Home Gaming The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing III preview – Still a better love story than Twilight

The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing III preview – Still a better love story than Twilight

6 min read
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When you say the name Van Helsing I automatically conjure up an image of an academic with a mild case of the suspicions. White jacket. Blood samples. The works. And these suspicions ultimately lead to a rather horrible discovery that Vampires exist and OH NO DON’T EAT ME ALIVE. Ding dong, the academic is dead. Let’s face it. Our professors in our universities do not strike me as the monster fighting sort. In the 21st Century if I need a monster killed I’m thinking Sam and Dean. Maybe even Constantine (if he isn’t still cancelled).

Not Abraham Van Helsing and certainly not that weird not-Wolverine film where Van Helsing was also a man and an angel and… what now? But Van Helsing comes from the 1890s when part-time professors have meaningful off-the-book duties. Like killing a particular Dracula and passing along the mantle to an heir (and only son). Monster hunting, it seems, is in the Van Helsing bloodline. And that’s all we really need to give us a hero worth rooting for. Even though in the book Van Helsing Snr. (sorry – it’s getting confusing – why can’t we just give this dude his own name) is convinced his only son is dead.

Header Image

The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing III is the third ARPG in the Van Helsing series by NeocoreGames, where you once again return to Borgovia as Van Helsing (the aforementioned son and heir to Abraham Van Helsing made famous in Bram Stoker’s Dracula) to ride the region of well…pretty much whatever comes out of the cooking pot. The game takes no time in throwing you back into your secret lair (a returning feature) and you quickly begin fighting off the legions of enemies that seem to come straight out of a seven year olds nightmare. You quickly realise that Van Helsing is about the truly mad sciences. Forget everything you think you know about monsters. It is just straight forward and ludicrous mad science monster bashing from here on out.

But what really makes the monster bashing fun is the dialog. Both between Van Helsing and Lady Katarina (returning once more to add her particular flavour of… insight… to your every single move and decision) as well as all the other carefully crafted NPC’s that litter the game. Quests are outlandish and the dialog there will leave you grinning from ear to ear. What makes this game stand out is the story. It might not always make much in the way of sense, but it’s fun – and that is what the Van Helsing games have always been about. You really feel like you’re immersed in an awkward science experiment gone wrong throughout. Returning players will be right at home here and new players will be in for a bit of a treat.

The NPC dialog keeps going amidst your travels

Some notable features returning are the secret lair with all its trimmings. Enchanting items, alchemy, and traders are all here to service you with the arms you’ll need to break the back of evil. You also have a prison (to store at least one bad guy from what I’ve seen so far) with a rather peculiar gaoler who delights in torturing his wards with… unconventional methods. In one instance, he extracted information from an enemy by gently caressing a blackboard with his fingernails! You can also send your upgradeable elite soldier squads on missions out in the world to bring you back items, XP, recipes and anything else you can think of.

Every hero needs a dungeon for… errr… rigorous affirmation of his or her morality

The class roster has been expanded, but the beta only let me play two classes: The Protector (Tank Melee class) and the Elementalist (a Mage of sorts). The other four classes unavailable are the Bounty Hunter (the same class from the original game), the Constructor, the Phlogistoneer (a heavy hunter class armoured in an awesome mechanical exoskeleton), and the Umbralist (this looks similar to a classical rogue-like/stealth class). You can see some videos about these new classes from the developer here. For those of you returning to Van Helsing 3, you can still import your character from the previous games.

I played only a few of the stages that were made available for beta preview and the level design is as quirky as ever. Expect secrets, traps, and all the usual shenanigans you’ve come to expect. Instead of perma-potion buying runs back to your lair, you now have a Diablo-3-esque bottomless potion with what I thought was a fairly long cool down. I often spent time trying to keep my distance until the potion was available to use again. This once again ties in to the balance of the fighting, a problem I’ve had since the first title. At times you feel like you’re able to fight enemies easily, but one or two mobs later you’re suddenly swarmed and feel very underpowered. And dead. Resurrection only costs a bit of gold, but this can be really frustrating if you’re a squishy class that gets nuked down too quickly. It’s also not always easily apparent how stats tie together with item choices and the like. Expect to spend a fair bit of time on figuring this out if you’re new to the series.

