History YMMV / SandsOfDestruction

* WhatMeasureIsANonBadass: Kyrie gets a lot of flack for being an ActionSurvivor and DistressedDude who tries to calm everyone down and talk his way out of fights instead of jumping in blade first. It doesn't help that his companions are both extremely skilled in combat while his skills lie in the culinary arts (and, unlike the game, he never weaponizes poisonous food). That time he defended a fellow human prisoner from an abusive feral prison guard? [[SarcasmMode Totally didn't happen]]. He's even derided for wearing a suit of armor (you know, ''being sensible'') when forced in a colosseum. He finally takes a level in the finale, which lead to quite a few fans wondering why he couldn't be like that for the whole series.

* ItsEasySoItSucks: This game is actually EASIER than Final Fantasy Mystic Quest, and in fact, most rpgs targeted towards young children
* {{Moe}}: Kyrie is a rare male example.

* WhatMeasureIsANonBadass: Kyrie isn't the most manly of men: he ApologizesALot, he's a ReluctantWarrior, he follows the whims of a very destructive girl because he fell in LoveAtFirstSight but never tries to get in her panties, favoring verbal confessions of love to anything physical. If you flipped the genders of the leads, you'd have a very typical story about a gentle soul whose LoveRedeems, but with the male as the patient LoveMartyr, fans get annoyed. At least one reviewer blamed Kyrie's demeanor for the entire reason he didn't enjoy the game. This is despite the fact that, unlike the anime, Kyrie ''is'' a legitimate fighter here and is capable with his knives; he would just really rather not use them.
* TheWoobie: Kyrie.

* {{Moe}}: Kyrie, even more so than the video game.

* EnjoyTheStorySkipTheGame: Most of the reviews complained about the flaws in the battle system, such as overpowered flurry attacks, a randomized action queue, and the number of RandomEncounters. After that, they split into two camps: those who found the game irredeemably dislikeable, and these who felt that the story was fun despite the flawed gameplay.[[note]]It often came down to whether or not they found the protagonists enjoyable: is Kyrie whiny and obnoxious or understandably overwhelmed? Is Morte CrazyAwesome or just plain crazy?[[/note]]

!! The Game

!! The Anime

!! The Manga

* TheyChangedItNowItSucks: The [[Manga/SandsOfDestruction manga]] gets less flak, perhaps simply for being less well-known and never receiving any official release. Morte's insanity is dialed up a few notches from the game, but Rhi'a is the one who really changes, becoming a complete CloudcuckooLander whose only real purpose is to be the PluckyComicRelief; her fans were less than amused. Morte being subject to extreme {{Chickification}} at the end probably didn't help with readers who liked having a strong female lead, either.

* ProlongedPrologue: It takes quite a bit of time before you even get control of your protagonist. After that, it takes quite a bit of time before the world opens up for free exploration.

* UselessUsefulSpell: Kyrie's ''Porta Clausa''. It negates all damage for three turns! Sounds like an awesome way to turn your party into an invincible killing machine, yeah? Well, no, it also negates damage done to your enemies, so in practice it just makes the battle three turns longer. The only way it would be useful is if you needed to heal the entire party and needed a few turns to do that, but Kyrie has ''another'' Life Skill that heals everyone, dispels all status effects, ''and'' revives all fallen members in one go.

* WhatCouldHaveBeen: As mentioned above, the original draft was much darker, with possible depictions of ferals eating humans. Alas, ExecutiveMeddling made the game's finalised story as it is. Well, there's hints like the time where Porco Rex threatens to eat that human child, but it's not quite the same. [[spoiler: There is also Lacertus Rex's plan to use humans as base material for his ascension to godhood.]]

* {{Chickification}}: Morte falls prey to it in the final chapters. At the outset of the story, she's extremely competent and more than capable of taking care of herself in a fight. However, after she remembers [[spoiler:that she's the Princess of Guiadance]], she suddenly seems to ''forget'' all her fighting skills - including basic things like ''how to jump'', as she was capable of making a tremendous leap while saving Kyrie from Rajif, but is unable to jump from the top deck of a ship to a nearby walkway to save herself. This seems to serve no purpose other than to give CanonImmigrant Kou a single chance to be heroic and save her for Kyrie. She ''attempts'' to rejoin the fight after this, but [[spoiler:is quickly killed, triggering Kyrie to turn Vreveil into Swiss cheese.]] Compared to the game, which allowed Kyrie to grow a spine so they could become an equal BattleCouple, and even to the anime, which at least had both Taupy and Morte playing the part of BadassInDistress for Kyrie to save, the manga seems to be writing solely towards a certain male demographic who believes firmly that MenActWomenAre - particularly since, compared to the other adaptations, Rhi'a also loses her fighting spirit, but at least she's internally consistent and doesn't come off as a FauxActionGirl.

