Sand Land - Review After 100%

Talking about my experiences with open world action adventure, Sand Land, after doing all of the things!
Timestamps
00:00 Intro
00:40 Overview
01:22 Technical State
02:10 Difficulty
02:53 Story Set Up & Thoughts
06:51 Progression Systems
11:58 Gameplay & World
18:36 Combat
21:30 Steam Deck
22:00 Positives/Negatives
24:05 Conclusion
25:52 Wrap Up
Intro Music By Juan Andrés Matos, www.juanmatosmusic.com/
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#gaming #gamereviews #sandland

[@Evanz111]

So glad to see you getting namedropped by so many other content creators these days, you’ve really had an impact on gaming coverage. Really proud of you for working so hard on all these!

[@MaitreMechant]

who namedropped him ?

[@ttdthreadtheneedlesports9454]

​@@MaitreMechantGameRanx did Mention this channel once

[@jakecool9342]

​@@MaitreMechantTim Cain the creator of fallout also mentioned him in one his youtube vids as well

[@xPhenom41x]

I believe Asmongold mentioned his channel as well.

[@CatroiOz]

Asmongold always references him these days if the discussion centers around cRPGs

[@gamerboy6787]

To hear that your son helped you play, and that he had an absolute blast with this game, is some GRADE A WHOLESOMENESS. That is a precious moment that nothing can ever replace.

[@Sylentmana]

Been having fun with it. Feels like playing an episode of OG Dragonball with more emphasis on capsule vehicles rather than martial arts.

[@danilonascimento9866]

This looks like the kind of game my 10 year old self would play ad nauseam. People forget that not every game has to be an existential experience, with cryptic stories, complex progression systems, gray morals, full of cynicism and a bleak worldview. Outside of Nintendo, few games seem to be just simple and fun without looking down on the audience so that even children are enchanted by them. It's this type of game that makes young people fall in love with the medium and creates gamers.

[@Tiavals]

Lots of indie games are like that. It's true that AA and above games aren't really, though. Not sure if I'd call this an A game or a AA one.

[@mr-iz8cx]

My preference is moving towards simpler systems. I'm tired of complex controls, which I need to spend time memorising and besting. Also the gritty modern "emotional" stories. Looking forwards to giving this game a shot.

[@bored312]

There is a lot of space between what you describe and something that is just boring.

[@oldsaddad7274]

Hi fi rush came out, like, this year. Helldivers 2 came out, like, this year. Fall guys exists

[@Detective_Bonghits]

Look you got games like wonderful 101 tho with sick action gameplay and depth and somewhat intricate controls but also has a baby mode for people who don't like having too much control and find it daunting, but isn't dark or brooding or edgy. It's colorful and fun. If I play a game I wish I had more control of I'm almost always done but that isn't a problem and it's super uplifting in tone

[@WZRD_179]

RIP AKIRA TORIYAMA. Even though dragon ball Z was my introduction to anime/manga, sandland was the first Manga i ever read from begining to end. I'm glad there's an anime adaptation and a video game adaptation.

[@pigeon3492]

Hearing your perspective of playing the game with your son, makes me look forward 5-7 years from now when I get to play video games with my kids and enjoy it with them.

[@altairkennedy9627]

I was literally thinking this the whole time and then you mentioned it. A great game to play with your kids.

[@chrisbyers9108]

I loved your conclusion for this review. Games you can play that are enjoyable for younger family to watch can really bring you together and be a great bonding experience. And when you do find a game like that, it easily becomes worth the price point.

[@EhrenLoudermilk]

Just started playing this game last night. Played a couple hours. Its fun. Im having a blast. Runs great on deck

[@matthuck378]

A pet peeve of mine in game design is giving you all the cool stuff at the end. This goes back to D&D in the 80's, too. I get not giving out the most powerful, but the most interesting/customizable/upgradeable shouldn't be held back.