The Protector Skill tree is pretty interesting. I can whirlwind with both a sword and shield Yes please.

The Protector plays like your classic Crusader/Barbarian crossover. With a shield and a sword you do very well against single targets but AoE attacks are not your strongest point unless you start putting points into this early. You have an effective dash/charge type skill that combos nicely with a whirlwind skill that can nuke mobs quickly. While taking too much damage, you can go into a block mode that can see you blocking a ton of the incoming damage. The Elementalist is very much your mage, dropping spells to do as much damage as possible. I often felt, however, that I was playing a rogue archer with the amount of running away I was doing. There aren’t many skills that looked like they’d hold enemies in place very well – but I’m sure those will come further down the skill trees.

The Elementalist in action.. It’s pretty much fire, lightning, death with this one.

If you’re returning for the final bite of The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing trilogy, you’re going to feel right at home. Based on the few hours I had with the title, it seems to keep the tone that kept you engaged time and time before. If you’re new, you’re going to love the wit, the banter, and the general pace of the story. I just don’t know if you’re going to have the same replayability that you see in a title like Diablo 3, though, something I felt that they needed to work on from the first title already.

Other than that, my time with it was honestly a barrel of laughs. The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing III clearly doesn’t take itself too seriously. It just wants you to have a rollercoaster of a time and take a few laughs home to the bank. If it is your first time, or you’re a returning fan, this final trip to Borgovia is certainly going to have you cackling in mad glee. Just try not to make another Frankenstein.

Last Updated: May 13, 2015

139 Comments

  1. RinceTriss

    May 13, 2015 at 15:38

    Cool review 🙂

    Reply

    • Hammersteyn

      May 13, 2015 at 15:44

      Much better than those movie articles of yours 😛

      Reply

      • Dutch-Trevor Matrix

        May 13, 2015 at 15:46

        Much better than all the upvoting you do!

        Reply

        • Captain JJ Browman

          May 13, 2015 at 15:48

          Much better than your sarcastic comments!

          Reply

          • Dutch-Trevor Matrix

            May 13, 2015 at 15:48

            Much better than your brow!

          • Captain JJ Browman

            May 13, 2015 at 15:48

            NOTHING is better than my brow!

          • Dutch-Trevor Matrix

            May 13, 2015 at 15:49

            My arsehairs are…

          • Captain JJ Browman

            May 13, 2015 at 15:50

            That is not the reply I was expecting.

          • Dutch-Trevor Matrix

            May 13, 2015 at 15:51

            Dutch is channeling Trevor Philips today…

          • Hammersteyn

            May 13, 2015 at 15:52

            Like three teaspoons of coffee and no milk

          • Captain JJ Browman

            May 13, 2015 at 15:53

            Sounds like breakfast.

          • Hammersteyn

            May 13, 2015 at 15:53

            A little bit strong

          • Captain JJ Browman

            May 13, 2015 at 16:00

            If you put enough coffee in you can use a spoon though. Like black cereal. Pretty much what I imagine Emperor Trevor eats every morning.

          • Hammersteyn

            May 13, 2015 at 16:04

            Dayum

          • Dutch-Trevor Matrix

            May 13, 2015 at 16:05

            Black cereal sounds a tad racist…

          • Blood Emperor Trevor

            May 13, 2015 at 16:06

            Not if I mix it with milk & brown sugar.

          • Captain JJ Browman

            May 13, 2015 at 16:06

            Depends who you ask.
            The ANC will say it’s racist. Rest of the world will think it’s cereal, but a different colour than usual.

          • SargonTheBatpandaOfTI5

            May 13, 2015 at 16:09

            No domesticated grass is even black, right? Unless you take whatever grass Guinness REALLY comes from.

          • Dutch-Trevor Matrix

            May 13, 2015 at 15:53

            Did you just do a little hand wave when you said that? Kind of trying to Jedi Mindfuck me? Because that would have been awesome!

