Helsing's Fire: Difference between revisions

{{Short description|2010Puzzle video game}}

| release = {{vgrelease|WW|'''iPhone'''<br />July 10, 2010}}<br />'''iPad'''<br />December 15, 2010

''Helsing'sThe Fire''game was released in July 2010 for [[iOS]]. It was reviewed positively by critics, who praised the game's torch/tonic puzzle mechanic, visuals, and dialogue between Van Helsing and Raffton; reception towards the game's difficulty was mixed. The game won the "Best Mobile Game" award at the 2011 [[Independent Games Festival]].

''Helsing's Fire'' is a [[puzzle video game]] with a [[top-down perspective]], set in London.<ref name="EuroG">{{Cite web|last=Reed|first=Kristan|date=July 16, 2010|title=Download Games Roundup (Page 1)|url=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/download-games-roundup-16th-july-2010|url-statuswebsite=live[[Eurogamer]]|publisher=[[Gamer Network]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210505215641/https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/download-games-roundup-16th-july-2010|archive-date=May 5, 2021|url-status=live|access-date=MayFebruary 51, 2021|website=[[Eurogamer]]2023}}</ref><ref name="IGN">{{Cite web|last=Buchanan|first=Levi|date=MayJuly 814, 20122010|title=Helsing's Fire iPhone Review|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2010/07/14/helsings-fire-iphone-review|url-statuswebsite=live[[IGN]]|publisher=[[Ziff Davis]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210505214809/https://www.ign.com/articles/2010/07/14/helsings-fire-iphone-review|archive-date=May 5, 2021|url-status=live|access-date=May 5, 2021|website=[[IGN]]}}</ref> The protagonist, monster hunter Van Helsing, and his assistant Raffton battle Dracula and his minions using torches and magical tonics.<ref name="IGN" /><ref name="MSNBC">{{Cite web|last=Bendetti|first=Winda|date=March 10, 2011|title=App Addicted: 'Helsing's Fire' will light up your brain|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/app-addicted-helsings-fire-will-light-your-brain-flna124591|url-statuswebsite=live[[NBC News]]|publisher=[[MSNBC]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210507015154if_20210507015154/https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/app-addicted-helsings-fire-will-light-your-brain-flna124591|archive-date=May 7, 2021|url-status=live|access-date=May 7, 2021|website=[[NBC News]]|publisher=[[MSNBC]]}}</ref> In each level, the player must reveal monsters using their torch while avoiding blocks and walls that obstruct the torch's rays of light.<ref name="IGN" /> Once revealed, monsters can be defeated by using tonics corresponding to their color (red, blue, or green).<ref name="PG">{{Cite web|last=Jordan|first=Jon|date=July 13, 2010|title=Helsing's Fire [Review](iPhone)|url=https://www.pocketgamer.com/articles/022117helsings-fire/helsings-fire/|url-statuswebsite=live[[Pocket Gamer]]|publisher=Steel Media Ltd|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210505214834/https://www.pocketgamer.com/articles/022117/helsings-fire/|archive-date=May 5, 2021|url-status=live|access-date=MayFebruary 51, 2021|website=[[Pocket Gamer]]2023}}</ref> Monsters are initially immobile, but gain the ability to move and shoot back at the player in later stages.<ref name="IGN" /> Different monsters impact gameplay: for example, a werewolf hit by a tonic turns into a maiden, who the player should avoid harming.<ref name="PG" />

