Akira Toriyama is synonymous with Dragon Ball for manga and anime enthusiasts, but there’s more to his name than the beloved, long-running franchise. While less known, Sand Land inherits his craft of imaginative storytelling and dynamic art style, becoming the focus of Bandai Namco’s next project.
The third-person action game was announced back at Summer Games Fest, but a new trailer unveiled at Tokyo Game Show 2023 offers more story details, including a glimpse of an original character — or his silhouette and long, white hair, to be more precise.
The YouTube description for the title reads:
“50 years ago, the hubris of humankind combined with natural disasters transformed the world into a desert. Join the Fiend Prince Beelzebub, demon Thief, and human sheriff Rao as they search for the Legendary Spring to restore water to Sand Land.”
“Use your tact and imagination to develop tanks and other vehicles for your adventures utilising a wide array of part combinations. Build up your base of operations into a thriving city with the help of the people you meet along the way in the vast desert,” adds the game’s Steam page.
Sand Land is based on Toriyama’s one-off manga from 2000. In the game, players will step into the role of protagonist Beelzebub, explore the world on foot and in various vehicles, and engage in both vehicular and character-based combat. It’s unclear how much of the source material will be adapted, though the introduction of a new face suggests some fresh narrative elements.
The upcoming adventure is coming to PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam, with no confirmation on a release date.
Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.
Gerald