[@MortismalGaming]

Yeah my first thought is that it would have been a cool mechanic like 15 hours prior lol

[@TEP90]

Is there no replay value? Like new game plus or something along them lines.

[@marcosdheleno]

i said this before, but this game feel like a good 1st game, since pretty much every single flaw could easily be fixed in a sequel.

[@doctorlolchicken7478]

About 2/3 through is a good sweet spot for maxing things out in a game. Then you go into the final third - the end game - at full power.

[@clifcorcoran9917]

Glad to hear you got the quality time with your son. That's what I stuck around to the end to hear!

[@911Gargoyle]

It's amazing how much content you make in such a short time.

[@legolaswong]

I know right. And he's 100 percent - ing EVERYTHING!

[@sliipknoot]

It's a good review format. Doesn't require a lot of editing.

[@jmmywyf4lyf]

When gaming is your job you can invest 60+ hours a week into it

[@izaan88]

Yeah. The fact that he's playing for 100% content, then take the time to write a script with analysis and evaluation for a game within a few weeks is amazing. Not to mention that he's doing this for multiple games at the same time.

[@TechnoLawyer]

@@izaan88He did a recent vid addressing this and his schedule actually. Basically, he works all day every day on days where he doesn’t have his kid. Sounds like it’s 14-16 hours on those days working. He doesn’t write scripts, he just writes bullet points and happens to be good at expanding and explaining those points on the fly while not having verbal tics like “um” or pauses (itself an impressive skill). He has nobody else working for him, like say doing video editing, everything is 100% him. Impressive AF work ethic. And gaming stamina, I must say 😆 honestly, I can’t go for more than a few hours gaming before I’m done with it for the day.

[@nbdante]

Glad to know that your kid liked it since planning to buy it to play with my nephew and niece! The nephew will probably have a blast since he loves action, DBZ art style and vehicle customization, my niece probably not so much the vehicle but the story and adventure aspect!

[@Kroeghe]

> the demons are very misunderstood, often seen by humans as exactly what demons are in real life

[@fantazjo]

had the same thought

[@ilikecatsandstuff1]

What's odd about this statement?

[@wyglif]

He is referring to the perception of demons by people in our own history. He isn't saying 'real-life demons'.

[@Blasted2Oblivion]

​@@wyglif it was worded a little weirdly but that is the idea that I got from it.

[@noukan42]

He clearly came from the Frieren universe.

[@tylertheshark2494]

Hey I was just looking last night to see if you got this one out yet. Perfect vid before work

[@serioserkanalname499]

Happy you always include a steamdeck portion, love playing on that thing whenever a game lets me.

[@jacobtaylor7506]

Pretty spot on with the child like feel. It reminded me of Megaman Legends and Tail concerto.

[@fantasythinkerfan]

Nice to hear you got to enjoy this with your son. It does seem like a good family game

[@Bullman422]

Appreciate your dedication to 100%ing a game as it is always helpful in deciding if I will get it or not. FYI I got it can't wait to play it. lol. Thank You!!!

[@ricardosyozi]

You totally made me want to try this game out. Gonna go for it. Cheers from Brazil!

[@Toridaima]

Watch the anime as well, it's pretty good!

[@ash-xb8yq]

Hey mortismal , amazing review as always ,I really had been looking forward to this review and as expected you delivered!! You're one of the only reviewers who covers jrpgs as extensively as the other genres and doesn't have a bias against them and you rate them fairly, which is truly very rare of popular youtubers Since you made a video about first impressions of Granblue fantasy relink, any chances you could do a 100% review of that, the game is in a great state now ,that a second free content update for the game dropped a few days ago and I think you'll really like it... Hopefully we see a review from you soon!! (P.S. its a long one to 100% XD)

[@ThisOffendsMeTV]

Dragon Quest Monster series was my favorite early teens, Pokemon and other RPGs as a little wee lad and honestly it carried over into adulthood. My son is 2, but I can’t wait for him to play these sometime soon🤝🏻 glad you had fun, enjoy life brother.

