70
It's a colorful, splashy fantasy role-playing game--no less, but also no more. [Jan 2010, p.89]
80
Sure the game is a bit on the linear side and the toned down difficulty might prove a tad easy for seasoned RPG fans, but if you can appreciate a well designed RPG experience that doesn't try to do more than it's capable of, you'll likely find Sands of Destruction right up your alley. What it lacks in originality, it more than makes up for with its unique charm and engaging storyline.
74
While not the strongest JRPG on the DS, Sands of Destruction is still a decent play and I hope that some of its ideas turn up in other adventures.
10
this is an awesome game i keep on wondering why its rated so low.i've never played chrono trigger before but i've seen a trailer of it,i can tell that this game is a lot better than chrono **** you fight in this game is easy,but what made me play the game was my curiosity that the main character can destroy the world,when i finished the game it totally satisfied me.i tell you,this game is worth your time and money.
:D
7
A traditional fantasy JRPG that starts off a bit confusing, looks rather blocky, and has an unbalanced battle system. Yet, the story, characters, and humor are there so it ends up being a proper, delightful, old school adventure that lasts a respectable 20 hours or so.
4
Giving a game a low score is always sad, especially when it's a game with a lot of potential. Sands of Destruction, unfortunately, is a sad excuse of the great JRPG it could have been. The plot's premises (a group of heroes out to destroy the world) could have been interesting in better hands, but sadly the characters' horrid dialogues and lack of characterization (mixed with a lack of concrete reasons to do what they are doing for 90% of the game, especially the main character) totally ruined any pathos the plot could have had (quite surprisingly, since the writer is Masato Kato). The shallow attempts at humour are not only unsuccessful, but also manage to further compromise the game's atmosphere. The setting is also quite unpolished: aside from the initial premises there is no effort to give it any life or credibility, making for a world not worthy the time to be saved or destroyed. And those aren't even the main issues: the battle system, sadly, is completely broken, with bugged turn order (the turn indicator is practically useless, since any monster will act multiple times in a row even when he wasn't supposed to have a turn, totally ruining any strategy), senseless damage fluctuations from turn to turn (an attack that does 1 damage could very well be a one-shot killer the next turn) and unbalanced attacks (the flurry combos, being ridiculously powerful, are the way to go, nor is there any practical reason to develop the characters in any other way). Sure, the graphics are nice and Mitsuda's OST while not a masterpiece is enjoyable, but Sands of Destruction is nonetheless a big disappointment.
Sands of Destruction
DS
Released On:
Jan 12, 2010
Metascore
Mixed or Average
63
User score
Generally Favorable
7.8
My Score
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All Platforms
Metascore
Mixed or Average
63
25% Positive
5 Reviews
5 Reviews
60% Mixed
12 Reviews
12 Reviews
15% Negative
3 Reviews
3 Reviews
80
Sands Of Destruction is a series of great ideas that make for a very good, if not great, JRPG. Fans of the genre may find it a bit of a cake walk, but for novices, this could be a good point to hop on the JRPG train and enjoy the lengthy and entertaining ride.
75
For undying JRPG fans, SoD might be another great experience, but overall, it is another meal for Mediocrity.
User score
Generally Favorable
7.8
67% Positive
6 Ratings
6 Ratings
22% Mixed
2 Ratings
2 Ratings
11% Negative
1 Rating
1 Rating
Jun 7, 2011
10
this is an awesome game i keep on wondering why its rated so low.i've never played chrono trigger before but i've seen a trailer of it,i can tell that this game is a lot better than chrono **** you fight in this game is easy,but what made me play the game was my curiosity that the main character can destroy the world,when i finished the game it totally satisfied me.i tell you,this game is worth your time and money.
:D
Dec 21, 2010
7
A traditional fantasy JRPG that starts off a bit confusing, looks rather blocky, and has an unbalanced battle system. Yet, the story, characters, and humor are there so it ends up being a proper, delightful, old school adventure that lasts a respectable 20 hours or so.
70
If you can put up with the flaws, this will be a fun and exciting RPG, but it’s indeed hard to ignore some of them.
67
A perfectly acceptable yet unremarkable RPG. [Mar 2010, p.61]
64
It's hard to play Sands of Destruction where it could have been enjoyable and easy: hard for the tremendous amount of random encounters and, most of all, for the insanely unbalanced battle system, base on luck more than ability.
50
It's got an engagingly original story, but this throwback to bygone console role-playing games botches the gameplay fundamentals.
33
Unsalvageable, it is what I hope was originally an honest attempt at a fresh breath of air in the handheld world of RPG's. Unfortunately something went wrong, as the developers really seem interested in their presentation and story, of which the latter could have really been more ignored for some refinement in the gameplay.
Nov 4, 2010
4
Giving a game a low score is always sad, especially when it's a game with a lot of potential. Sands of Destruction, unfortunately, is a sad excuse of the great JRPG it could have been. The plot's premises (a group of heroes out to destroy the world) could have been interesting in better hands, but sadly the characters' horrid dialogues and lack of characterization (mixed with a lack of concrete reasons to do what they are doing for 90% of the game, especially the main character) totally ruined any pathos the plot could have had (quite surprisingly, since the writer is Masato Kato). The shallow attempts at humour are not only unsuccessful, but also manage to further compromise the game's atmosphere. The setting is also quite unpolished: aside from the initial premises there is no effort to give it any life or credibility, making for a world not worthy the time to be saved or destroyed. And those aren't even the main issues: the battle system, sadly, is completely broken, with bugged turn order (the turn indicator is practically useless, since any monster will act multiple times in a row even when he wasn't supposed to have a turn, totally ruining any strategy), senseless damage fluctuations from turn to turn (an attack that does 1 damage could very well be a one-shot killer the next turn) and unbalanced attacks (the flurry combos, being ridiculously powerful, are the way to go, nor is there any practical reason to develop the characters in any other way). Sure, the graphics are nice and Mitsuda's OST while not a masterpiece is enjoyable, but Sands of Destruction is nonetheless a big disappointment.
SummarySands of Destruction, an epic RPG created by the all-star Japanese developers at ImageEpoc, takes you through an epic adventure in a world surrounded by a sea of sand. In Sands of Destruction, a race of powerful beastmen known as the Ferals rule over the human population with tyranny and prejudice. A group of warriors, the World Annihila... Read More
Rated Tfor Teen