          • Captain JJ Browman

            May 13, 2015 at 15:53

            Sure. Uhm. Of course I did.

          • Dutch-Trevor Matrix

            May 13, 2015 at 15:54

            Also are you an old man with a beard? I love me some old man with beard…

          • Captain JJ Browman

            May 13, 2015 at 15:58

            Now you’re making it weird. O_o

          • Dutch-Trevor Matrix

            May 13, 2015 at 16:00

            And that rhymes with BEARD!!! We are meant for each other! Now put on your pink onesie!

          • Admiral Chief

            May 13, 2015 at 15:59

            That goes well on toast

          • Thats_how_I_Troll

            May 13, 2015 at 16:34

            Brow-fist!

          • Umar

            May 13, 2015 at 16:06

            Yasso! Everyone is on edge today.

          • Skoobaz

            May 13, 2015 at 16:06

            Shurrup you! lolz

          • Umar

            May 13, 2015 at 16:07

            SMOOCH

          • Skoobaz

            May 13, 2015 at 16:07

            Sies!

          • Dutch-Trevor Matrix

            May 13, 2015 at 16:08

            I think Umar will be ‘coming’ soon…

          • SargonTheBatpandaOfTI5

            May 13, 2015 at 16:08

            I think you got the smooch cause he “likes” you the most!

          • Skoobaz

            May 13, 2015 at 16:08

            You just jealous

          • Captain JJ Browman

            May 13, 2015 at 16:12

            LOL

          • Blood Emperor Trevor

            May 13, 2015 at 16:07

            You keep quiet! TLG is never coming!

          • Umar

            May 13, 2015 at 16:07

            HUG

          • Blood Emperor Trevor

            May 13, 2015 at 16:08

            WTF MAN! Hands ABOVE the hips.

          • Umar

            May 13, 2015 at 16:09

            SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEZE!!!!

          • Captain JJ Browman

            May 13, 2015 at 16:13

            I’m totally loving this comment thread btw

          • SargonTheBatpandaOfTI5

            May 13, 2015 at 16:07

            I personally blame Umar for this.

          • Umar

            May 13, 2015 at 16:07

            KISS

        • Skoobaz

          May 13, 2015 at 15:52

          I likes the upvotes 🙁 Thanks @Hammersteyn 🙂

          Reply

          • Hammersteyn

            May 13, 2015 at 15:53

            I likes giving them. Still dunno why precisely…

          • Skoobaz

            May 13, 2015 at 15:53

            Here, have an upvote good Sir!

          • Dutch-Trevor Matrix

            May 13, 2015 at 15:53

            It reminds you of masturbating?!

          • Skoobaz

            May 13, 2015 at 15:54

            Wait, wha?!!?

          • Hammersteyn

            May 13, 2015 at 15:54

            How exactly?

          • Dutch-Trevor Matrix

            May 13, 2015 at 15:55

            I dunno how you do it! I stop stalking when you go the bathroom…

          • Hammersteyn

            May 13, 2015 at 15:56

            I just can’t stop…

          • Dutch-Trevor Matrix

            May 13, 2015 at 15:58

            There there. We all have our addictions. Refresh for a pic that is guaranteed to help you stop…

          • Hammersteyn

            May 13, 2015 at 15:59

            Thanks, I think it worked

          • Thats_how_I_Troll

            May 13, 2015 at 16:37

            Optimism!

          • Captain JJ Browman

            May 13, 2015 at 15:54

            It’s nice to get upvotes. If it wasn’t for Hammer I wouldn’t be as happy a commenter.

          • Hammersteyn

            May 13, 2015 at 15:54

            XD

          • Skoobaz

            May 13, 2015 at 15:59

            True dat. @Hammersteyn helps keep the lazygamer verse turning. Maybe someone from Eskom should offer him a job. Keep things running there?

          • Hammersteyn

            May 13, 2015 at 16:01

            Left click to keep the power running. Puhleeze, easiest job ever.

          • Captain JJ Browman

            May 13, 2015 at 16:02

            Yes, but right click pays out an insane bonus for no apparent reason instead of building new generators.

