When Dragon Ball creator Akira Toriyama died in March 2024 he left a huge crater in the world of manga and gaming. Alongside Dragon Ball, he was a character designer on games such as Chrono Trigger, the Dragon Quest series and Blue Dragon, and many considered him one of the most influential manga artists of all time. The release of a video game adaptation of Sand Land, one of Toriyama's shorter works, just weeks after his death, is surely a bittersweet moment, then, but also another chance to dive into the rich imagination of a seminal creator. Set in a world plagued by natural disaster and war, Sand Land takes you to a world where water is jealously controlled and fought over. As the demon prince Beezlebub, you are tasked by Sheriff Rao with finding a new water source for the world. Rao comes along, as does Beezlebub's pal Thief, and you're off to the races. Sand Land is kind of an action RPG, but it's also a stealth game, and a platformer and, most importantly, a rampaging tank combat game. It's in the tanks/mechs/bikes where you'll spend most of your time, building them up, customising them and rollicking around and blasting chunks out of your opponents. Story-wise, the shorter length of the original manga means that developer ILCA has tinkered with and built out the story. If you're a purist, don't worry! Toriyama was directly involved in writing the game's story, and the second half effectively serves as a sequel to the manga. For Dragon Ball fans, Toriyama fans and anyone who loves oddball RPGs (and madcap tank combat) Sand Land is essential playing.
