Sands of Destruction

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Sands of Destruction
Developer(s)Imageepoch
Publisher(s)Sega
Director(s)Ryoei Mikage
Producer(s)Yoichi Shimosato
Artist(s)Kunihiko Tanaka
Kimihiko Fujisaka
Writer(s)Masato Kato
Composer(s)Yasunori Mitsuda
Shunsuke Tsuchiya
Kazumi Mitome
Platform(s)Nintendo DS
Release
  • JP: September 25, 2008
  • NA: January 12, 2010
Genre(s)Role-playing
Mode(s)Single-player

Sands of Destruction[a] is a role-playing video game developed by Imageepoch and published by Sega for the Nintendo DS. It was released in Japan in 2008, and in North America in 2010. The story revolves around a young man, Kyrie, who possesses the power to destroy the world, though he does not know why. The female lead is Morte, a member of a group that is trying to destroy the world.

Gameplay[edit]

A combat sequence in Sands of Destruction

Sands of Destruction plays as a traditional Japanese role-playing video game.[1] The game is made with 2D sprite characters in a 3D environment with a rotatable camera.[2] The battle system is turn based, but has timing and fighting game influences, and utilizes both of the DS's screens.[3][4]

Plot[edit]

Setting[edit]

The game takes place in a fictional world ruled by anthropomorphic beings known as Ferals. Humans live as slaves, and a group dubbed the "World Annihilation Front" intends to destroy the world in rebellion. They are opposed by the Feral's "World Salvation Committee".

Development[edit]

Sands of Destruction was developed by Imageepoch, a Japanese developer then known for their work on the Luminous Arc series.[5] The staff included Imageepoch founder Ryoei Mikage as director, Sega's Yoichi Shimosato as producer, scenario writer Masato Kato, composer Yasunori Mitsuda, and character artists Kunihiko Tanaka and Kimihiko Fujisaka.[6][7] The concept originated when Mikage, Shimosato, Mitsuda and Kato−who all knew each other to varying degrees−got together for a lunch and Migake pitched the idea of working together on a new non-traditional RPG.[8][6] As Sega was not known for RPGs, Imageepoch had greater creative freedom when designing the game.[8] At the time the game was pitched, Mikage stated there were no RPGs for the DS outside established series, with their choice of platform arising from wanting to create a genre-defying RPG title.[6]

Kato agreed to create the scenario as there was space in his schedule. His concept, with a group of young people wanting to destroy the world rather than save it, was meant as an inversion of the typical Japanese RPG storyline.[9] Kato's original draft was much darker, with the Ferals using humans as food and several graphic scenes being featured. Due to concerns surrounding the DS's younger audience and fearing a harsh rating from Japan's CERO board, the story was toned down for broader appeal. Shimosato felt that while he felt the developers had made the right decision in regards to marketing the game in Japan, the original concept would have been "more fun and compelling".[8] When creating the final scenario, Kato could not portray the darker elements explicitly, incorporating humor to obfuscate the premise while believing people would be more accepting of a dark storyline in the modern "chaotic" world.[9] Kato described Morte as his favorite character, though most of the staff liked Taupy for his unconventional attitude and appearance.[6][9] Scenario company Gekko helped with the script writing.[10]

While the DS was typically not known for large environments and 3D graphics, Mikage wanted impressive graphics and persuaded Sega to have the game use a two-gigabit cartridge. The increased storage allowed 3D environments with a rotating camera, detailed sprites, three hundred cutscenes, and extensive voice acting.[5][11] 2D graphics were retained to create a "nostalgic" feel for players.[6] The two-screen combat system which could display large boss creatures caused trouble for the programming team, with there being a "difficult few months" before they were able to get it working correctly.[12] The sound programming was handled by Procyon Studio's Hidenori Suzuki.[13] The cast featured prominent voice actors including Mamoru Miyano (Kyrie), Maaya Sakamoto (Morte), Tōru Furuya (Taupy), Yui Ichikawa (Rhi'a), Hiro Mizushima (Naja), and Hiroyuki Yoshino (Agan).[5][11]

Release[edit]

Sands of Destruction, known as World Destruction in Japan, was announced in April 2008.[14] As part of its promotion, an eighteen-episode radio program was broadcast between July and October 2008, featuring guests from the game's production team and cast.[15] The game's full Japanese title translates to World Destruction: Guided Wills.[16] Mikage described the team's focus as releasing the game in Japan on time.[17] The game was released in Japan by Sega on September 25, 2008.[18] It was later supplemented with a guidebook published by Enterbrain on October 2008,[19] and an artbook published by Kotobukiya in March 2009.[20]

A North American version was confirmed by Mikage in October 2008,[21] and officially confirmed by Sega's North American branch in December.[22] For the Western version, the team focused on improving the game.[17] Based on feedback from the Japanese player base, the random encounter rate was adjusted to be lower and bugs were addressed. The game's title was also changed to Sands of Destruction as Sega felt World Destruction was too blunt and generic, taking inspiration from the in-game sand sea for the localized title.[6] Originally planned for release first in 2008 and then in 2009,[23] it eventually released in North America on January 12, 2010.[24]

Music[edit]

