SandLand Is NOT What I Expected! |Demo Impressions| 

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Sorry to hear it wasnt for you. We had so much fun with the demo that we preordered it.

I say this with all of the love - If you watched this video and thought the gameplay looked bad, give it a try for yourself. David isn't a fan of action games, and Sand Land is absolutely an action game with an emphasis on movement and constantly changing between being on foot and in vehicles. Your vehicles all have independent health, and switching can combo vehicle attacks into each other. That said, the demo has *no* story. It's only a gameplay showcase. The full game is going to have the whole manga in there.

I actually really enjoyed the demo. It was fun exploring and I found dungeons, the radio tower, and a huge alligator. I thought it was actually to easy. To take down the bosses I used to the tank and used the nitro to dodge attacks while switching back and forth as my weapons reloading. The bike was awesome for its quick speed and tight turning. The game reminded me of Metal Max. I enjoyed your video though and they really should have included some story and tutorial

You haven't played ANY non jrpgs since 1997? Dude, I get specialization, I'm a primarily jrpg focused guy too. But there are so many fantastic experiences out there. That actually makes me kind of sad 😢

Brother, I think you're super cool but this isn't a bad game. It's just not for you. I don't play anything but jrpgs as well but I can see how someone who plays FPS would enjoy this game. I would hate it as much as you do. Not because it's bad but because it's unenjoyable to me. BTW, You're supposed to learn the pattern of attack of the boss to dodge the attacks and then attack. But yea, that sounds as boring to me as it probably does to you.

Idc if it’s good or not I’m supporting my nigga toriyama sama

I actually enjoyed it quite a lot. I think a vehicle/action/jrpg is a pretty unique blend. Sand Land was my favorite Toriyama Manga after Dragon Ball growing up; so I'm happy to see it final brought to life(the manga came out in 2000) Sad that you didn't have a good time with it; but definitely imagined it wouldn't be the kinda a gameplay youd be into when I saw you uploaded a vid

But haven't you played Dirge of Cerberus and Valkyria Chronicles? Aiming shouldn't be THAT much of a foreign concept?

Battlearmor looks like robo from chrono trigger

I tried the demo today and found it quite fun. I don't know if the full game will be heavily focused on exploration like in the demo or not tho. That said, I do see how it won't be anyone's cup of tea

booted up the demo and was almost instantly bored :/ combat does not feel good

Ok but the real question is did you like this game more than Metal Max Xeno which was pretty similar?

Will probably wait of the full review of the game mechanics if it has a leveling system, parts/equipments customization, magic skills system, crafting etc.. hehe

Immediately once I saw the first trailer of the game I knew that ain't for me, you are not alone David.

DavidVinc:"In fact if the game got rid of the whole tank system and focused on hand-to-hand combat. I think I would love it!" Me:"As a person who's read the SandLand manga? Tsk. Tsk. Tsk. Oh you poor unfortunate soul."

Never played a fps? That's kind of amazing. But I guess I'm younger and mostly played them in once they started getting big with halo and COD. All my friends played shooters too. For you who was probably an adult when these games started rolling out, you already knew what you liked. I rarely play fps (last one was titanfall 2) but developers today really nailed down the gameplay loop. The good ones have very tight controls are addictive.

I love rpg's but I'm also comfortable with action games and shooters so I'll give this one a shot if the story and missions hold up.

You sat WHAT style on your chair?

I played through the demo yesterday and I really liked it. It felt like an arcade game to me, so I got really sucked into it and pre-ordered the CE. My only complaint was the repeated dialog from the characters, the same few lines just over and over, I hope you can switch it off or it's just cause this is the demo with limited areas to go to. Can't wait for the release!

David i used to weigh 300 pounds and over 3-4 years i lost about 150 pounds, how do i get a physique like yours?

Seems like the demo served its purpose.

If you watched SandLand trailers, then you'd know that later on we can upgrade the vehicle with better weapon, including homing missile. So, I think as we progress the game will become easier, at least I hope so..😅 PS: I also not good at aiming thing 😆

I think i went from cautiously optimistic to hoping for a pleasant surprise…waiting on this one, although i will say the pieces look intriguing. Want to see a more complete picture though, because frustrating combat would be a huge negative.

This game has been on my radar for a while, but I’m definitely waiting to see how full reviews look before I decide on it or not.

