert environment, facing challenges such as sandworms and Insect Men.

While the game's first half closely follows the manga's narrative, the second half introduces a new conflict between the Sand Land and Forest Land kingdoms. This expansion adds fresh plot lines, characters, and an additional map to explore, though some may find it less compelling than the original story.

Why this matters: 'Sand Land' signifies a major step forward in anime game adaptations, transforming the genre with its polished presentation, substantial campaign, and faithful yet expansive approach to the source material. The game's success underscores the potential for bringing beloved manga and anime properties to life through interactive media.

The game's visuals, powered by Unreal Engine 5, are a standout feature, capturing Toriyama's iconic art style and character designs. The voice acting, however, delivers mixed results, with some excellent performances contrasted by weaker line deliveries. Despite these inconsistencies, 'Sand Land' proves to be a solid way for fans to further immerse themselves in Toriyama's world, especially in the wake of his passing in March 2024. "The game greatly expands the worldview of the original manga," Toriyama stated before his untimely death, expressing enthusiasm for the project and its "excellent" representation of the manga's style.

Key Takeaways

• Bandai Namco releases 'Sand Land' video game adaptation of Akira Toriyama's manga.
• Open-world action RPG with vehicular combat, character development, and exploration.
• Expands on original manga with new conflict and additional map to explore.
• Visuals capture Toriyama's art style, but voice acting has mixed results.
• Game praised by Toriyama for expanding the worldview of the original manga.