The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing III Review (PC)

very good
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  • Game: The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing III
  • Platform: PC
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The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing III review on PC

The dungeon crawling role-playing game genre has always been dominated by Blizzard's Diablo series but this doesn't mean that other, smaller studios have given up on the market. Quite the opposite, as there's been stiff competition from the likes of Torchlight and an even smaller experience, in the form of The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing, coming from Hungarian studio Neocore.

After delighting plenty of fans with the first two installments in the series, the developer's back with The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing III, which continues the story, adds quite six all-new classes, and continues to refine the gameplay mechanics from its predecessors.

At the same time, however, it does make a few sacrifices, as veterans can't import their old characters and the level cap has been lowered to 30.

With all these pleasant and less pleasant changes, does The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing III manage to impress or should the monsters keep it from release? Let's find out.

Story

The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing III picks up from where its predecessor left off, continuing the story by focusing on what Prisoner Seven plans for the world of Borgovia, as well as on the origins of Katarina, Van Helsing's ghostly companion.

The plot is pretty interesting but what really elevates it is the fun dialog that retains the wit and sarcasm from past entries and doesn't even require knowledge of previous games to enjoy. There are also plenty of hilarious sequences involving monsters and other such things, offering a change of pace from the somber things you'll see throughout the rest of the plot.

There are a few interesting twists and turns but some you can smell from a mile away. Even so, especially for veterans, the plot is pretty enjoyable. In case this is your first Van Helsing experience, while you certainly take greater pleasure if you've gone through past titles, you'll still be brought up to speed through cinematic sequences and diary entries.

Beat enemies in The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing III
Beat enemies in The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing III

Gameplay

In terms of gameplay The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing III brings a few controversial changes over its predecessors. While it's still a pretty good dungeon crawling RPG experience, Neocore has made some sweeping modifications to a few mechanics, not to mention its classes and skill trees.

Gone are the three main classes from past games and in are six all-new ones that offer some pretty varied experiences. For melee enthusiasts, there are two wildly different classes. The hulking Protector wields a giant flail and a shield, similar to Diablo 3's Crusader, but can actually use the shield in combat to block damage, instead of it acting as a passive damage reduction. The Umbralist is a swift dual-wielding rogue that uses twin blades to inflict plenty of damage.

Those who prefer shooting from afar can pick from the other four classes. The Elementalist feels like the traditional Wizard from Diablo 3, for example, but his flashy abilities bring plenty of style. The Phlogistoneer is certainly the most intriguing in terms of visual style, unleashing fire, rockets, and other projects at foes, while relying on a shield to protect himself in close quarters.

The Bounty Hunter relies on guns to do the damage, so don't expect him to act like the Hunter class from past games. Last but not least, there's the Constructor, who relies on building gadgets and machines to do the dirty work for him. In combination with Katarina, who can engage enemies in melee or ranged forms, you can take a hands-off approach to combat.

All the classes are pretty varied but the fact that they can only be leveled up to a cap of 30, after Van Helsing II's 60 limit, does put a hamper on your fun. The skill trees are pretty varied but they require quite a lot of study and experimentation before you can really master them. Throw in the same rather complex interface that hides things away with buttons, tabs, and panels, and you'll need to invest a bit of time before you can really figure things out.

The other dungeon crawling mechanics, such as the inventory or the loot systems are still quite good, offering plenty of different gear and options for your different classes.

Besides the regular dungeon crawling mechanics, you can still engage in Tower Defense missions, which offer some pretty interesting challenges, but also in mini-games that task you with managing your forces and your Chimera by sending them on missions in exchange for loot and other rewards.

Unfortunately, you can no longer go through the game via its Endless Story mode, which acted as a sort of New Game +, so there aren't a lot of reasons to replay it. There is a Scenario mode that allows you to try and complete certain situations in the fastest time possible, so players are encouraged to keep coming back to the RPG.

The level design is very good, managing to offer plenty of different environments to explore, including hidden nook, crannies, and Easter Eggs that reward thorough players.

Bear in mind that the current version of the RPG has a few glitches and problems that appear when exploring or when trying to exit the title, so expect to see some more updates in the near future.

Battle big bosses in The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing III
Battle big bosses in The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing III

Multiplayer

Like previous titles, Van Helsing III offers an online cooperative and a competitive mode. Up to four players can go through the story together while up to eight can go up against one another in a test of skill and gear.

The multiplayer mode handles relatively well but matchmaking is a bit lengthy, especially during certain time intervals. Even so, it's pretty fun and a nice diversion over the regular campaign.

Visuals and Sound

In terms of graphics, Van Helsing III retains the style employed by its predecessors and, while it's not that detailed or pretty to the eye, it's still fairly good and manages to keep things fresh for an isometric dungeon crawler. Enemies in particular are varied and well-designed.

The soundtrack is also pretty good but some of the audio taunts and effects used by certain enemies can wear on your nerves. The voice acting is great, particularly when it comes to Katarina, which manages to deliver her witty remarks very well.


The Good

  • Lots of new and interesting classes
  • Plenty of diversions like tower defense
  • Solid mechanics
  • Fun dialog

The Bad

  • Interface and menus still confusing
  • Level 30 cap doesn't allow new classes to shine
  • No Endless Story mode

Conclusion

The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing III is a good game but it might not exactly delight all of its players. Yes, it's a pity that players can't import their characters and classes but the new ones are quite varied, even if they can only reach level 30. For such a low price, Neocore's RPG is a great investment.
story 8
gameplay 8
concept 7
graphics 7
audio 8
multiplayer 8
final rating 8
Editor's review
very good
 

The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing III (20 Images)

The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing III review on PCNew classes in The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing IIIBack story in The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing IIIFun quests in The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing IIIFun dialog in The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing III
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