As I first booted up the Treasure Cruise Adventure game adaptation of Sand Land, I'll admit I approached it with measured expectations. Having spent over 200 hours across various open-world games this year alone, I've developed a healthy skepticism toward manga adaptations. But what unfolded surprised me - this game manages to capture something truly special, though it's not without its frustrating quirks that nearly had me reaching for the mute button during my 40-hour playthrough.
The world-building in Sand Land stands as its crowning achievement, something that becomes immediately apparent within the first few hours of gameplay. While Dragon Ball might have global recognition and Dr. Slump its nostalgic charm, Sand Land's desert landscape creates a unique atmosphere that the game developers have translated with remarkable fidelity. The relationship dynamics between Beelzebub, Rao, and Thief form the emotional core of the experience, and the game's open-world structure gives these characters room to breathe and interact in ways that feel genuinely organic. I found myself deliberately taking longer routes between missions just to listen to their banter, which often had me genuinely laughing aloud during the first 15 hours or so.
What struck me most was how the game preserves the original manga's charm while expanding upon it through interactive elements. The developers clearly understood what made the source material special, and they've implemented systems that enhance rather than detract from the core experience. The vehicle customization alone kept me engaged for what felt like an entire weekend - I probably spent a good 8 hours just tweaking and testing different configurations. There's a tangible sense of progression that makes you feel like you're truly part of this world rather than just observing it from a distance.
However, the game stumbles significantly in its dialogue implementation. While the main story conversations are brilliantly executed, often pulling lines straight from the manga with perfect delivery, the incidental dialogue suffers from severe repetition issues. I started counting after the twentieth hour, and I'm fairly certain I heard the same three lines about desert survival repeated at least 150 times. This wouldn't be so problematic if the delivery was less frequent, but the triggers seem to activate with nearly every minor interaction. There were moments when I found myself actively avoiding certain actions just to prevent triggering another round of repetitive banter.
The environmental design deserves special mention though. The way the desert landscape evolves throughout your journey creates a sense of scale that few games achieve. I remember one particular evening session where I spent nearly three hours just exploring canyon systems I hadn't noticed before, and the dynamic weather system created moments of genuine beauty that made me stop and just appreciate the view. The attention to detail in the environmental storytelling adds layers to the world that even the original manga couldn't convey through static panels.
Where the game truly shines is in how it handles character development through gameplay mechanics. The trust system between the three main characters evolves not just through cutscenes but through your actions during exploration and combat. I noticed that after particularly difficult missions, the dialogue would reflect the shared experience in ways that felt earned rather than scripted. This subtle touch demonstrates an understanding of interactive storytelling that many larger franchises could learn from.
That said, the technical execution sometimes undermines these strengths. Beyond the repetitive dialogue, I encountered at least a dozen instances where texture pop-in was noticeable enough to break immersion, and frame rate drops during intense vehicle combat sequences made certain encounters more frustrating than they needed to be. These issues weren't game-breaking by any means, but they were frequent enough that I found myself making mental notes about which areas to approach cautiously.
The economic systems within the game show both brilliance and imbalance. Resource gathering feels rewarding initially, but around the 30-hour mark, I found myself with an abundance of certain materials (I had collected over 500 units of scrap metal) while desperately searching for others. This created pacing issues during the latter third of my playthrough where I'd spend hours grinding for specific components just to progress the main story. Still, the satisfaction of finally assembling that perfect vehicle configuration after hours of work created moments of genuine triumph that few games deliver.
What ultimately makes Treasure Cruise Adventure worth experiencing is how it captures the spirit of exploration and camaraderie that defined the original work. Despite its flaws, there's heart here that's increasingly rare in today's gaming landscape. The developers took creative risks that mostly pay off, even if some elements feel undercooked. I finished the game with mixed feelings but ultimately positive memories - a testament to its strengths outweighing its weaknesses. For fans of the manga or those seeking a unique open-world experience, there are hidden treasures here worth discovering, even if you have to dig through some sand to find them.