          • Skoobaz

            May 13, 2015 at 16:05

            My mouse must be broken

          • Skoobaz

            May 13, 2015 at 16:03

            Why am I picturing The Simpsons with Homer “working” at the power plant??

          • Blood Emperor Trevor

            May 13, 2015 at 16:03

            Homersteyn 😉

          • Hammersteyn

            May 13, 2015 at 16:03

            BWAHAHAHAHA

          • Thats_how_I_Troll

            May 13, 2015 at 16:40

            Give me a song or rhythm
            Making ’em sweat that’s what I’m giving ’em
            Now they know when you talk about the Hammer
            You talk about a show that’s hyped and tight
            Singers are sweatin’ so pass them a mic
            Or a tape to learn what it’s gonna take
            And now he’s gonna burn
            The charts legit either work hard
            Or you might as well quit

          • Skoobaz

            May 13, 2015 at 16:06

            Win right there!

          • Captain JJ Browman

            May 13, 2015 at 16:01

            If upvotes could generate power we’d never run out of electricity with him there.

          • Skoobaz

            May 13, 2015 at 16:05

            Quick, cadre deployment. Hammersteyn to Eskom. Go Go Go!

      • Blood Emperor Trevor

        May 13, 2015 at 15:56

        bwhahahahaha! BURN RINCE, BURN!

        Reply

  2. Dutch-Trevor Matrix

    May 13, 2015 at 15:45

    Can I just ask “Who the flying fuck is Chris House?”

    Reply

    • Geoffrey Tim

      May 13, 2015 at 15:46

      Currently? @SargonTheBatpandaOfTI5

      Reply

      • Hammersteyn

        May 13, 2015 at 15:47

        pandtastic

        Reply

      • Dutch-Trevor Matrix

        May 13, 2015 at 15:48

        Oh. The guy I’ve been picking a fight with a few posts back?
        Small world!

        Reply

        • SargonTheBatpandaOfTI5

          May 13, 2015 at 15:48

          The one and same! 😀 I hold no hard feelings about those. You were wrong. I was right. The world turns. 😀

          *Edit: Seriously though. People disagree. It happens all the time. No stress!

          Reply

          • Dutch-Trevor Matrix

            May 13, 2015 at 15:49

            You were right??? Just keep telling yourself that… PRINCESS!!! *Runs!*

          • Hammersteyn

            May 13, 2015 at 15:49

            I thought he was a panda?

          • Dutch-Trevor Matrix

            May 13, 2015 at 15:49

            Princess Batpanda! 😛

          • SargonTheBatpandaOfTI5

            May 13, 2015 at 15:51

            Well I am the prettiest in all of Lazygamer!

          • Dutch-Trevor Matrix

            May 13, 2015 at 15:51

            That is not much of an accomplishment my friend…

          • Pariah

            May 13, 2015 at 17:39

            I read that as Princess Buttpanda. O_O

          • SargonTheBatpandaOfTI5

            May 13, 2015 at 17:44

            All your privileges? REVOKED!

          • Pariah

            May 13, 2015 at 17:54

            I had privileges? When did that happen? O_o

          • SargonTheBatpandaOfTI5

            May 13, 2015 at 17:55

            With the release of the Ginger Manifesto!

      • SargonTheBatpandaOfTI5

        May 13, 2015 at 15:48

        The Batpanda’s secret identity is revealed! O.O

        Reply

    • Blood Emperor Trevor

      May 13, 2015 at 16:10

      I believe he lives opposite Alice.

      Reply

      • Dutch-Trevor Matrix

        May 13, 2015 at 16:11

        I thought for the last 24 years he’s been living next door to her…

        Reply

  3. Captain JJ Browman

    May 13, 2015 at 15:46

    So far I’ve liked both VH 1 and 2. 1 was better, 2 just felt like an extension. But they’re both nice RPGs

    Reply

    • SargonTheBatpandaOfTI5

      May 13, 2015 at 15:50

      If you enjoyed the first two then this isn’t going to disappoint. From what I’ve seen so far, I’d even go so far to say as I enjoyed it much more in this one than previous outings in Borgovia.

