Sand Land: The Ultimate Mashup of Borderlands and Dragon Quest

Sand Land, a new game showcased at Summer Game Fest 2023, appears to seamlessly blend the striking visuals of Borderlands with the signature Dragon RPG style of Toriyama. The short gameplay teaser teases viewers with the promise of wild hairstyles and explosive action, reminiscent of the beloved Dragon Quest franchise. The cel-shaded graphics that made Borderlands a hit are once again present in Sand Land, lending life to the otherwise barren desert setting and accentuating the vibrant colors of the game's characters. Additionally, the battles in Sand Land seem to be infused with neon lights, flashy moves, and unique fighting styles that are synonymous with Toriyama's work. The contrast between the desert's dry and yellow sands and the crazy hairstyles and combat moves of Dragon Quest players is sure to captivate and excite fans of both franchises.

Colorful Characters in A Desolate Wasteland Make Sand Land Stand Out

Sand Land takes inspiration from the post-apocalyptic wastelands of Borderlands, featuring towering structures, deserted outposts, and towering ravines. The game also boasts a range of drivable and weaponized vehicles that appear to have been constructed from wasteland scrap, making it easy for players to traverse the treacherous terrain and defeat enemies using tanks, buggies, and bikes. The scattered outposts throughout the desert pose challenging side quests and objectives that reward players with exciting new gear and power-ups. With a wide variety of attacks and customizable vehicles, players can tackle every battle in their own unique way, incorporating the same wacky and wild approach seen in the Borderlands franchise.

A Well Seasoned Producer Makes Sand Land's Gameplay Promising

In Sand Land, Akira Toriyama's iconic art style is once again on display, as he draws from his Manga of the same name to bring his characters to life. Fans of Dragon Quest and Dragon Ball will recognize the familiar character models, complete with spiky hair, severe eyebrows, and bright clothes. The game features fast-paced, flashy moves in real-time battles, with combo moves reminiscent of Dragon Quest. And for those who enjoy the wanton destruction of superhuman strength, Sand Land delivers in spades.

Sand Land offers players the familiar task of saving the land from an impending evil, with the added twist of a parched desert setting. The protagonist, Beelzebub, leads a team of both Monsters and Heroes in the quest to find the Legendary Spring to revive water sources. As a Toriyama production, it is likely that the game will showcase similarities to the original Manga. The game's release is accompanied by a movie adaptation, providing fans of the property with double the excitement. Sand Land will be available for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X on August 18.