Well, I like what I'm seeing. It's easy to see that you don't like action games. I have to say that I love a good challenge, so if that's the case I'm gonna buy the game. By the way, the art design looks awesome. RIP Akira Toriyama

Can we get a shelf tour , the small bit i saw in the chair ad has me interested XD

This game gives off Steambot Chronicles vibes. I loved that game, and the switching between mech and foot with an emphasis on exploration looks similar. Will have to wait for more info after watching this though.

This guy sounds exactly like my 13 year old nephew 😂😂😂

Your review should've been "this is a bad JRPG, because it isn't one."

This to me speaks with more of mech/sim RPG sorta like a blend with armored core with RPG mechanics. This is something I'm actually looking forward too as a JRPG lover and a mecha fan.

I didn't think it would be my thing from the trailers and this confirmed it, thank you for taking one for the team with this game.

Hey mate. I love how you specify what kinds of games you play instead of saying "Complicated gameplay bad game". I watched the review and based on it, I can say it's my type of a game and cannot wait to try this one out. Thank you for the honest opinion.

Thanks for this, I felt the same going in and coming out of the Demo, it just wasn't for me.

You like jrpg this game is mostly for ppl who like action rpg so you coming from turnbase to hands on probably does make a huge difference

I think the demo is just a combat demostration.

It’s fine. I respect your feelings towards the game. You did say it might not be for you. I was expecting it to be some kind of RPG because Toriyama’s art and JRPG go together like peanut butter and jelly.

This game seems like Dark Souls meets Borderlands with a tiny bit of Legend of Zelda:BOTW. I just re-read the manga, so I'm hyped to complete this, even if it’s challenging.

This is one of those things I respect about you is your willingness to praise Toriyama for his legacy while being critical of this game. I may give it a go as I do enjoy games like Borderlands but Dragon's Dogma 2 is about to be released so itll have to take a backseat to that. Speaking of seats, that is a nice looking new chair

Eh - I'm still going to get it - I play other genres outside of RPG's too, so the action aspect of it doesn't really bother me. As long as it's overall decent, I'll have gotten my money's worth. Going to go in with a half full glass perspective. As long as I don't get burned like I did with Loop8 last year I'll be happy lol. But I respect your standpoint, for sure - things sometimes just aren't for everyone, and that's okay too.

Sounds like I’ll probably get it on a sale later on , just finished final fantasy and have Granblue to go back to so I’m good thank you for saving me money 😄

I really liked the demo! Reminds me of the Metal Max games, going to preorder it.

Even your sponsor ads are wholesome and delightful. I love this channel so much, David.

Lol the pessimistic perspective is hilarious

I believe there is an immense amount of pressure on the devs since Toriyama sans passing. I will still give this game its due. And I think we all should at least give it a shot

Good to hear you saying that is not a bad game only not your kind of game. All games should have a demo

The Game will be Released in April 26 2024 Bandai Namco Games Sell a Price $59.99

There was this text that says the content of demo are different from the full game, and the demo exists for a reason: *To give you a small morsel of gameplay and usually little to no plot relevance* And you are right, Sand Land is not for the usual Dragon Quest audience. I think its more of Armored Core or Gundam and perhaps the demo does not give Sand Land enough justice. Maybe vehicle upgrades and seeking materials for upgrading your war machines. Either way, I would like to try this game when it releases.

Weird, I thought it was awesome, I agree the demo wasn’t the best in terms of how it was thought out but the gameplay, world, combat is great. It wasn’t hard or souls like at all, use the right tool for the job and it’s simple.

I'm glad that you get to play demo's for us to reveal which are the hidden gems and others are duds. I've happily spent a lot of money on new games because of your expert suggestions.

I love David for always being honest so many reviewers pretend to like something but not David! We trust your reviews! 😊

The manga was pretty good fun. I really like the aesthetics of the game too. It looks like if there is actually tutorial it would be much better.

I think I might like this one, it's a strange one but looks like something fun for me even if I may pick up for PS5 since "my" PC might not run it well. It is unfortunate it wasn't enjoyable on your end but I do hope it will still be good for others, myself included even if I'll wait for more reviews on the reception.

Admittedly, I was watching this game with a bit of skepticism since I had no idea what to expect. Though, partly out of my desire to honor Toriyama, I will give this game a chance. Plus, it actually does look interesting. I might not get it right away, but I'll probably pick it up before the end of the year.

This is why I'm glad when they put out a demo. It's nice to find out it ain't for you before shelling out $60. I have the demo sitting on my hard drive, just haven't found time to mess with it yet. Too much FFVII Rebirth. Haha.