      Reply

      • Captain JJ Browman

        May 13, 2015 at 15:51

        Excellent. That’s good to know. I’ll probably pick it up, it’s a great co-op game.

        Reply

      • Captain JJ Browman

        May 13, 2015 at 15:52

        The new classes really intrigue me too.

        Reply

        • SargonTheBatpandaOfTI5

          May 13, 2015 at 15:53

          It’s almost like they decided “what the hell. It’s our last one anyway. Let’s just go nuts.”

          Reply

          • Captain JJ Browman

            May 13, 2015 at 15:54

            Excellent. I can work with that.

  4. Skoobaz

    May 13, 2015 at 15:49

    “Phlogistoneer”. Just that word sounds awesome!

    Reply

  5. Skoobaz

    May 13, 2015 at 15:52

    Cool review there.

    Reply

  6. Captain JJ Browman

    May 13, 2015 at 15:52

    For those who haven’t played the first two, they’re on sale on the Humble store right now.

    Reply

    • Admiral Chief

      May 13, 2015 at 15:52

      Dammit, NO!

      Also, I see you are still rocking the fake rank. You can gain some ranks by joining the fight on Auraxis

      Reply

      • Blood Emperor Trevor

        May 13, 2015 at 15:53

        Do it, they’re good.

        Reply

      • Captain JJ Browman

        May 13, 2015 at 15:55

        I have earned my rank on this site. Not many have written the test.

        Reply

        • Hammersteyn

          May 13, 2015 at 15:55

          So have I… and lost it and got it back and lost it again, etc.

          Reply

        • Admiral Chief

          May 14, 2015 at 07:38

          Many have written, few have passed (totally not true)

          Reply

    • SargonTheBatpandaOfTI5

      May 13, 2015 at 16:02

      Van Helsing I: Complete Pack $13.39 (down from $19.99)
      Van Helsing II: Complete Pack $6.66 (down from $19.99)

      Reply

      • Dutch-Trevor Matrix

        May 13, 2015 at 16:08

        But does it have Huge Jackman?

        Reply

        • SargonTheBatpandaOfTI5

          May 13, 2015 at 16:10

          Thankfully, no. But it also doesn’t have Kate Beckinsale. So it’s sort of win-lose on that one.

          Reply

          • Thats_how_I_Troll

            May 13, 2015 at 16:42

            Law of Averages…

  7. Blood Emperor Trevor

    May 13, 2015 at 15:54

    I’m not sure if I should trust this preview. From watching years of House I’ve noticed his initial diagnosis is always wrong.

    Reply

    • SargonTheBatpandaOfTI5

      May 13, 2015 at 15:55

      😀

      Reply

      • Dutch-Trevor Matrix

        May 13, 2015 at 15:56

        IT’S LUPIS!!!

        Reply

        • Skoobaz

          May 13, 2015 at 15:58

          Inflammatory remark. Must be Sarcoidosis

          Reply

          • Dutch-Trevor Matrix

            May 13, 2015 at 15:59

            But in the end it is thingamajitis. Treat it with copious amounts of Vicadin

    • Captain JJ Browman

      May 13, 2015 at 15:56

      Well, he also doesn’t follow the rules.
      So that puts you in an awkward position.

      Reply

  8. Umar

    May 13, 2015 at 16:08

    AWWWW…AAAAWWWWW, what is this???It’s a kitten, look look, kitties. Ya’ll seem too edgy today.
    http://24.media.tumblr.com/416c1ae6f6d14c8e10bf24d293af7a34/tumblr_n2taenVhxf1rudcwro3_500.gif

    Reply

    • Dutch-Trevor Matrix

      May 13, 2015 at 16:10

      KILL IT WITH FIRE!!!!

      Reply

      • Blood Emperor Trevor

        May 13, 2015 at 16:12

        Who’s a good boy! (refresh)

        Reply

        • Dutch-Trevor Matrix

          May 13, 2015 at 16:13

          No man! That be animal cruelty. And no. Cats are not animals, they’re food!

