Darkstone is a typical Hack-n-Slash RPG with a few unique features in 1999. Explore randomly generated dungeons, hack down minions with full 360 degree camera movement and loot to your hearts desire with four classes to choose from.
Follow my step-by-step guide on installing, configuring and optimizing Darkstone in Linux with PlayOnLinux.
Note: This guide applies to the GOG version of Darkstone. 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: 4.2.9
Wine: 1.6.2
Wine Installation
Click Tools
Select "Manage Wine Versions"
Look for the Wine Version: 1.6.2
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 1.6.2 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: darkstone
Click Next
Check all 3 options:
- Use another version of Wine
- Configure Wine
- Install some libraries
Select Wine 1.6.2
Click Next
Select "32 bits windows installation"
Click Next
Wine Configuration
Application Tab
Windows version: Windows 7
Click Apply
Graphics Tab
Check "Automatically capture mouse in full-screen windows"
Check "emulate a virtual desktop"
Desktop size: 1024x768
Click OK
PlayOnLinux Packages (Libraries, DLL's, Components)
Check the following packages:
- POL_Install_corefonts
- POL_Install_d3dx9
- POL_Install_gdiplus
- POL_Install_tahoma
Note: All packages will automatically download and install
Installing Darkstone
Click Browse
Select "setup_darkstone_2.0.0.10.exe"
Click Open
Click Next again...
Check "Yes, I have read and accept EULA"
Click Options
Uncheck "Create desktop icons"
Click Install
When the installation is done
Click Exit
PlayOnLinux Shortcut
Select "Darkstone.exe"
Click Next
The name Darkstone should appear
Click Next
Select "I don't want to make another shortcut"
Click Next
PlayOnLinux Configure
Select Darkstone
Click Configure
General Tab
Wine version: 1.6.2
Note: Click the + to download other versions of Wine. Click the down-arrow to select other versions of Wine.
Display Tab
Video memory size: Select the amount of memory your video card/chip uses
Running Darkstone
Select Darkstone
Click Run
Note: Click Debug to see bugs and errors
Optimization
Click Configuration
Click Options
Darkstone should run on any desktop, laptop and netbook
For better performance check/uncheck:
- Shadows
- Reflections
- Texture Filtering
- Dithering
- Use the Primary 3D card
Conclusion:
Darkstone ran perfectly on my Desktop (GeForce 550 Ti) and my Chromebook (Intel HD 2000). It even ran on my GeForce 7600 GT as well. The only issues I had was no resolution configuration. You are stuck playing Darkstone at 640x480. I tried a hacked exe that supported high resolution widescreen but it was really buggy and didn't work. So enjoy your old school RPG in your old school resolution.
Gameplay Video:
Screenshots:
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