Van Helsing (video game)

Van Helsing is a third-person shooter for the PlayStation 2, Xbox, Game Boy Advance and mobile phone, which is based on the 2004 action horror film of the same name by Stephen Sommers.

Van Helsing
Developer(s)Saffire
Publisher(s)Vivendi Universal Games[lower-alpha 1]
Composer(s)Cris Velasco
Platform(s)PlayStation 2
Xbox
Game Boy Advance
Mobile phone
Release
  • NA: May 6, 2004
  • EU: May 7, 2004 (Xbox)
  • EU: May 14, 2004 (GBA, PS2)
  • NA: May 20, 2004 (Mobile)
  • AU: 2004 (Xbox)
  • JP: September 9, 2004 (PS2)
Genre(s)Third-person shooter
Mode(s)Single player

Gameplay

Van Helsing's gameplay bears similarity to the Devil May Cry series by Capcom. Van Helsing begins the game wielding two handguns and his Tojo blades. He later acquires various other weapons, some of which are seen in the movie, such as the shotgun and the bow gun. Van Helsing can make use of both his firearms and his blades to dispatch enemies. The player also has the ability to use enhanced ammunition with Helsing's weapons once the ammo is found. Hitting the L1/LT trigger gives Van Helsing a blue-ish glow as he unloads his enhanced ammo. Van Helsing also can perform evasive rolls in four directions to avoid incoming attacks. Van Helsing also has a grappling hook that allows him to latch onto high ledges that are otherwise inaccessible. Van Helsing can make use of this grappling hook to start combos or to perform grappling jumps.

The game also features a shop mechanic where players can purchase additional combat techniques and power-ups to increase health and other characteristics. Items in the shop can be purchased by using “orbs” that are collected from fallen enemies.

Plot

After a battle which results in the death of Mr. Hyde in Paris, Van Helsing is sent by the Vatican to hunt down Dracula in Transylvania.

Reception
Reception
Review scores
PublicationScore
GBAmobilePS2Xbox
EdgeN/AN/AN/A5/10[1]
EGMN/AN/A6.5/10[2]6.5/10[2]
EurogamerN/AN/A6/10[3]N/A
FamitsuN/AN/A29/40[4]N/A
Game InformerN/AN/A7/10[5]7/10[5]
GameRevolutionN/AN/AD+[6]D+[6]
GameSpot2.2/10[7]N/A6.9/10[8]6.9/10[8]
GameSpy[9][10][11][12]
GameZone3.2/10[13]N/A7.7/10[14]7.9/10[15]
IGN2.5/10[16]6/10[17]6.5/10[18]6.5/10[18]
Nintendo Power2.4/5[19]N/AN/AN/A
OPM (US)N/AN/A[20]N/A
OXM (US)N/AN/AN/A6.3/10[21]
MaximN/AN/A6/10[22]6/10[22]
Aggregate scores
GameRankings37%[23]40%[24]69%[25]69%[26]
Metacritic33/100[27]N/A64/100[28]63/100[29]

The PlayStation 2 and Xbox versions received "mixed" reviews, while the Game Boy Advance version received "unfavorable" reviews, according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[27][28][29] In Japan, Famitsu gave the PS2 version a score of three sevens and one eight for a total of 29 out of 40.[4]

References
  1. Edge staff (July 2004). "Van Helsing (Xbox)". Edge. No. 138. p. 108.
  2. EGM staff (July 2004). "Van Helsing (PS2, Xbox)". Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 180. p. 92.
  3. Fahey, Rob (May 28, 2004). "Van Helsing (PS2)". Eurogamer. Retrieved February 23, 2016.
  4. "Van Helsing (PS2)". Famitsu. Vol. 822. September 17, 2004.
  5. Mason, Lisa (July 2004). "Van Helsing (PS2, Xbox)". Game Informer. No. 135. p. 114. Archived from the original on March 23, 2009. Retrieved February 23, 2016.
  6. Dodson, Joe (June 2, 2004). "Van Helsing Review (PS2, Xbox)". Game Revolution. Retrieved February 23, 2016.
  7. Provo, Frank (May 20, 2004). "Van Helsing Review (GBA)". GameSpot. Retrieved February 23, 2016.
  8. Kasavin, Greg (May 18, 2004). "Van Helsing Review (PS2, Xbox)". GameSpot. Retrieved February 23, 2016.
  9. Klepek, Patrick (May 30, 2004). "GameSpy: Van Helsing (GBA)". GameSpy. Archived from the original on January 8, 2006. Retrieved February 23, 2016.
  10. Buchanan, Levi (June 28, 2004). "GameSpy: Van Helsing (Cell)". GameSpy. Archived from the original on November 9, 2005. Retrieved February 23, 2016.
  11. Steinberg, Steve (May 26, 2004). "GameSpy: Van Helsing (PS2)". GameSpy. Archived from the original on October 30, 2005. Retrieved February 23, 2016.
  12. Steinberg, Steve (May 26, 2004). "GameSpy: Van Helsing (Xbox)". GameSpy. Archived from the original on December 23, 2005. Retrieved February 23, 2016.
  13. Tha Wiz (June 8, 2004). "Van Helsing - GBA - Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on October 23, 2008. Retrieved February 23, 2016.
  14. Bedigian, Louis (May 19, 2004). "Van Helsing - PS2 - Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on October 7, 2008. Retrieved February 23, 2016.
  15. The Bearer (May 25, 2004). "Van Helsing - XB - Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on September 18, 2008. Retrieved February 23, 2016.
  16. IGN staff (May 26, 2004). "Van Helsing (GBA)". IGN. Retrieved February 23, 2016.
  17. Buchanan, Levi (May 20, 2004). "Van Helsing (Cell)". IGN. Retrieved February 23, 2016.
  18. Lewis, Ed (May 7, 2004). "Van Helsing (Xbox, PS2)". IGN. Retrieved February 23, 2016.
  19. "Van Helsing". Nintendo Power. Vol. 182. August 2004. p. 123.
  20. Nguyen, Thierry (July 2004). "Van Helsing". Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine. Archived from the original on June 21, 2004. Retrieved February 23, 2016.
  21. "Van Helsing". Official Xbox Magazine. August 2004. p. 78.
  22. Porter, Alex (May 6, 2004). "Van Helsing (PS2, Xbox)". Maxim. Archived from the original on May 28, 2004. Retrieved February 23, 2016.
  23. "Van Helsing for Game Boy Advance". GameRankings. Retrieved February 22, 2016.
  24. "Van Helsing for Mobile". GameRankings. Retrieved February 22, 2016.
  25. "Van Helsing for PlayStation 2". GameRankings. Retrieved February 22, 2016.
  26. "Van Helsing for Xbox". GameRankings. Retrieved February 22, 2016.
  27. "Van Helsing for Game Boy Advance Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved February 22, 2016.
  28. "Van Helsing for PlayStation 2 Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved February 22, 2016.
  29. "Van Helsing for Xbox Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved February 22, 2016.
  1. Released in PAL regions under the Sierra Entertainment brand name


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