The game contains twothree campaigns with 90180 stages eachin total<ref name="MSNBC" /> as well as boss battles;<ref name="StP">{{Cite web|last=<!-- no author credited -->Rattray|first=Tim|date=<!--July no15, date listed -->2010|title=Helsing's Fire Review|url=http://www.slidetoplay.com/story/helsings-fire-review/|url-statuswebsite=deadSlide to Play|archive-url=httphttps://web.archive.org/web/2016082608065520100720112928/http://www.slidetoplay.com/story/helsings-fire-review/|archive-date=AugustJuly 2620, 20162010|websiteurl-status=Slidedead|access-date=February to1, Play2023}}</ref> later stages increase in difficulty.<ref name="AVC">{{Cite web|lastlast1=TetiWolinsky|firstfirst1=JohnDavid|last2=NelsonHeisler|first2=SamanthaSteve|last3=Agnello|first3=Anthony John|last4=Emily ToddNelson|first4=VanDerWerffSamantha|last5=RobinsonWilliams|first5=TashaChristian|last6=WollinskySt. James|first6=DavidEmily|last7=HeislerRobinson|first7=SteveTasha|last8=WilliamsTeti|first8=ChristianJohn|date=August 9, 2010|title=August 9, 2010 [Sawbuck Gamer]|url=https://gameswww.avclub.com/august-9-2010-1798222424|url-statuswebsite=live[[The A.V. Club]]|publisher=[[G/O Media]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210505220058/https://games.avclub.com/august-9-2010-1798222424|archive-date=May 5, 2021|url-status=live|access-date=MayFebruary 51, 2021|website=[[The A.V. Club]]2023}}</ref> The puzzles in the levels are randomly generated.<ref name="IGN" /> Players are scored by how fast they complete the level.<ref name="PG" /> ''Helsing's Fire'' has two additional modes besides the campaigns: a "Bounties" mode,<ref name="MSNBC" /> and an [[Glossary of video game terms#endless mode|endless mode]] where the player completes as many timed puzzles as possible before either running out of time or failing to complete a puzzle.<ref name="StP" />

''Helsing's Fire'' was developed by [[Ratloop]] co-founder [[Lucas Pope]] and programmer Keiko Ishizaka, his wife.<ref name="Gamasutra">{{Cite web|last=Rose|first=Mike|date=February 7, 2011|title=Road To The IGF: Ratloop's Lucas Pope Plays With ''Helsing's Fire''|url=https://www.gamasutragamedeveloper.com/viewpc/news/123322/Road_To_The_IGF_Ratloops_Lucas_Pope_Plays_With_Helsings_Fire.php|urlroad-statusto-the-igf-ratloop-s-lucas-pope-plays-with-i-helsing-s-fire-i-|website=live[[Game Developer (website)|Game Developer]]|publisher=[[Informa]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210505232311/https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/123322/Road_To_The_IGF_Ratloops_Lucas_Pope_Plays_With_Helsings_Fire.php|archive-date=May 5, 2021|url-status=live|access-date=MayFebruary 51, 2021|website=[[Gamasutra]]2023}}</ref><ref name="AT">{{Cite web|last=Machkovech|first=Sam|date=January 12, 2019|title=From ''Uncharted'' to ''Obra Dinn'': Lucas Pope dishes on his illustrious game-dev career|url=https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2019/01/from-uncharted-to-obra-dinn-lucas-pope-dishes-on-his-illustrious-game-dev-career/|url-statuswebsite=live[[Ars Technica]]|publisher=[[Condé Nast]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210507214502/https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2019/01/from-uncharted-to-obra-dinn-lucas-pope-dishes-on-his-illustrious-game-dev-career/|archive-date=May 7, 2021|url-status=live|access-date=May 7, 2021|website=[[Ars Technica]]}}</ref> The game was developed by them over the course of 6 months part-time, with additional work for updates and an HD version.<ref name="Gamasutra" /> The game was originally a [[roguelike]] [[action game]]; Pope said that he "had a much easier time designing the puzzle elements" and that ''Helsing's Fire'' eventually turned into a puzzler.<ref name="Gamasutra" /> The developers then focused on the vampire theme, then on Helsing and Raffton, the game's characters.<ref name="Gamasutra" /> Pope had been creating app prototypes to familiarize himself with the [[iPhone SDK]]; the light/shadow concept arose from his prototyping work.<ref name="Gamasutra" /> He initially wanted to simplify the art creation by using [[Video game graphics#Vector graphics|vector-like graphics]], but added [[Texture mapping|textures]] and hand-drawn [[Sprite (computer graphics)|sprites]] after feedback from friends.<ref name="Gamasutra" />

The game was released on July 10, 2010 for [[iOSiPhone]]<ref name="CSM">{{Cite web|last=Healy|first=Christopher|year=2010|title=Helsing's Fire App Review|url=https://www.commonsensemedia.org/app-reviews/helsings-fire|url-statuswebsite=live[[Common Sense Media]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201022074339/https://www.commonsensemedia.org/app-reviews/helsings-fire|archive-date=October 22, 2020|url-status=live|access-date=May 6, 2021|website=[[Common Sense Media]]}}</ref> and was published by Clickgamer.com,<ref name="PG" /> a subsidiary of [[Chillingo]].<ref>{{Cite news|last=GamesIndustry Internationalweb|date=May 26, 2009|title=Clickgamer.com|work=[[GamesIndustry.biz]]|url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/clickgamer-com-new-iphone-publishing-brand-from-chillingo|url-statuswebsite=liveGamesIndustry.biz|access-datepublisher=MayGamer 6, 2021Network|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210506220953/https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/clickgamer-com-new-iphone-publishing-brand-from-chillingo|archive-date=May 6, 2021|url-status=live|access-date=February 1, 2023}}</ref> A post-launch update added a new campaign (in addition to the original 90 stages), a new partner for Helsing, and new items.<ref name="MSNBC" />

| rev1 = ''[[TheCommon A.V.Sense ClubMedia]]''