The music for Sands of Destruction was co-composed and co-arranged by Mitsuda, Shunsuke Tsuchiya and Kazumi Mitome.[25] As they were old friends, Mitsuda's work on the score would influence some of Kato's work on the scenario.[8] The main theme, composed by Mitsuda with lyrics by Kato, was performed by the Czech Philharmonic Collegium conducted by Mario Klemens, with vocals by the Czech Philharmonic Children's Choir conducted by Jiri Chvala.[25] Mistuda chose the Czech Philharmonic due to the positive reputation of European orchestral string performances. While he had wanted an all-boys choir for the vocals, girls were included to add a "transparent" sound to the piece.[11]

The original opening theme, "Crash", was performed by Japanese pop group AAA.[26] The song's theme was described as seeing the many sides of one's self, whether that was facing an unseen enemy or destroying an ugly other side.[5] For the Western release, a new opening theme was composed by Tsuchiya.[27] Shimosato said the reason was that the original song would lack appeal to a Western audience.[28] Tsuchiya felt the new opening theme gave the game a "complete" musical worldview.[27]

"Crash" was released on June 18, 2008 as part of the group's mini-album Choice is Yours.[11] Five tracks from the game were included on a promotional album, World Destruction Premium Soundtrack, which came with pre-orders in Japan.[29] When asked in an interview, Mitsuda stated there were no plans for a full soundtrack album release.[30]

Reception[edit]

In Japan, the game sold 56,000 copies in Japan in its debut week.[39]

The game received "mixed" reviews according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[31] Nintendo Power praised the game's battle system and dungeon design but criticized the story and characters as being generic.[38] RPGLand praised the character development while being critical of town exploration and low replay value, ultimately concluding, "Sands of Destruction ends up being good, but not great."[40] RPGamer said that its quality story and presentation were held back by enemies "abusing" the battle system. The review concludes, "Unfortunately, its many irritations in combat cause the game to fall short of the lofty status it wanted to achieve."[41]

Related media[edit]

World Destruction
ワールド・デストラクション
(Wārudo Desutorakushon)
GenreFantasy
Anime television series
World Destruction: Sekai Bokumetsu no Rokunin
Directed byShunsuke Tada
Produced byAkira Uchida
Toyokazu Hattori
Written byMasahiro Yokotani
Music byYoshihiro Ike
StudioProduction I.G
Licensed by
Original networkTV Tokyo
Original run July 7, 2008 – September 30, 2008
Episodes13
Manga
World Destruction: Futari no Tenshi
Written byMurao Minoru
Published byASCII Media Works
MagazineDengeki Maoh
DemographicSeinen
Original runJune 27, 2008 – July 27, 2009
Volumes2

Sands of Destruction was announced as part of a three-part multimedia project covering the game, an anime adaptation, and a manga adaptation.[26] This was dubbed the "World Destruction Project".[5] Discussions of media expansions emerged when the game was 50% completed and the scenario had been finalised, with the team wanting to expand the story beyond the technical limitations of the DS.[6] While each part used the same premise and characters, the stories were allowed to go in different directions. The anime and manga both began release prior to the game.[11]

The anime, World Destruction: Sekai Bokumetsu no Rokunin,[b] was animated by Production I.G's "Section 10" studio.[5][26] The staff included director Shunsuke Tada, co-producers Akira Uchida and Toyokazu Hattori, writer Masahiro Yokotani, and composer Yoshihiro Ike.[43] The anime was worked on by younger members of Production I.G's staff, with Tada saying they wanted to focus on smaller character moments left untold within the game.[5] Kato and Yokotani met early on to discuss the overall scenario, but otherwise the two teams had no direct contact.[28] AAA wrote the opening theme "Zero", while the ending theme "Kaze no Kioku" was written by Matsukuma Kenta and sung by Aimmy.[43]

The thirteen episodes were broadcast between July 7 and September 30, 2008;[44] it was broadcast first on Tokyo TV, and later through TV Osaka, TV Aichi, TV Setouchi, TV Hokkaido, and TVQ Kyushu Broadcasting.[45] The series was released on DVD in Japan in six volumes between September 26, 2008 and February 25, 2009.[46] Funimation released a complete collection for DVD in North America on December 14, 2010,[47] and Crunchyroll added the series to its streaming service in 2017.[48] Both used the localized title Sands of Destruction.[47][48] Reviews of the anime were generally mixed from Western journalists.[49][50][51]

The manga, World Destruction: Futari no Tenshi,[c] was created by Murao Minoru.[26] Futari no Tenshi emerged after Dengeki Maoh editor-in-chief Shusuke Toyoshima heard about Sands of Destruction and proposed the manga to Sega after seeing the world design. Minoru, known for his work on the manga Knights, was recommended by Toyoshima based on his ability to create "strong" action sequences and characters. Minoru's goal was to develop his own take on the premise over a longer period of time.[5] The manga began serialization in Dengeki Maoh first with a prologue chapter on June 27, 2010, then with its first full chapter in July 26.[26] The serial ran until July 2009.[52][53] The manga was published in two volumns on January 27, and September 26, 2009.[54][55]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ Known in Japan as World Destruction: Guided Wills (ワールド・デストラクション～導かれし意思～, Wārudo Desutorakushon ~Michibikareshi Ishi~)
  2. ^ ワールド・デストラクション ～世界撲滅の六人～, World Destruction ~The Six Who Destroy the World~[42]
  3. ^ ワールド・デストラクション ～ふたりの天使～, World Destruction ~Two Angels~[42]

References[edit]

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External links[edit]

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