Sands of Destruction DS
  • Publisher: Sega
  • Release Date: Jan 12, 2010
Sands of Destruction Image
Metascore
63 out of 100

Mixed or average reviews - based on 20 Critics What's this?

User Score
7.7 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 15 Ratings

Your Score
0 out of 10
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  • Summary: Sands 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 Annihilation Front, believe their only option for ending the corruption of the Ferals is to end the world as they know it. This intense game puts gamers in control of an intriguing cast of characters including the crusading Morte Ashera as well as Kyrie Illunis, who unknowingly holds the key to global destruction. Gamers will explore a fantastic world, traveling across oceans of sand, battling colossal enemy monsters and unraveling the mystery of the creation of the world. Immerse yourself in dynamic battles taking up both the top and lower screens of the DS and an epic storyline with a twist, in this action-packed fantasy RPG exclusively on the DS. [Sega]… Expand

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 20
  2. Mixed: 12 out of 20
  3. Negative: 3 out of 20
  1. Nintendo Life
    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.
  2. IGN
    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.
  3. Nintendo Power
    70
    It's a colorful, splashy fantasy role-playing game--no less, but also no more. [Jan 2010, p.89]
    All this publication's reviews
  4. Game Revolution
    42
    At best, I would say this is a game that you can thoroughly ... tolerate.

See all 20 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 6
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 6
  3. Negative: 1 out of 6
  1. raffy2110
    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 trigger.how 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    … Expand
  2. K_49
    8
    Battle system has familiarities to xenogears, with new twists. The storyline is interesting, but its weird how the main character feels no remorse for blowing up his village ._.' Anyways, this is a pretty innovative JRPG because of its battle system. Above average game overall… Expand
  3. SalarymanDaishi
    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.… Expand
  4. Magnvs
    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.… Expand

See all 6 User Reviews