The Case

Action RPGs are not hard to come by, especially if you have been gaming for a long time. To name but a few recent examples: Diablo 3, Torchlight 2, and Path of the Exile. While most games in the genre stick to a familiar formula with some variations they boil down to the same satisfying mechanics. In all of these games, including Van Helsing, you click on bad guys and they explode in a shower of loot - rinse and repeat. This mechanic is still around for only one reason; it is extremely addictive and has therefore stood the test of time. There is no shortage of Action RPGs out there for you to choose from, so why should Van Helsing earn you hard earned money?

The Trial

Why do gamers love something that sounds like it would not be that fun? In most action RPGs all the player essentially does is fight monsters, complete quests, and collect loot. Van Helsing is a strange game in regards to this; not only was it somewhat strange to get used to but the expectations of what should be in an action RPG are literally thrown out of the window. In Diablo 3 or Torchlight 2 there are a bunch of skills on the number keys, many different classes and a certain play style for each one. So the first thing that is different should be painfully obvious, just look at the title. There is only one character you can play as - Van Helsing. The story is forgettable but the dialogue is worth listening to because it is genuinely funny, yet the rest of the actual narrative is unremarkable. As with most action RPGs, Van Helsing suffers in the story department, so if you are looking for an engaging story, this game will disappoint. Who cares though, we just want to see monsters explode !

The most important part of these games is how they play. For example, is it satisfying to fight your enemies and does victory feel impressive? Van Helsing gets a lot right in the gameplay department but some of it still feels like it needs the kinks ironed out. Using your skills is fun and different compared to how you use them in other action RPGs. Instead of hitting number keys to use your skills, there is a combo system and this works well. It may not be better than the traditional way these games are set up but it is a refreshing take on combat mechanics.

Remember how there is only one character? There may only be Van Helsing to play as but he is highly customizable just like we are used to in games like this. There are a variety of skill trees to go down and you can create many different playstyles. You focus on ranged or melee and then throw in some magical abilities for good measure. However, it’s somewhat disappointing that you have to use both ranged and melee and that there is no way to change it because it is built into the game. As well as that, it is frustrating that you can only use one skill at a time because once you have a large number of them unlocked, you feel limited and constrained. The clumsy combat mechanics don't improve the situation but at least they do not excessively hinder the player. The combat lacks impact and melee feels like Van Helsing is swinging at thin air instead of hordes of bad guys. You also have a ghost companion that follows you around (a pet) named Katarina. She serves a similar purpose to pets found in Torchlight 2, she can fight with you, go to town and sell things, and she offers some witty dialog. Overall, it is a fresh take on familiar combat mechanics that sadly fail to feel quite as satisfying as the status quo.

Graphically the game looks great and it was fun to see a new take on familiar settings. There are not many settings that gamers will not recognize from playing any other games of the genre but they are unique enough in Van Helsing to not feel just like a boring re-tread. Enemies are varied even though you will murder the same hordes dozens and dozens of times. It is satisfying to slay hordes of enemies while they explode into giblets, flip around in the air, or melt from electricity. Some of the skills lack flair though and actually look like nothing is even happening but others look appropriately awesome. The sound design is also a bit hit and miss; at times listening to one’s own music was preferable over the music in the game. It is a shame that the developers used the same exact sound for exploding enemies over and over and over again. It was painful after a while and really out of place. Literally every type of enemy (even mechanical ones) made, upon their demise or destruction, a fleshy exploding sound. The developers could have at least used two or three different sounds to change things up a bit.

The Verdict

There is coop in the game but it has had issues so far with a promise from developers to fix it. Though some fixes were implemented some issues still remain to be resolved. Like any other game in the genre, Van Helsing is more fun with a friend...even though you will both be playing as Van Helsing. At the end of the day, The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing is an interesting take on the action RPG genre but it does not feel as polished as many other games out there. It is from a small studio so what they did accomplish is really impressive and if you like these types of games you should try it despite its issues. It is well worth the $15 if you are looking for a new game to quench your thirst for loot.

Case Review