Ill give it a shot. But as mentioned only playing jrpgs and never playing fps was gonna be a big handicap to overcome, its cool if you dont like it. Im surprised by that, but i can see how it can be too much. Ive played all the armored cores so i think ill be 👍

Glad you mentioned the weight limit for your sponsored ad. So many chairs are capped at 250lb and how many gamers are at that weight or above? I might try this game once it is on sale. I got enough games to play. You might have some success with Mass Effect. I never played FPS and it got me in.

Looks like something I could probably have fun with at some point. But why would I bother when there's stuff like Eiyuden Chronicle right around the corner? Plus I'd rather just play the Suikoden remasters as well. As well as a bunch of other games I'm just much more interested in. I do find it funny that they could find the time and money for English voiceovers here, but not in one piece Odyssey.

I only play non RPGs whenever I need to remind myself why I only enjoy RPGs. Thanks for the heads up on this one, I thought it was going to be an action adventure game but I wasn't sure.

I’m playing the full game and it’s amazing I hope you will try again.

Definitely checking this out as one last hoorah for Toriyama.

the vehicles look so good it looks like og dragon ball, I wish they would make og Dragonball into a breath of the wild game

I might give this a try, cause I like the art style so much. Thank god it has a demo lol. Judging from the gameplay, it might not be for me either.

The Demo was lacking a narrative,like throwing you out in the middle of whatever, but i liked what i ve played so far(gameplay wise and the artstyle). I can understand your points though.

David thank you for letting me know the demo was out! I'm sorry you did not like it. I'm going to give it a try myself but always appreciate hearing your opinion. Thanks for always being awesome! Maybe the next game will be a Crono Trigger or Breath of Fire remake/remaster!

I appreciate the honesty. Now I am worried about having wasted my money preordering it!

Fps mechanics are definitely difficult to get into if you don’t normally (or ever) play them. I think there’s more to it than that here. David gave it a shot and took several different approaches lol it’s okay to not like the same games. It’s all about having fun and have different opinions about them. I’m glad you were able to get a video out of the experience though

I understand but I'm looking forward to the game especially the customise for the tanks got it preorder weeks ago I like the demo fun it was

love that you are honest with your opinions

Well I had the exact same impressions. Tbh at first I thought it was not for me even if I like the DA. But well I was ready to try the demo and that was a good opportunity to confirm it or have a good surprise ! I prefer phases with the character A LOT, but there are too much enemies you can only kill with tanks. Really dislike controls with the bike. The robot and the tank are better, but I dislike having to fight more with vehicules than with the character (and the controls with robot and tank are not that good tbh). And well after cleaning the area of a radio tower, I was killed in my robot against the big scorpion (game over) and was taken back to the radio tower… where all enemies including the local mini boss were back again (all around me !!) and killed me in a few seconds. The game should have taken me back to a safe point (camp), not in the middle of a melee. Perhaps there will be improvements with patchs but for now, not for me.

The battle tank suit makes me think of E.G.G.

I've played the demo today, and I'm sorry you didn't like it David. I got the scorpion queen on my first try tho and I had fun with this demo. The repeating dialogue irked me plus I was wandering aimless through the map but still had fun. Also, I'm not sure how many times you tried, but maybe you should try the full game if you have the money someday.

I enjoyed this video so much. Respect. You were upfront that you are being respectful and your intention wasn't to diss on the game for the sake of it. We all have different tastes. Oddly, your unenjoyment was entertaining to me and we can all enjoy each person's experience. What I got out of this was a very entertaining story. I enjoy your personality and I respect the games you play and review.

6:00 Sounds like this game could use an option for a lock-on button.

I may still check it out…but I’m thinking it’s probably not for me. I always appreciate your honesty!

Love the honesty, I am an RPG boy through and through and have 100% every Soulsbourne... having said that i hated Sekiro when it first came out as i suuuuucked at it i rage quit.... about a year later i came back learnt how to play it and became one of my favs. I suggest hold off judgment till the full game comes out and yes its different to anything you have played but hopefully with story back ground and context it will give you some drive to put time to learn the mechanics and ultimately enjoy it.... never say never David!

This game does seem like something I'd really enjoy (I'm cool with action games, and I really like mecha or any other military vehicle combat). However, I didn't like the demo. A demo should have some structure and efficiently showcase as many aspects of the game as it can. Unicorn Overlord's demo made me go from "maybe I'll get it one day" to "preorder collector's edition" with in a couple of hours of playing. This one, not so much. Another thing that rubbed me the wrong way was the dialogue between characters as you roam around was very repetitive. I think I'll still end up getting this but I need to see more reviews first.