[@flaviomonteiro1414]

Wow, I knew about the Anime/Manga but never knew about this game. Thanks for another amazing review, sir!

[@asolanara]

I've come to really respect your reviews over the years. I hope you never lose your touch for being honest and bring us wholesome content

[@Van-qp7eh]

I've seen this game before, and I loved loved loved the art style. It's so classic anime, but I wasn't sure if the gameplay would hold up. Thanks for the review!

[@stingyringpiece]

Great vid Thanks for making Although I knew of this game after watching and enjoying your in-depth review I now own it :) Kudos brother

[@StuckInBliss]

Keep them coming!

[@SonnenkindSA]

I can pretty much agree with everything you've said. Before buying it, I did expect to see different types of dungeons, and while the dungeons were pretty similar, I still thought they were fun to go through. I still wished there would've been more like that dungeon you go through while travelling to Forest Land (without spoiling too much). The game is simple and fun, and sometimes that's all you need. Especially since the game I've played previous to this one was Icewind Dale, it was a nice change of pace. Also while the price for the game definitely is kinda steep, it unfortunately isn't surprising for a Bandai Namco game. I didn't feel robbed after finishing the game because I had a great time with it. But just like Mortismal, if you are kinda short on money, wait for a sale.

[@giampaolomannucci8281]

23:15 You really need to play Mad Max then, a desert can be done in very interesting ways, each region in there has its desert made in a unique way

[@pomps8085]

It has one to the best sky boxes in gaming. Fantastic game even though it does get a bit repetitive towards the end

[@ZuhriaAlfitra]

This game almost has everything in mad max. Base building, vehicle building/upgrading, etc. Even the repetitiveness. It just lacking the 'oomph factor'. In mad max, just taking down the tower can be so satisfying. Also the hand on hand fighting & vehicular combat were simply on another level.

[@JohnClarkW]

I really need to play Mad Max. I keep meaning to get around to it.

[@giampaolomannucci8281]

@@JohnClarkW just watch a couple reviews and go with it

[@Hell_O7]

Neat stuffs, I hope your son manage to find more of Akira Toriyama's machine-y arts in the future because that's an experience I hold quite dearly in my memory.

[@transitioningdrunk3po942]

I just started it yesterday. I'm loving it so far can't wait to finish it.

[@spaceghostohio7989]

Good to hear you got some playing time in with your son !!

[@NachozMan]

Gorgeous artwork the team pulled off

[@emeraldo]

Holy shit dude you're a machine! Thanks for the review

[@AthosJosue]

Great review as always.

[@Blasted2Oblivion]

If there is one thing that I have learned about your reviews, its that your statements are pretty dependable to line up with my own thoughts. Except with how long it takes to play games. Your timescales are significantly faster than mine could ever be.

[@MortismalGaming]

Yeah idk, even games where I'm like right at the average time people always seem blown away.

[@paendamonium]

Thanks for the review! As someone with a 6 year old, always glad to hear what makes an enjoyable experience between an adult and a kid.

[@obiewankenobie3]

Im happy to hear you had a good time with your son man, very wholesome 😊

[@Orinmaxden]

Thank you for your review sir.

[@LycaniteTV]

Great video! I was a bit on the fence about the game but I think I'll have to pick it up, relax and just have a good time. I read the Manga and enjoyed that so I think I'll enjoy this!

[@Toridaima]

Watch the SAND LAND anime as well if you haven't yet

[@LycaniteTV]

@@Toridaima You got it! I'll start later in the week, thanks.

[@1ProAssassin]

The easiest explanation for the demons in this game is just think of them as KZbin pranksters. Sure they'll destroy your vehicle, rob you of all supplies, knock you out and leave you stranded in a dangerous apocalyptic desert but they don't kill you. They just do a little trolling.

[@Etheral101]

Leaving you knocked out in a desert with no vehicle sound deadly lol

[@kaidorade1317]

They are actually very generous! It’s how camp green lake gets new recruits!

