ILCA and Bandai Namco’sSand Landis a faithful adaptation of one of the late-career works of legendary manga artist Akira Toriyama, telling the same general story as its source material while also adding in new characters and locations created by none other than Toriyama himself. One of the most important inclusions inSand Land’s gameplay are its vehicles, which act as much more than simple modes of transportation across the game’s open world. Vehicles inSand Landhave a robust customization and progression economy and are the backbone of the game’s combat, which makesSand Land’s use of melee feel like an afterthought in comparison.
Similar to howSand Landhandles its vehicles, players have some RPG-lite progression to consider withSand Land’s melee combat.Prince Beelzebub, Sheriff Rao, and Thiefeach have their own skill trees that players can invest skill points into after leveling up. But the amount that melee combat is either necessary or even beneficial to the player inSand Landsuggests that even the developers understood it only existed in the shadow of the game’s excellent vehicular combat. Between its relegation to mostly scripted moments and its lack of variety or meaningful progression, melee combat inSand Landsticks out as one of the game’s few weak points.
Melee Combat in Sand Land Misses an Opportunity to Move the Needle
Players beginSand Landwith nothing more than control over Prince Beelzebub and his fists, and it takes a while for players to unlock the Royal Army Tank as their first vehicle. Once that tank is unlocked, though, there’s little incentive ever given to go back to relying on melee combat when vehicular combat both feels more satisfying and is more effective. Most enemy types can be more quickly put down using any ofSand Land’s vehicles, and the somewhat sluggish dodging and evasion mechanics make melee combat a risky proposition in comparison to the relative safety of a vehicle cockpit.
Sand Land’s Melee Combat Pales in Comparison to Vehicles
What’s more, the game’s melee skill trees don’t offer a unique progression path for Beelzebub, with his attacks never moving far beyond a standard light and heavy attack, a charged attack, and a state of advanced damage and invulnerability activated by simultaneously pressing the triggers. Considering how novel and satisfying vehicles are to use (and how deep and rewardingSand Land’s vehicle customization and upgrade systemsare),Sand Land’s melee combat relying on well-worn tropes feels like a missed opportunity. With how entertaining and uniqueSand Land’s characters and setting are, it’s a shame that the game’s melee combat doesn’t make better use of the IP.
Sand Land’s Melee Combat Loses All Effectiveness Outside Scripted Moments
Given how limited the effectiveness of melee combat is inSand Land, it’s almost as if the developer understood that the system pales in comparison to the game’s excellent vehicular combat. Even in interior spaces like ruins or some ofSand Land’s few sprawling dungeons, using vehicles isn’t just possible but necessary, with tank shells and jump-bot maneuverability necessary to push deeper into these locations in search of treasure, enemies, or objectives. With how quickly Beelzebub can dispatch the standard rank-and-file enemies while behind the wheel of a vehicle, there’s practically no incentive for players to use melee combat in the one area where it would seemingly be necessary.
Even parts of the game that force the player to use melee combat, such as a handful of important story moments or some ofSand Land’s boss fights, don’t ever require much from the player other than spamming light attacks and dodging once the telltale on-screen indicator of an incoming attack pops up. Vehicular combat inSand Landis also fairly rote, with most encounters winnable by circle-strafing around enemies and juggling cooldowns, but the speed at which it plays out and the amount of offensive power the vehicles' weapons deal results in it being both more efficient and more satisfying.
Sand Land
WHERE TO PLAY
Dive into a desert world where both humans and demons suffer from an extreme water shortage - SAND LAND. Meet the Fiend Prince Beelzebub, his chaperone Thief, and the fearless Sheriff Rao, and follow the team on an extraordinary adventure in search of the Legendary Spring hidden in the desert, and much more. The end is only the beginning, as beyond this arid ground lies a mysterious new realm to explore - Forest Land.This action-RPG is a nostalgic and heartwarming world created by Akira Toriyama, where you will become the main character, Beelzebub. Learn how to control his powers and lead your company of heroic misfits, exploring the legendary world of SAND LAND and the brand-new Forest Land. But beware of the many dangers that populate them: between bandits, fierce wildlife, and ruthless Army Generals, reaching the spring and saving the world won’t be easy!Use your tact and imagination to develop tanks and other vehicles that will help you navigate these vast resourceful lands, using 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 this desert.
