Sand: Raiders of Sophie has officially entered early access today, following a series of last-minute delays that kept eager players on the edge of their seats. This first-person base-building extraction shooter offers a unique twist on the genre, reminiscent of Sea of Thieves, but firmly grounded on land. The game introduces an intriguing mechanic: if your vehicle is destroyed, you must construct a new one rather than simply respawning with a fresh ride.
The Tramplers Take Center Stage
At the heart of Sand are the customizable walking bases known as tramplers. Before embarking on your mission—set in outer space, orbiting a desert planet from a Victorian-era gaslamp space station—you must prepare both yourself and your trampler. Players can either construct their own trampler by assembling various modules or opt for a pre-existing model.
Equipped with handheld weapons such as pistols, shotguns, or rifles, players also need to stock up on ammunition and load heavy artillery into their tramplers, including formidable 40mm and 80mm cannons. Once deployed to the planet, the real action begins. Players must scurry around their walking base, mounting guns, loading ammunition, and firing up the engine. The experience is akin to operating a massive, noisy machine, reminiscent of Kenneth Branagh’s spider-mech in Wild Wild West, as you navigate the sandy terrain.
Even the smallest tramplers require time to maneuver, necessitating players to climb ladders and dash through compartments to reach critical areas such as the guns, engine, and storage. Playing solo, the game evokes a similar frenetic energy to Sea of Thieves, as players juggle piloting their mech, monitoring speed, and scanning the horizon for lootable locations and enemy tramplers, all while navigating the treacherous sands on foot.
Sound Design and Combat Dynamics
The sound design in Sand is particularly noteworthy, with tramplers emitting satisfying mechanical noises as they traverse the landscape. The mounted guns produce thunderous sounds, enhancing the immersive experience of wielding powerful weaponry. Players can even hear distant battles, signaling the presence of other players nearby.
In addition to player-versus-player combat, the game features PvE elements with ghoul-like NPCs guarding lootable locations. While these enemies may not exhibit dynamic behavior, they pose a threat, especially when paired with the more formidable automatons that descend from orbit and wreak havoc on the battlefield.
For those venturing into Sand solo, the game offers a thoughtful feature: the option to join a solos-only server, preventing larger crews from overwhelming individual players. This aspect adds a layer of strategy for those who prefer to navigate the chaos alone.
Extraction and Gameplay Experience
After gathering loot, players must transport their trampler to an extraction point, where the majority of combat unfolds. The extraction process requires disembarking and climbing a tall tower to initiate the sequence, drawing attention from nearby players eager to thwart your escape.
My initial experiences have been a mix of excitement and challenges, with two of my three voyages cut short due to server issues on launch day. One memorable mission saw my trampler obliterated by NPC walkers, forcing me to sprint to an extraction point where I attempted to board another player’s trampler, only to meet an untimely demise. In another instance, I successfully looted abandoned ships, engaged in combat with ghouls, and attempted to thwart another player’s extraction, all while narrowly escaping with my own loot.
As I look forward to resolving the server issues and teaming up with friends, it’s clear that Sand: Raiders of Sophie offers a captivating blend of strategy, chaos, and camaraderie, promising an engaging experience for players willing to brave its challenges.