[@ThisisCitrus]

So scum but not murderers, its a fine line.

[@brandonsclips7741]

You say that like I wouldn't blow someone like that clean off the map lmao.

[@Palindrome3945]

A little social experiment

[@darkdealproductions]

I’m really glad I found you around all the completionist drama happening, very easy drag and drop replacement and less grandstanding 😂

[@BradleyAidanJohnson]

Thank you Mortismal. Thank you Toriyama

[@ThePMMpc]

i like the gameplay that i am seeing. i will definitely check it out, but in the future. like in 5 years

[@TheCreapler]

Also Sand Land is a 13 ep Anime that's been fully dubbed its pretty decent And I am like 99% sure akira toriyama was the designer of the Vehicles and that there's a Capsule system in it which is also in the Dragon Ball series.

[@Jaceftp]

Dabura from dbz is in it too.

[@rogergabbert7434]

So is this in the same universe then? Is SandLand set far after DBZ and DBS?

[@ancientgambler3561]

​@@Jaceftp he is not, only his design.

[@ancientgambler3561]

​@@rogergabbert7434nope, they're two different universes.

[@Jaceftp]

@@ancientgambler3561 yeah i figured that might be the case. I only watched 10mins of it at a friends place, and seen him pop up.

[@naenre21]

this really really reminds me of Blue Dragon which I love to this day. I'm grabbing it today.

[@AndyKazama2]

This is a game I've been keeping my eye on, and this is a channel I've been binging lately. Co-incidence? Probably.

[@LaughingRam]

Nothing in this world is a coincidence.

[@LuminousSpace]

@@LaughingRam only the inevitable

[@TheJML1975]

@@LaughingRamI met someone the other day, and they said they don’t believe in coincidences.. and I said, that’s funny, I was just thinking the same thing! 😂

[@LaughingRam]

@@TheJML1975 Yep. Assuming 75 is the year you were born, we are the same age. Old enough to realize all the small things that seem like a coincidence somehow lead to life changing events that have a big impact on our lives.

[@Toridaima]

Maybe it's a sign to buy it 🤔

[@bounceycake1]

I think it's wholesome that you have your son with you while you play. Perfect for a light hearted action JRPG, plus I like the art style it's like Dragon Ball/Dragon Quest and Dune mixed together lol

[@mpy123]

Awesome review😁

[@JogBird]

just recently discovered these 100% reviews, and they are so much better than others out there

[@Blasted2Oblivion]

I stumbled across his channel while looking for a guide for something a while back and immediately fell in love with the channel.

[@adpbobcat]

I got this so I can play on my 14 hr plane ride with my kids. I normally don't like to play violent games if they're nearby

[@OldDogLearnNewTricks]

I really like games that take this concept. Games like this are daunting to make, by design. I find games like this take SO much work. Making an empty world without it being empty is really hard to tackle without P-Gen tech, or making the gameplay too redundant. I'm currently trying to tackle this problem. I'm trying to find immersion vast emptiness without it feeling like a walking simulator. Hoping for an ah ha moment soon lol

[@Garlicbruh]

That’s a great gimmick, the 100% thing. Subbed just for that

[@dilsoncamacho4100]

Ah yeah, now it makes sense, it's a show based on Akira Toriyama's manga, that's why it looks like that.

[@RichardmpayiTnway]

The anime of this came out too

[@MidEastBeast99]

You can always count on Morty to come through with a in depth review. Cheers Mort!

[@Raeilgunne]

Just got to Forest Land, and so far I'm loving it. It's simple but fun, a little grindy if you are trying to 100%, but still pretty good.

[@robbieburns3564]

It looks to have a bit of Dark Cloud 2 inspiration here - which was one of my fav games from Level 5 during the PS2 generation.

[@brevinprince9826]

Would love a top 5 steam deck games or top 5 steam deck TRPGs video!

[@johnlewandoski1645]

Happy someone 100% a game before reviewing. Rip toriama.