          Reply

    • SargonTheBatpandaOfTI5

      May 13, 2015 at 16:12

      There is really only one reason we’re all edgy today. Okay, maybe two.

      1) I blame @disqus_XNOoWdzalw:disqus
      2) None of us can play the Witcher 3 yet.

      😀

      Reply

    • Captain JJ Browman

      May 13, 2015 at 16:13

      Awwwwww

      Reply

      • Dutch-Trevor Matrix

        May 13, 2015 at 16:14

        What she said?

        Reply

        • Captain JJ Browman

          May 13, 2015 at 16:14

          Not enough w’s

          Reply

          • Dutch-Trevor Matrix

            May 13, 2015 at 16:16

            W’s as in Wors… But that is what I was getting at! 😛

      • Umar

        May 13, 2015 at 16:15

        I just wanna cuddle the shit out of that cat.

        Reply

        • Dutch-Trevor Matrix

          May 13, 2015 at 16:15

          Eeeeewwwwwww….

          Reply

        • Brady miaau

          May 14, 2015 at 09:25

          ah. eh. Rather teach the cat to use a litter box. Or better still, in a controlled environment outside.

          Reply

  9. Umar

    May 13, 2015 at 16:12

    Also, sorry Chris, awesome preview, honestly sounds like a blast! Prison sounds interesting.

    Reply

    • Blood Emperor Trevor

      May 13, 2015 at 16:13

      Phrasing.

      Reply

      • Captain JJ Browman

        May 13, 2015 at 16:14

        LOL

        Reply

      • Umar

        May 13, 2015 at 16:15

        Fictional prison….Dirty mind, sies, get away. SHOO SHOO

        Reply

        • Captain JJ Browman

          May 13, 2015 at 16:17

          Luckily for you Van Helsing has co-op 😉

          Reply

    • SargonTheBatpandaOfTI5

      May 13, 2015 at 16:13

      Thanks!

      Reply

      • Dutch-Trevor Matrix

        May 13, 2015 at 16:15

        you two want to be left alone?

        Reply

        • Umar

          May 13, 2015 at 16:16

          Seriously, dude. If you want to join, just say so okay. More than enough sausage to braai.

          Reply

          • SargonTheBatpandaOfTI5

            May 13, 2015 at 16:17

            LOL!

          • Dutch-Trevor Matrix

            May 13, 2015 at 16:17

            Can I bring my cat?

      • Umar

        May 13, 2015 at 16:16

        Look forward to more 😀

        Reply

        • SargonTheBatpandaOfTI5

          May 13, 2015 at 16:17

          Hopefully they’ll keep throwing me things to do! 😀

          Reply

          • Umar

            May 13, 2015 at 16:18

            Secret is to send Geoff butt pics, he loves that.

          • SargonTheBatpandaOfTI5

            May 13, 2015 at 16:19

            Hahahahahahahahahaha!

            Ehum… how do you think I got this far?!

          • Captain JJ Browman

            May 13, 2015 at 16:21

            *makes a note

          • Umar

            May 13, 2015 at 16:27

            Adda boy, he loves different, weird poses. Not that I know.

  10. Captain JJ Browman

    May 13, 2015 at 16:27

    Recommended! 😀
    Click the button!

    Reply

  11. Novakaine

    May 14, 2015 at 08:55

    Just out of curiousity because I’d never heard of this series of games before. Are the first 2 worth playing??

    Reply

    • SargonTheBatpandaOfTI5

      May 14, 2015 at 11:53

      Absolutely.

      Reply

  12. Brady miaau

    May 14, 2015 at 09:24


    Still a better love story than Twilight”

    So, the one about yeast on cheese then? They said it never last, they said they were different species, but they made it work in a world gone mad

    Reply

    • MJSANTILLI

      May 14, 2015 at 15:35

      It’s very Easy with lazygamer < my neighbor's mom makes $64 hourly on the computer . She has been without work for 6 months but last month her check was $14236 just working on the computer for a few hours.

      learn the facts here now SEE MORE DETAIL

      Reply

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