The earliest jrpgs I played included both Secret of Mana and Final Fantasy IV, so I don't have a strong preference between action and turn-based. My main concern is usually whether I can grind to get my character stronger if I'm having trouble with a boss, and this review didn't really answer that question. Admittedly the blank open desert area is a big mark against the game (with no in-game journal to keep track of what I'm supposed to be doing!), and after trying the demo for about 10 minutes myself, I noticed an additional reason to dislike it - the heat haze effect gave me eye strain.

Sleeper hit of 2024 for sure

I hope the game is better than the demo, because WHERE IS THE LOOT? Where is the garage to fix the tank?

The game looks beautiful, as a fan of Toriyama's art style. Doubt it will be in my area anytime soon, but at some point I would like to pick it up and try it (when cheaper). I do have the demo so that will have to suffice for the time being. Great review, always enjoy the insight you provide in all of these videos. Your passion and honesty shine through in all your words, whether it praising or criticizing. See you for the next one. Hope everyone is well and have a great day. #Roadto75k

I think this game feels very similar to Steambot Chronicles. It’s very niche, for a specific type of player. JRPG players are maybe not the market for it.

If you zoom in it's easier to hit the enemies but it does mess up your view when being attacked. The demo really needed story and guidance. I'm sorry you didn't enjoy it, I'm also hesitant to try the main game.

Haven't played the demo, and the game looked amazing from trailers, but that's a shame this game may not be that fantastic after all 😅

Hey man, its not for you just like city builders and survival games are not for me. This video actually made me want to get SandLand. I had no idea what kind of game it would be but now that i saw it in action, im all for it.

Visual it looks stunning for Akira Toriyama last story to become a game,

Its not for me either but due to Toriyama's death I doubt that the DS version of Chrono Trigger will get a PS4 PS5 Switch Port/Remaster any time soon IF EVER.

That sucks because aesthetically it's pretty awesome

It feels like metal max but in action rpg form. So far.

Going to try the demo today, I want to be more excited for the game but them showing so much vehicle combat is kind of a turn off for me. The artstyle and character/monster design looks like what I want so I'm hoping the demo changes my mind a bit.

You still did better than a Games Journalist.

I think the story will make or break this one for me. If it’s decent I could see myself liking the, I like shooting arrows in Horizon and Assassins Creed so I might like the tanking? I have so many games on my list though, if I get around to this one it’ll be after a price drop or two

I was ready to like it, I've given it 30-45 minutes so far and I am going to try the demo a bit more, but it really is a disappointing showcase. I play lots of different games so I am more than used to varied control schemes like shooting and driving, but doing both at the same time is a thing I've never found a game can do super well and SandLand falls into that. I did manage to defeat the giant scorpion queen enemy with the punchy suit but there was no loot drop or anything special (at least not that I could see). It was a fun fight, maybe the most positive thing in the demo so far for me after the artstyle and looks. I did other things, found a radio tower that I could clear of enemies but couldn't fix, a bunch of rocks with some loot on top that I couldn't climb or jump up whether in or out of the mech. And then the vehicles repair so slowly that if I manage to escape before it blows up I'm not getting back into it for a while even after battle. Like I said, I'll give it a longer go later when I have more time, but it isn't the greatest laid out demo

I gotta say while i did like the demo there was really nothing for you to do except explore a small portion of the world and experience the combat system im hoping the final product isn’t like that if it is it’s gonna be boring

a review is good but bashing it with just a demo is bad. You are just being given the experience of what it would be. It's not like you purchase it and it turns out to be a disappointment. Hey, it's cool. You tried a game. Coming out of your comfort zone. But what i saw from the visuals are stunning! It's just not for you.. Please, stop trashing the game. From what i saw, it is a masterpiece!👌

I was super excited about this game too. Then I have seen a few previews, and I doubt it would be something I would like. I look a Gundam shooting game.

not sure haven’t play demo yet will now thiugh

Wait, some of my favorite vids are of you playing SMB3 or Mario 64. Technically you can say those are older games, just you playing them in more recent times 😂

I appreciate your thoughts on games. I would be so like you here.

I felt the same way!!! Super excited (especially b/c it was a Toriyama work & universe I was completely unfamiliar with) but as soon as I started reading stuff about it being mostly vehicle based, I got turned off. (But still considered purchasing it anyway cause Toriyama just passed!). But then, after watching your footage from the demo, I might give it a try! The vehicle combat isn’t as bad as I thought either. Either way, great review! This is why we ❤ you, your reviews & opinions are honest!