* GuideDangIt: The Temple of Light is initially locked. To get inside, you must first trigger a conversation with your companions by [[spoiler:using the teleport pads a couple times]] - which you'll likely ''eventually'' do just out of frustration, but there's no indication that's required. During the conversation, Taupy says you should return to the beginning and start over. Does that mean returning to the entrance of the temple grounds and running along the path again? [[spoiler:Nope! You're supposed to go back to ''the town outside the temple'' and speak to one random lady who's just standing around looking like any other filler NPC and get her to give you a book. Even if you TalkToEveryone the first time you enter town, nothing in her initial conversation will tip you off that you'll need to speak to her ''again'' later.]] Yeah, good luck figuring ''that'' out on your own. Once you have the book you need, the actual path you need to follow is as much an exercise in TrialAndErrorGameplay as it is memory and planning. Morte becomes increasingly frustrated with each new twist, and by the end of that quest, you're likely to feel for her.

* ObviousBeta: While the game is very playable, it's still got a few issues. Most of them are purely graphical and result in characters who [[OffModel are not quite the color they should be]] - note, for example, that [[http://dsmedia.ign.com/ds/image/article/106/1062013/sands-of-destruction-20100119054610026.jpg Morte's hair isn't the same color between her sprite and portrait]] (is it ''that'' difficult to use the eyedropper in Photoshop and make sure your palettes are consistent?). The game also has a ridiculous number of RandomEncounters; the rate was supposedly adjusted for the American release, but it's still pretty high. And while the story is perfectly serviceable, it lacks a certain amount of polish, particularly when compared to the staff's previous ''VideoGame/{{Xenogears}}''.

* TheyChangedItNowItSucks: Don't ask fans if they like the [[VideoGame/SandsOfDestruction game]] or [[Anime/SandsOfDestruction anime]] better. '''''[[InternetBackdraft Don't.]]''''' The two are basically BroadStrokes adaptations to the point that they're AlternateContinuity; it helps nothing that production of the game began first, but the anime was released first, giving each a legitimate claim to being the "original" that the other changed.[[note]]It also helps nothing that there's a few hints in the game that characterizations may have originally been closer to the anime but were later changed: notice, for example, that Morte is extremely quiet and serious in the opening movie, whereas in the game proper she's a GenkiGirl, and Rhi'a is seen walking around with Naja but is never alone with him in the game's plot; the opening 3D movie would have likely been rendered early in production, and while changing a few sprites around is easy (the animations on the sprite sheet all exist no matter when or where you want to use them), it would be more trouble to reanimate a 3D scene, leaving the opening movie a relic of the game's "original" state that the anime was based on.[[/note]] The girls, in particular, have a problem with their personalities changing: in the anime, Morte is serious and driven and Rhi'a is TriggerHappy, whereas in the game, Morte is a [[PsychopathicWomanChild gleeful]] MadBomber [[spoiler:(even after she changes her mind about ending the world, she's still really upbeat)]] and Rhi'a is calm and mysterious. There's also the issue of voices; many fans of the game play it on a ROM simply because it offers the option to patch the voices back to the original Japanese.

* TheyChangedItNowItSucks: Don't ask fans if they like the [[VideoGame/SandsOfDestruction game]] or [[Anime/SandsOfDestruction anime]] better. '''''[[InternetBackdraft Don't.]]''''' The game and anime are basically BroadStrokes adaptations to the point that they're AlternateContinuity; it helps nothing that production of the game began first, but the anime was released first, giving each a legitimate claim to being the "original" that the other changed. The girls, in particular, have a problem with their personalities changing: in the anime, Morte is serious and driven and Rhi'a is TriggerHappy, whereas in the game, Morte is a [[PsychopathicWomanChild gleeful]] MadBomber [[spoiler:(even after she changes her mind about ending the world, she's still really upbeat)]] and Rhi'a is calm and mysterious. Fans are divided on which personality set is "better" or truer to characterization (though, internally, they're pretty consistent; it's just comparing the game VS the anime). There's also the issue of voices and the great SubbingVSDubbing debate.

* CrowningMusicOfAwesome: The gorgeous main theme, played over the static title theme, stands out as yet another feather in the cap of Creator/YasunoriMitsuda. One could very easily argue that the soundtrack is far superior to the game.

* HypeBacklash: Most reviewers have come to the agreement that, taken on its own merits as a stand-alone game, ''Sands of Destruction'' is pretty good, or at least SoOKItsAverage. Unfortunately, having well-known names behind fan favorites like ''VideoGame/ChronoTrigger'' and ''VideoGame/{{Xenogears}}'' had fans chomping at the bit in anticipation and feeling more than a bit let down when the game didn't live up to their expectations. This, coupled with the fact that most previews played up the "gonna end the world" angle that Kyrie never really gets behind, really took the wind out of its sails.

* {{Narm}}: The English voice acting leaves much to be desired.

* ExecutiveMeddling: The original story draft by writer MasatoKato (also responsible for [[VideoGame/ChronoTrigger the]] [[VisualNovel/RadicalDreamers Chrono]] [[VideoGame/ChronoCross series]], VideoGame/{{Xenogears}} and VideoGame/BatenKaitos) was allegedly much darker in tone, but the higher-ups insisted that the game be marketed to a younger audience, resulting in the game's bizarre case of MoodWhiplash.
** To paraphrase a forum poster from Website/GameFAQs, if it weren't for the meddling, "The developers could have made ''Xenogears'' but instead gave us ''WildArms''."