[@zekken8227]

:) the Spino side quests really plays apart in the heart of the game

[@dezzdinn]

Yeah I saw a few state it but the ending sum of why you recommend the buy is a honesty that is unfortunately lacking in our world. Great review man I will recommend it based off of that.

[@FelisImpurrator]

This is an incredibly cozy game, honestly. Its open world activities may be fairly boilerplate, but the game is gorgeous and filled with charm and personality, and the vehicle feel is fantastic. Really feels like a successor to an obscure old PS2 game I loved, Steambot Chronicles. You could say it's really just a vehicle customization... sandbox.

[@BarelyAverageDude]

It’s 5y/o approved! Toriyama would be proud

[@caseywrable]

Good job. This is a fun game. Never read the manga or watched the show but I might now.

[@SL4PSH0CK]

this game also fits handheld gaming with steamdeck reminds me of Valyria Chronicles vehicle gameplay

[@nightsider01]

Man has this already dropped? Thanks for letting me know.

[@georgepaulusderiii3588]

I just bought the manga and it’s really really good! Makes me even more excited for the game

[@dewaeryadi7776]

Akira toriyama mechanical design is underrated af, unique and eye catching

[@marcosdheleno]

yep, those machines look very early dragon ball/dr slump.

[@MrQwertysystem]

Well I honestly wasn't very interested in this game before, but I do have to say that your review did manage to arouse my interest enough that I'll definitely be looking to consider buying the game on sale.

[@Toridaima]

Check out the anime as well it's great

[@Mchupakabra]

Thanks

[@cabbage_cat]

this is totally my vibe, you mentioned that it's adapted from a manga by akira toriyama, so I immediately checked it out apparently it also has a movie adaptation and an ONA series gonna read it later

[@AyarARJ]

"...often seen for what what demons are in real life" Whoa. Your life is _way_ more exciting, and dangerous, than mine! Low bar, though, to be frank. Great review, I was looking forward to this coverage. Question for anyone: Can the damage number rendering be disabled? Keep the bar, but no number gnats?

[@dankeykang4576]

I've gotta get this game for my little cousins. They'd have a blast with this one I'm sure! Also gives me an excuse to indulge in Akira Toriyama's fun vehicle/robot design.

[@RedGryz]

Damnit, Mortim, you’re giving me feels over here talking about bonding with your kid like that. I’m glad it gave you that opportunity. As for me, thanks for the review. I’ve been low-key eyeballing this one, but this confirms that it’s a lower priority sale buy in my books.

[@IAmMightyMike]

Oh thank god I found a new Completionist

[@marcosdheleno]

lets be honest, the "old" completionist videos felt less like videos about the game, and more self bragging about how he completed the game... which is a lie to many games, since he didnt really complete them either, just finished the games.

[@Ren99510]

I'll say it again. As far as aesthetics go, this is the best looking anime-style game that is 3D. The environment and the characters look like they belong to the same universe, unlike most anime games. Even something universally praised like Persona 5 doesn't nail it quite like this does in terms of aesthetics for characters in my opinion.

[@jesot]

This is one of the few 2024 releases I had any interest in. Will probably wait until sale, though.

[@Toridaima]

Check out the SAND LAND anime while you wait for a sale

[@Sativasoldier666v2]

Would be really cool if the game had a first person cockpit mode for a bit more immersive driving, maybe not something everyone would love, but i'd dig it personally.

[@erikskoog8415]

Good show sir

[@sisyr5615]

Never heard of this one!

[@SpiritStoneWarrior94-yx3gs]

Damn i hope if there is supposed to be a sequel, that now the legend Mr. Akira Toriyama is unfortunately no lomger with us, that they do a good job with it 🙏🏼 the amazing and unique style of his we see in DBZ/DQ have been major parts of my life, and i was quite saddened when hearing about his passing.