''Helsing's Fire'' received "generally favorable" reviews according to the review aggregator [[Metacritic]].<ref name="MC">{{Cite web|title=Helsing's Fire for iPhone/iPad Reviews|url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/ios/helsings-fire|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210505214447/https://www.metacritic.com/game/ios/helsings-fire|archive-date=May 5, 2021|access-date=May 5, 2021|website=[[Metacritic]]|publisher=[[CBS Interactive]]}}</ref> Reviewers praised the game's light/tonic puzzle mechanic and dialogue between Helsing and Raffton.<ref name="StP" /><ref name="GamePro">{{Cite web|last=Rigney|first=Ryan|date=July 16, 2010|title=App Store Games of the Week: July 16th Edition|url=http://www.gamepro.com/article/features/215843/app-store-games-of-the-week-july-16th-edition/|url-status=dead|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20110604182559/http://www.gamepro.com/article/features/215843/app-store-games-of-the-week-july-16th-edition/|archive-date=June 4, 2011|website=[[GamePro]]}}</ref><ref name="GameZone">{{Cite web|last=Pikover|first=James|date=May 4, 2012|title=Helsing's Fire review|url=https://www.gamezone.com/reviews/helsings_fire/|url-status=live|archive-url=<!-- Domain is on IA block list -->|access-date=May 5, 2021|website=GameZone}}</ref> Describing the gameplay as "unique", James Pikover of ''GameZone'' found it entertaining for both short and long sittings.<ref name="GameZone" /> Ryan Rigney of ''[[GamePro]]'' opined that the game was consistently enjoyable by introducing new mechanics throughout its first 90 stages, and complimented the boss fights as "unique and challenging".<ref name="GamePro" /> Tim Rattray of ''Slide to Play'' considered the game to have good replay value with an endless mode, leaderboards, and puzzles for each level changing depending on the set difficulty.<ref name="StP" /> The outletHe also praised the game's dialogue as "quick and witty";<ref name="StP" /> Rigney described it as "amusing" and with "a quasi [[Sherlock Holmes]] vibe".<ref name="GamePro" />

Critics also praised ''Helsing's Fire''<nowiki/>'s visuals: Levi Buchanan of ''[[IGN]]'' complimented the design of the rays of light,<ref name="IGN" /> while Slide to PlayRattray praised various details like the "character reactions, comic-esque [[onomatopoeia]], and enemy animation that ensues when they are in the light".<ref name="StP" /> The game's [[Victorian era]]-style art design was described as "fresh and fun to behold" by Winda Bendetti of [[MSNBC]].<ref name="MSNBC" /> Reception towards the game's difficulty was mixed. Writers for the ''[[The A.V. Club]]'' asserted that the earlier stages "hold your hands";<ref name="AVC" /> Buchanan blamed the random puzzle generation for the lack of difficulty.<ref name="IGN" /> ''[[Pocket Gamer]]''<nowiki/>'s Jon Jordan opined that the "more thought-provoking and carefully designed puzzles" of the last 30 levels of the first campaign were "replaced with situations that require less thinking and faster fingers", and claimed that "there's plenty of potential to craft a much more challenging experience based on this design".<ref name="PG" />

The game sold 60,000 copiesunits in its first week; sales tapered off significantly after its initial release.<ref name="AT" />

''Helsing's Fire'' won the "Best Mobile Game" award at the 2011 [[Independent Games Festival]], with honorable mentions for the "Excellence in Visual Art" and "Excellence in Design" awards.<ref>{{Cite web|title=2011 Independent Games Festival Winners|url=http://www.igf.com/02finalists.html|url-statuswebsite=dead[[Independent Games Festival]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110824221827/http://www.igf.com/02finalists.html|archive-date=August 24, 2011|websiteurl-status=[[Independent Games Festival]]dead}}</ref>

[[Category:Ratloop2010s horror video games]]