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.



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"


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


Click Next

Downloading Wine


Extracting

Downloading Gecko


Installed


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

PlayOnLinux Setup

Launch PlayOnLinux
Click Install


Click "Install a non-listed program"


Click Next

Select "Install a program in a new virtual drive"
Click Next


Name your virtual drive: vanhelsing
Click Next


Check all three options:

• Use another version of Wine
• Configure Wine
• Install some libraries

Click Next


Select Wine: 1.7.51-staging
Click Next


Select "32 bits windows installation"
Click Next


Wine Configuration

Applications Tab
Windows version: Windows 7
Click Apply


Graphics Tab
Check "Automatically capture the mouse in full-screen windows"
Check "Emulate a virtual desktop"
Desktop size: 1920x1080
Click OK


Note: Enter the desktop size that matches your Linux desktop resolution

PlayOnLinux Packages

Check the following Packages:

• POL_Install_corefonts
• gdiplus

Click Next


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


Click Next

Click OK


Check "Yes, I have read and accept EULA"
Click Options
Uncheck "Create desktop icon"
Click Install


PhysX Installation
Click "I accept the license agreement"
Click Next


Click Finish


Click Exit


PlayOnLinux Shortcut

Select VanHelsing.exe
Click Next


Name your shortcut: Van Helsing II
Click Next


Select "I don't want to make another shortcut"
Click Next


PlayOnLinux Configure

Back to PlayOnLinux
Select "Van Helsing"
Click Configure


General Tab
Wine version: 1.7.51-staging


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


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


Miscellaneous Tab
Click "Run a .exe file in this virtual drive"


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


Click "I accept the agreement"
Click Next


Click Next


Click Finish


Launching Van Helsing
Select Van Helsing II
Click Run


Loading Screen
This screen may take a few minutes to load


Optimization

Click Options


Click Video

Adjust:

• Resolution
• Window Style
• Quality Level
• Open GL
• Direct3D 9
• Direct3D 11
• Force 32bit

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

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: