Van Helsing is a video game based on the 2004 film of the same name. It was released by Vivendi Universal Games for the PlayStation 2, Xbox and Game Boy Advance. It is inspired by Devil May Cry and features most of the cast from the film.
The video game adaptation provide examples of the following tropes:
- Adaptation Expansion: The video game follows rather closely the story of the film, but adds some more new elements, such as many other monsters for Van Helsing to fight which also serve as Dracula's henchmen.
- Adapted Out: Carl the friar is nowhere to be seen in the game, but he does turn up briefly in the GBA version.
- Animalistic Abomination: Among the many enemies you encounter in your journey, there are bat-like shadowy beings which spawn in later levels.
- Bat Out of Hell: Aside from the demonic forms of Dracula, his brides and their children, you also do battle against large-sized bats and the aforementioned bat-shaped shadowy creatures.
- Darker and Edgier: The game is more violent than the film it is based on.
- Dem Bones: Living skeletons with different elemental powers are the game's most common enemies. You also fight flying skulls which shoot fireballs on your way to the Frankentein's monster's underground lair.
- Elite Mooks: The dwergis from the movie appear as enemies in both castles, but there is also a variant wearing spiked armor which wields better weapons, sports more health and can even curl itself into a ball and jump or roll at you to deal more damage.
- Giant Flyer: Gigantic dark owls appear as enemies in some early levels. They attack in flocks.
- Monster Delay: Much like in the film itself, Dracula first appears in his demonic form from a distance, and Van Helsing instead fights him the first two times in his human form. After Dracula is successful at bringing his children to life and Van Helsing storms his castle with the intent of finishing him once and for all, the good count loses his patience and lets his inner bat out.
- Our Monsters Are Different: There are many examples, not just the vampires themselves:
- Our Banshees Are Louder: They appear as spectral women with wide, gaping mouths filled with sharp teeth located in their chests and lower bodies, from which they utter loud, powerful screams to attack the player.
- Our Gargoyles Rock: They are depicted as horned, flying demons made of stone which usually appear in an inanimate state but can come to life willingly to attack intruders with several flight-based attacks. Rather hard to defeat, if you ask us.
- Our Werewolves Are Different: Aside from Velkan himself, smaller, weaker werewolves appear as enemies in later stages of the game.
- Warm-Up Boss: Mr. Hyde, who is also the first villain in the film.
- Shout-Out: In this game, Van Helsing will inspect a book called, The Belmonts.
- Zerg Rush: Moreso in the later levels of the game, where several monsters come to you at once. The huge dark owl enemies are also fond of attacking in flocks.