** To paraphrase a forum poster from GameFAQs, if it weren't for the meddling, "The developers could have made ''Xenogears'' but instead gave us ''WildArms''."
* GameBreaker: Flurry attacks, once chained, will OHKO most normal enemies and easily hit for around 1/4 to 1/3 to even 1/2 of most bosses HP in a turn, thus taking any challenge from the rest of the game. They are, however, a form of MagikarpPower.
** It's also worth mentioning that these aren't ''always'' a GameBreaker...for Kyrie, Agan, and Rhi'a? Most definitely. For Morte and Naja? Well for them, it's the ''only'' way you'll ever get to see their special attack since a base flurry with Morte and Naja only do 7 and 9 hits respectively. (Whereas Rhi'a goes for almost 20 hits, Agan goes 12, and Kyrie goes well over 10) Taupy, too, though he's just a bruiser in of himself.
*** And if you want Naja to break the game? Have him use War Cry.

* ThatOneSidequest: Agan's Rite of Ascension to become chief. The sand whale you need to defeat, Dark Crown, is an easy AnticlimaxBoss, but the sand is also full of [[BossInMookClothing Desert Kings]] who are ''ridiculously'' overpowered. You'll likely have to face multiple Desert Kings before the Dark Crown will make his appearance, given the RandomEncounters.

* HypeBacklash: Most reviewers have come to the agreement that, taken on its own merits as a stand-alone game, ''Sands of Destruction'' is pretty good, or at least SoOKItsAverage. Unfortunately, having well-known names behind fan favorites like ''VideoGame/ChronoTrigger'' and ''VideoGame/{{Xenogears}}'' had fans chomping at the bit in anticipation and feeling more than a bit let down when the game didn't live up to their expectations. This, coupled with the fact that most previews [[SupposedlyRebelliousSeries played up the "gonna end the world" angle]] that Kyrie never really gets behind, really took the wind out of its sails.

* SupposedlyRebelliousSeries: A common complaint against the game is that it was hyped that ''you're out to destroy the world''. Well, scratch that: your LoveInterest may want to destroy the world [[spoiler:up until the point she doesn't]], but ''you'' are not so interested. As it turns out, [[spoiler:no, you ''don't'' destroy the world - you ''fix'' it, magically turning sand to water and eliminating racism in one go]]. Of course, there's another part of the BrokenBase who decided that if the world is so awful it needs destroyed, then [[EightDeadlyWords they don't care what happens]].

* ItGetsBetter: It takes quite a bit of time before you even get control of your protagonist. After that, it takes quite a bit of time before the world opens up for free exploration.

* ThatOneBoss: Any boss that flies, namely Jade Zephyr, Aquila Rex, and Noctua Rex. Noctua Rex is the worst, because he starts on the ground and if you air-toss him, normally a good thing, HE DOESN'T COME BACK DOWN. Also Serpens Rex, who prevents you from using your [[strike: LimitBreak]] Special Attack because [[spoiler: you're also fighting Morte, who results in a NonStandardGameOver if killed]]
* ThatOneSidequest: Agan's Rite of Ascension to become chief. The sand whale you need to defeat, Dark Crown, is an easy AnticlimaxBoss, but the sand is also full of [[BossInMookClothing Desert Kings]] who are ''ridiculously'' overpowered. You'll likely have to face multiple Desert Kings before the Dark Crown will make his appearance, given the RandomEncounters.

* {{Moe}}: Kyrie, again.

* {{Moe}}: Kyle more so in the anime and manga than the video game.
* WhatMeasureIsANonBadass: Kyrie gets a lot of flack for being an ActionSurvivor and DistressedDude who tries to calm everyone down and talk his way out of fights instead of jumping in blade first. It doesn't help that his companions are both extremely skilled in combat while his skills lie in the culinary arts (and, unlike the game, he never weaponizes poisonous food). That time he defended a fellow human prisoner from an abusive feral prison guard? [[SarcasmMode Totally didn't happen]]. He's even derided for wearing a suit of armor (you know, ''being sensible'') when forced in a colosseum. He finally takes a level in the finale, which lead to quite a few fans wondering why he couldn't be like that for the whole series.

* WhatMeasureIsANonBadass: Kyrie isn't the most manly of men: he ApologizesALot, he's a ReluctantWarrior, he follows the whims of a very destructive girl because he fell in LoveatFirstSight but never tries to get in her panties, favoring verbal confessions of love to anything physical. If you flipped the genders of the leads, you'd have a very typical story about a gentle soul whose LoveRedeems, but with the male as the patient LoveMartyr, fans get annoyed. At least one reviewer blamed Kyrie's demeanor for the entire reason he didn't enjoy the game. This is despite the fact that, unlike the anime, Kyrie ''is'' a legitimate fighter here and is capable with his knives; he would just really rather not use them.