[@b.lazing9923]

i really like the same sandland manga, so i really want to play this game... but I'll wait for a sale, maybe I'll get it for Christmas or something

[@montgomeryfortenberry]

Enjoying the game so far. It feels very easy to pick up and make decent progress in 30 minutes or an hour unlike some others games ive played recently. Love the visuals even the hand to hand combat, which is very mediocre, looks great. I was fighting against an enemy that shot missles at me so I equipped something that automatically shot the missles, and it was so much fun driving through all that chaos. I do wish the platforming was a little tighter. I feel like I often miss grabbing ledges or the jump heights are randomly different or it will go straight into the animation for the double jump without the first jump. Also it has some weird stealth and 2.5d areas that dont really add anything to the game.

[@ancientgambler3561]

this game made me obsessed with sand land which is a good and bad thing because i know that it is unlikely that this franchise will get expanded 😢❤

[@Ninjaplease636]

What is your process for 100%? Im starting to get into 100% some games so far ive done some easier ones like the pixel remasters but im wondering how you approach these?

[@Blasted2Oblivion]

He actually has a video specifying it. Boiling it down, 100% is what it says on the tin. Completion of everything in the game (story, side content, exploration, achievements) as well as multiple play throughs to see the variations.

[@terenor8294]

always interesting to see how different countrys/cultures deal with media content and the age of kids. In germany this game is rated for 12 year old and above.

[@MortismalGaming]

Technically it's rated Teen here in the US but that's literally just because they say damn a few times.

[@terenor8294]

@@MortismalGaming cursing is usually not factored in in the german rating. Its usual violence that affects the rating. Thats what i meant different cultures an ratings. Seems in the US violence is ok, but anything sexual is not. In contrast in germany its the opposite

[@MortismalGaming]

@@terenor8294 it's more about the context of the violence here, like this for instance has no blood and is very cartoonish in nature and thus easily identified as unrealistic. Once you start showing blood/gore etc it changes.

[@HadesWTF]

Yeah, it just looks like one of those I'll pick up once it hits it's first sale. Just $10-$15 off would make this a good buy for me personally.

[@mosthated8848]

I have been playing the crab game HOLLY what a gem of a game. Also sand land also pretty decent.

[@Strawberry_ZA]

Mortismal invented a new genre - the 100% crowd is coming in full force!

[@MortismalGaming]

Yeah I see a lot of people trying to use the format these days

[@XoRandomGuyoX]

I'll add this to the 'keep an eye on it and snap up during a sale' list. There just isn't enough free time in the day for me to keep up with all these games. Not the worst problem to have, by any means.

[@saidel9562]

This game looks very familiar to Mad Max with the vehicle upgrade feature

[@adamheeley285]

This game looks pretty cool, it really does some different stuff compared to standard JRPGS

[@CPalanysamy]

nobody draws vehicules like Toriyama. Im liking this game only looking at it

[@plain_simple_garak]

Maybe it's just me, but modern JRPGs, with a few exceptions, all seem very samey to me. They've mostly all become button mashy action games, with lots of similar systems, cooking, similar dialog and sound effects, most of them are very heavy on particle effects that all end up looking and feeling much the same. Tales of, Ys, the SAO games, this game, even FF16 started to feel that way to me. It wasn't always the case, but these days I much prefer western RPGs

[@marcosdheleno]

this game looks like a great first game. since it has the core of an amazing game, and the major issues, can easily be fixed in a sequel.

[@timmyburch6501]

❤

[@BornOfChaosAndOrder]

Yo... This reminds me of a game one the PS2 called Dark Cloud without the town build aspect.

[@jadensanchez3189]

I’ll be back gotta play and then I’ll come back

[@Makoto03]

I'll check the game out but after a sale.

[@Toridaima]

Watch the anime as well while you wait for a sale!

[@Toridaima]

Watch the anime as well while you wait for a sale!

[@greengrinchannel4693]

you are a machine bro!

[@user-sn6iu3pk6l]

Is there a way i can rewatch cutscenes ?