There is a fine line between comic tie ins to video games being good, and sucking the air out of the room.
One thing that doesn’t help that line is the fact that the comic is released BEFORE the game, acting as a sort of a promotional to get you all hopped up about the game (yet doing nothing of the sort).
I am sure there is a long long history of comics based on games that came out before the game, mostly to promote the upcoming game, but let’s not think about that (I don’t have access to a video game nerd… I mean video game “expert”… to help me with that list), instead let’s focus on one thing.
What is the difference between a comic/manga from a game translation that works, and one that sucks.

So far I’ve drawn a clear line about what I thought works, and what I thought sucks.
The humorously done nice slice of manga called Disgaea (now up to Disgaea 2) from Broccoli works.
Got a 5 out of 5 to prove just how much that title worked.
The not so well done slice of drear called Warhammer 40K : The Manly Men Adventures… uh… I mean “Damnation Alley”, that sucked. Got a 2 out of 5 for it’s efforts.
Hellgate : London #1 to #3 falls in the category of Warhammer 40K, a forgettable romp that won’t make you run out and buy the game it’s based on (whenever that comes out).

London is not in it’s happy place, nor is probably the rest of the world this game (and it’s comic, not to mention it’s prose fiction novels) is set in. Now since I missed Issue #1 (3), all I have to go on is what I have, so let’s see what’s up with this world.
It’s the year 2038, and London could be in better shape than it is right now.
A massive “gash” has been ripped into the very fabric of reality itself, darkening the sky and bleeding evil throughout the city and thus the world itself in an invasion of the demonic kind.

As the game opens the last pockets of humanity is waging an all out war against the demons, now armed with the “holy” and “arcane” rites of their ancestors (I.e. it’s a game where you can shoot, slash, bash and spellcraft your enemies to death) in order to take back the world. To this end the last humans search for something called the “Sigil”, what may be the only means by which to exorcise the demon hordes back through the rift in reality and seal the “doorway” behind them.

As the comic opens three “factions” of humanity that fight the good fight are forced to join forces and see if they can work together towards a common goal. This would be the knight like Templars, the human/demon hybrid Cabalists, and finally the Demon Hunters (each represented by one of the trio of characters in this book). As Issue #2 opens they are still looking for an artifact that may lead them to the Sigil, and they run into a horde of zombies beneath the city (a fight breaks out). From here they go on and find an artifact called “The Harbour of Knowledge” (a red book) which is promptly stolen by a traitor who runs off with it back to his demon masters (which happens in Issue #3). The rest goes as you expect and we realize this team up of Templars, Cabalist and Demon Hunter works and it should happen more often.

Basically that is the gist of the three issues. Nothing profound or special happens.
Most definitely there’s nothing in here that’ll make you want to run out WHENEVER this game comes out (not even the comic is clear as to when this BANDAI/Namco slash EA slash Flagship game (most likely a FPS) is going to release). It’s not like the comic is horrible, it’s just average. Less so since it’s not the most exciting or intellectually stimulating thing I’ve ever seen in print. It’s drawn well enough, it’s written alright, but it is mostly underwhelming and not the most exciting thing I’ve been inflicted to.

Now if this came AFTER the game, and fans of the game were picking up things to go with the game then I’d recommend this abit higher, since if you loved the game you’ll probably read this. Thing is, however, is that this is supposed to sell you on the game (not vice versa) and this is so not selling anyone on a game that has yet to see the light of day. Sure, after the game hits and IF (IF) it lives up to it’s promise of being “the Highly Anticipated Game” the ads say it is then you should backtrack and buy the TPB of this 3-parter. But for now I’m not particularly hyped about this game to say much of anything about it’s comic (let alone it’s prose fiction novels) except… well… play the game before you toss your money at the tie-ins. (Maybe somebody can put out a PSP or Wii release so I can play it.)
Hellgate : London gets 2 and a half Hellgates out of 5 (half a point better than Warhammer 40K).