Bandai Namco announced a new game called Sand Land at Summer Game Fest 2023. Manga fans may have already recognized the name; indeed, it is an adaptation of 2000’s manga from Dragon Ball creator Akira Toriyama.
Sand Land is set in a desert world where demons and humans alike are struggling due to extreme water shortages. Rao, an old human sheriff from a little town, is joined on a journey to save the world by the so-called Fiend Prince Beelzebub (actually a young demon with a pure heart and strong physical and telepathic abilities) and Thief, a wise demon. Vehicular combat is a key part of the game, with players able to customize their vehicles to their liking.
Sand Land is being developed by ILCA, Inc., the studio responsible for One Piece Odyssey. That game launched in early 2023 to mildly positive reviews. Kai rated it 7.1 out of 10 in Wccftech’s review:
For players familiar with One Piece, venturing into One Piece Odyssey is like a trip down memory lane, revisiting many key battles in media res. The sections of Marineford still hit hard, even with Luffy already knowing the outcome and doing his best to change what’s been written into history. However, for those where this is the first taste of the Grand Line, One Piece Odyssey can often overwhelm players with the sheer roster of cast members that show up briefly only to never appear again in the story. One Piece Odyssey does a fantastic job of letting players relive grand battles from years ago, but it will be a tough sell to newcomers that might often be lost in the narrative’s pacing.
As a turn-based JRPG, One Piece Odyssey hits the mark more often than not and is one of the highest-quality licensed IP titles to come from Shonen Jump’s lineage of manga, but something is missing from making this adventure truly special. If fans are looking for a celebration of Oda’s work, this Odyssey is a trip worth taking. However, f you’re considering this as the first trip aboard the Going Merry, a few hundred chapters of light reading might be the essential primer you need to get the most out of becoming Luffy’s nakama.
Sand Land doesn’t have a release window yet. Bandai Namco said it will be launched on PC (the Steam page is already up), PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series S|X.
