publisher: vivendi universal
ps2 xbox
action adventure game
out now

With the big budget film of the same name just released, Van Helsing, the video game, has come to the PS2 and Xbox. Van Helsing was very much an unsung hero of the horror world before Hugh Jackman’s portrayal of him on the big screen. Now he should become a video gaming hero. Probably not on the same iconic level as, say, Lara Croft but still this is not a bad first outing.
Gabriel Van Helsing is a late nineteenth century famed monster hunter who works for a secret Catholic organisation operating from the Vatican. The organisation’s mission is to stop Satan’s evil deeds upon the world.
The game begins (as does the film), in Notre Dame Cathedral, Paris, where you come up against Mr. Hyde in Hunchback mode. Being somewhat of a pre-challenge , prior to the game’s first mission proper, using the pistol with the circle button from a distance should have you killing the beast pretty quickly.
There are a total of 13 missions in Van Helsing. The first semblance of any difficulty in the game comes at the end of mission two. Here, three lady vampires are holding the beautiful Anna Valerious hostage. Anna’s family has been trying to eliminate Count Dracula for over four centuries. Once you have fended off this formidable challenge, Anna will be a sidekick of sorts for the rest of the game.
With the likes of the Wolfman, Frankenstein and finally Dracula among the bosses your long black coat wearin’ hero will have to send to hell, the game feels like it has an A-list line-up of the horror/fantasy genre.
There is a strong list of weapons to help you in these crusades. Shotguns, dual pistols, tojo blades and scimitars are all provided. The green power glyphs should always be collected, as they will help you purchase items. If you are taking on a swarm of skeletons than the blades will make very quick work of them but steer clear of using them against the powerful bosses as the long- range weaponry, like the dual pistols, is the more cerebral choice.
Van Helsing is not a breakthrough game in its genre, nor is it anything remotely different from previous releases. Still, this is a solid and enjoyable action adventure experience and, with its fixed camera and gothic setting, it is reminiscent of the Devil May Cry series of games. Fans of it should get into this game in no time. The pace of the game is fast but not so fast that it prevents you knowing who you are shooting at most of the time. Also, the narrative between each of the missions is not long and does not leave the gamer dumbfounded as to what to do next. It is time for Van Helsing to kick some medieval ass!!

Colin McStay