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The gaming industry occasionally resorts to revisiting older titles, remastering them with enhanced graphics and gameplay. This strategy allows developers time to work on new projects while offering players a refreshed experience of a beloved game. NeocoreGames, known for the King Arthur series and the action RPG Van Helsing, has taken this approach with The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing: Final Cut. This ambitious release combines all three installments of the Van Helsing series into one cohesive package, promising improvements over the original releases. Does this “3-in-1” title live up to the legacy of its predecessors? Let’s delve into a comprehensive review of Van Helsing: Final Cut.

alt text: Van Helsing Final Cut Gameplay Screenshot showing the character and Katarina fighting enemies

A Massive Undertaking: Content and Gameplay

The sheer size of Van Helsing: Final Cut is immediately striking. Clocking in at nearly 55 GB including DLC, the game’s considerable file size reflects the extensive content within. Boasting over 50 hours of gameplay, sprawling environments, a diverse cast of monsters and characters, and a plethora of items and quests, Final Cut offers a substantial experience. NeocoreGames clearly invested significant effort in crafting this comprehensive package.

The game adheres to classic action RPG mechanics, offering six distinct character classes, each with three unique skill trees: Skill, Aura, and Perk. These are influenced by various factors, including weapon choice, equipment, and quest completion, allowing for flexible builds tailored to individual playstyles. Adding another layer of depth, Katarina, your spectral companion, also possesses a detailed skill tree and requires specific items to enhance her abilities. While players can’t directly control Katarina, they can issue commands such as close/ranged attack, automatic loot collection, and strategic retreat.

alt text: Van Helsing Final Cut Character Selection Screen displaying the six different classes

The Rage mechanic, similar to a mana system, significantly enhances combat and skill usage. Activating Rage boosts offensive capabilities and adds effects like slowing enemies and increasing physical damage. To prevent overuse, Rage only fills after defeating a certain number of enemies, and on higher difficulty levels, maintaining a full Rage meter becomes a strategic challenge.

Van Helsing: Final Cut presents a treasure trove of items and hidden goodies scattered throughout each level. Players can further enhance their gear through merchants or by combining items to create unique pieces, adding a rewarding layer to character progression. The game’s bestiary is diverse, featuring werewolves, cyborgs, and even spider-tanks wielding cannons. To break up the exploration, the game incorporates tower defense elements, offering a change of pace while maintaining a balanced gameplay experience. These segments involve selecting units, defending against waves of enemies, and completing daily challenges.

With 70 distinct areas to explore across the three combined campaigns and refined graphics, the game performs surprisingly well, even on older PCs. The 50+ hours of gameplay barely scratches the surface of the vast content, especially considering the sprawling storyline encompassing all three games, each requiring 12-13 hours for completion.

alt text: Van Helsing Final Cut Gameplay Screenshot showcasing the diverse environments in the game

A Gothic Adventure: Story and Setting

Set in the steampunk-infused land of Borgovia, Final Cut follows the son of the legendary Van Helsing. Responding to a plea for help, young Van Helsing, accompanied by the ghostly Katarina, embarks on a journey to uncover the dark forces threatening Borgovia. Their adventure reveals a connection to the shadowy Ink world and the machinations of tyrannical figures seeking to dominate the land. Aided by the local resistance and the sometimes-irritating but ultimately helpful Katarina, Van Helsing must fight to protect Borgovia.

The game’s dialogue is engaging and often humorous, featuring witty banter between the protagonist and NPCs, along with clever references to other games and films. Player choices influence the narrative, affecting outcomes and providing replay value. The inclusion of a co-op mode further enhances the experience, allowing players to share the story and tackle missions together.

alt text: Van Helsing Final Cut Dialogue Screenshot showcasing the witty banter between characters

Lingering Issues: Bugs and Frustrations

Despite its “Final Cut” moniker, the game suffers from some lingering technical issues. Katarina’s and other NPCs’ AI can be erratic, sometimes resulting in frustrating moments where they fail to react effectively in combat. Enemies also exhibit occasional AI quirks, remaining stationary while under attack. The skill tree interface can be cumbersome, especially when managing Rage activation for specific skills. While less frequent, graphical glitches, frame rate drops, and audio issues can occur. Fortunately, the game includes a built-in bug reporting feature to facilitate patches and updates.

alt text: Van Helsing Final Cut Inventory Screen showing the vast array of items and equipment

Conclusion

The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing: Final Cut offers a massive and engaging action RPG experience. With a compelling story, diverse gameplay, and a wealth of content, it provides significant value for players willing to invest the time. While technical issues remain, they don’t detract significantly from the overall enjoyment. Van Helsing: Final Cut is a rewarding experience for those seeking a deep and immersive action RPG.