Van Helsing 2 Guide

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The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing is a series of Action RPG's where you play as Monster Hunters who rid the world of Evil Scientists and their abominations. This time you have help in the form of a Ghost Companion named Katrina. Elimination evil minions, loot, upgrade character stats, perks and abilities.

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Follow my step-by-step guide on installing, configuring and optimizing Van Helsing 2 in Linux with PlayOnLinux.

Note: This guide applies to the GOG version of Van Helsing 2. Other versions may require additional steps.

Tips & Specs:

To learn more about PlayOnLinux and Wine configuration, see the online manual: PlayOnLinux Explained

Mint 17 64-bit
PlayOnLinux: 4.2.8
Wine: 1.7.51-staging

Wine Installation

Click Tools
Select "Manage Wine Versions"
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Look for the Wine Version: 1.7.51-staging
Note: Try using stable Wine 1.8 and 1.8-staging

Select it
Click the arrow pointing to the right
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Click Next

Downloading Wine
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Extracting

Downloading Gecko
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Installed
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Wine 1.7.51-staging is installed and you can close this window

PlayOnLinux Setup

Launch PlayOnLinux
Click Install
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Click "Install a non-listed program"
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Click Next

Select "Install a program in a new virtual drive"
Click Next
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Name your virtual drive: vanhelsing
Click Next
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Check all three options:
  • Use another version of Wine
  • Configure Wine
  • Install some libraries
Click Next
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Select Wine: 1.7.51-staging
Click Next
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Select "32 bits windows installation"
Click Next
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Wine Configuration

Applications Tab
Windows version: Windows 7
Click Apply
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Graphics Tab
Check "Automatically capture the mouse in full-screen windows"
Check "Emulate a virtual desktop"
Desktop size: 1920x1080
Click OK
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Note: Enter the desktop size that matches your Linux desktop resolution

PlayOnLinux Packages

Check the following Packages:
  • POL_Install_corefonts
  • gdiplus
Click Next
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Note: Normally I would install d3dx9 here but we have to use the bundled version of Direct X later in the installation

Click Browse

Select: setup_the_incredible_adventures_of_van_helsing_ii_2.0.0.1.exe
Click Open
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Click Next

Click OK
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Check "Yes, I have read and accept EULA"
Click Options
Uncheck "Create desktop icon"
Click Install
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PhysX Installation
Click "I accept the license agreement"
Click Next
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Click Finish
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Click Exit
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PlayOnLinux Shortcut

Select VanHelsing.exe
Click Next
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Name your shortcut: Van Helsing II
Click Next
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Select "I don't want to make another shortcut"
Click Next
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PlayOnLinux Configure

Back to PlayOnLinux
Select "Van Helsing"
Click Configure
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General Tab
Wine version: 1.7.51-staging
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Note: Click the + to download more versions of Wine. Click the down-arrow to select other versions of Wine

Display Tab
Video memory size: Enter the amount of memory your video card/chip uses
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Direct X Installation

Unfortunately the audio refuses to work without specific Direct X libraries installed. We are going to install them from the provided GOG installation.
You will see this error until the libraries are installed
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Miscellaneous Tab
Click "Run a .exe file in this virtual drive"
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Navigate to
Code:
/home/username/.PlayOnLinux/wineprefix/vanhelsing/drive_c/GOG Games/The Incredible Adventures of  Van Helsing II - Complete Pack/InstallUtils/DirectX
Select "DXSETUP.exe"
Click Open
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Click "I accept the agreement"
Click Next
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Click Next
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Click Finish
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Launching Van Helsing
Select Van Helsing II
Click Run
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Loading Screen
This screen may take a few minutes to load
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Optimization

Click Options
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Click Video

Adjust:
  • Resolution
  • Window Style
  • Quality Level
  • Open GL
  • Direct3D 9
  • Direct3D 11
  • Force 32bit
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Click Advanced Settings

Adjust:
  • HDR Rendering
  • High Shaders
  • Detailed Environment
  • High Effects
  • Antialiasing
  • Smooth Shadows
  • Paralax Mapping
  • Smooth Animations
  • Reflections
  • Organics Physics
  • Oranganics Animation
  • SLI/Crossfire Optimization
  • Character Detail
  • Shadow Detail
  • Physics Detail
  • Texture Detail
  • FPS Limit
  • Camera Shake
  • Soft Coronas
  • Sync CPU to GPU
  • V-Sync
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Click Accept after making Changes
Some changes will require a game restart

Conclusion:
Van Helsing II ran really well with my GeForce 550 Ti and Nvidia 340 drivers. I initially had no audio until I installed the GOG provided Direct X libraries. The PlayOnLinux Direct X packages would not fix the audio missing. I was able to set most of the Video settings on high and use the Open GL option. Van Helsing 2 does crash randomly, but I have been able to play for 30 minutes easily without crashing. Also, avoid Paralax Mapping checkbox, that definitely causing crashing.

Screenshots:
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Last edited:
I hope they DO release a Linux native version. Gamingonlinux.com posted a few articles on it, but so far nothing has happened.
If they want to be on SteamOS then they really need to port it to Linux.
They already have OpenGL compatibility built-in
 
I hope they DO release a Linux native version. Gamingonlinux.com posted a few articles on it, but so far nothing has happened.
If they want to be on SteamOS then they really need to port it to Linux.
They already have OpenGL compatibility built-in

Exactly for this reason and neocore games talk some time ago about them

But in this point valve stay push many titles for launch because steam machines release stay more and more closer

:)
 
Do you think they are working on a Linux port and will wait to release it when Steam Machines are released?
 
I don't have Van Helsing 1, but I'm guessing it should work the same way as Van Helsing 2.
Have you tried following this guide but installing Van Helsing 1?
 
Could someone write a guide to get Vanhelsing 1 (either steam or GOG) to work on POL?

Van helsing 1 runs and need minor system resources than van helsing 2 (more special effects like as light related, blur related, depth of field related and others)

I test both some time ago


Van Helsing 1



Van Helsing 2



However i dont try again because van helsing stay in native development for linux but dont out until now

:)
 
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