Games

Exploring Akira Toriyama's Influence in Sand Land

Discover how Sand Land's producer, Keishu Minami, is paying tribute to Akira Toriyama's creative heritage through the new open-world action game.
Exploring Akira Toriyama's Influence in Sand Land

Highlights

  • Sand Land introduces Akira Toriyama's distinctive art style in a standalone open-world game with vehicular combat and innovative features like city construction.
  • The game strives to celebrate the manga's legacy while ensuring it appeals to a fresh audience through engaging gameplay and original content.
  • Sand Land forms part of a comprehensive strategy to introduce the IP to a new demographic, including plans for an animated series and a feature film.

Akira Toriyama has left a significant mark not only in manga and anime but also in the realm of video games. Best known for creating the immensely popular Dragon Ball series, Toriyama's influence extends to the realm of gaming through character designs in titles like Dragon Quest and Chrono Trigger. The latest addition showcasing Toriyama's characters is Sand Land, transforming the 2000 Sand Land manga into an open-world action game blending exploration akin to Zelda with vehicular battles.

Collaborating closely with the developers, Toriyama introduced fresh elements to Sand Land, such as the city of Spino, allowing players to customize it, and the all-new Forest Land, a unique area in the game. The developers aim to pay tribute to Toriyama's extensive body of work that has garnered millions of global fans, a legacy they strive to uphold through the adaptation of one of his lesser-known creations, Sand Land.

Sand Land Offers a Unique Standalone Adventure

Despite featuring Toriyama's iconic art style, Sand Land remains relatively undiscovered compared to his other works. While Dragon Ball captivated Western audiences and its gaming adaptations continue to thrive, Sand Land presents a challenge of honoring its legacy while attracting new fans. Producer Keishu Minami emphasizes that making Sand Land a standalone experience with engaging gameplay was the key to bridging the gap.

The game serves as a pivotal part of introducing the Sand Land IP to a fresh audience through various media. The Sand Land animated series has debuted on Disney +, with plans for a feature film. Minami highlights that Sand Land stands on its own and reveals Toriyama's involvement in crafting scenarios and vehicle designs for the game. While gameplay remains the focal point for both existing and new fans, Toriyama's touch ensures Sand Land is an essential chapter in the saga.

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