Van Helsing (video game)

Infobox VG
title = Van Helsing


caption =
developer = Saffire
publisher = VU Games
designer =
engine =
released = collapsible list|title=May 6 2004|Xbox
vgrelease|NA=May 6, 2004|PAL=May 7, 2004

Game Boy Advance
vgrelease|NA=May 6, 2004|PAL=May 14, 2004

PlayStation 2
vgrelease|NA=May 6, 2004|PAL=May 14, 2004vgrelease|JP=September 9, 2004

Mobile
vgrelease|NA=May 20, 2004
genre = Third-person shooter
modes = Single player
ratings = vgratings|ESRB=Teen|PEGI=16+
platforms = PS2, Xbox, Game Boy Advance
media =
requirements =
input =

"Van Helsing" is a third-person shooter for the Play Station 2 and Xbox which resembles the events of the 2004 action/horror film of the same name by Stephen Sommers. Starting off with the killing of Mr Hyde in Paris in a similar way as to that of the movie, one must use the character of Van Helsing to hunt down Dracula in Transylvania. The character of Carl is completely missing from the video game but to reasonable accuracy, the characters of Anna Valerious, Velkan Valerious, Igor, Dracula and his three brides are portrayed as in the movie.

Van Helsing is able to pick up various weapons, some similar to the ones in the movie to complete the quest. Each weapon, except the elephant gun, has its own ammunition upgrades. An ammo bar indicates how much of the upgraded ammo can be used. Regular ammo is unlimited and use of regular ammo increases the amount of upgraded ammo length. Van Helsing can collect up to three life replenishers, three ammo replenishers and three speed boosts. After every five kills, Van Helsing is able to perform a "finishing move" which will kill the sixth enemy with one hit. Special enemies such as any of the brides, Velkan the werewolf, Dracula or Igor have no response to a finishing move. The list of enemies that Van Helsing encounters during the length of the game include skeletons, flying skulls, small werewolves, skeletons armed with swords, bats, Dracula's children, stone statues, etc. along with the main enemies.

This game is very similar to the "Devil May Cry" games. Also, one of the books in a library mentions "the Belmont Family", referencing to the "Castlevania" game series.

External links

* [http://www.gamespot.com/xbox/action/vanhelsing/review.html GameSpot Review (XBox version): 6.9/10]
* [http://www.gamespot.com/gba/action/vanhelsing/review.html GameSpot Review (GBA version): 2.2/10]
* [http://xbox.ign.com/articles/512/512477p1.html IGN Review (XBox version): 6.5/10]
* [http://gameboy.ign.com/articles/519/519159p1.html IGN Review (GBA version): 2.5/10]