Zeno Clash 2 is a unique first person brawler with RPG elements melded together with a surreal world and a peculiar story. None of that is really important because you are going to have a blast pounding people with combo's, uppercuts, kicks, throws and weapons.



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

Note: This guide applies to the Steam version of Zeno Clash 2. Other versions may require additional steps.

Tips & Specs:

Try SteamPlay before using this guide as Valve now uses a fork of Wine called Proton and should run most Windows games.

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

Mint 17.3 64-bit
PlayOnLinux: 4.2.10
Wine: 1.8

Wine Installation

Note: Wine versions older than 2.0.2 and 2.12-staging no longer work with Steam.

Click Tools
Select "Manage Wine Versions"


Look for the Wine Version: 1.8
Select it
Click the arrow pointing to the right


Click Next

Downloading Wine


Extracting

Downloading Gecko


Installed


Wine 1.8 is installed and you can close this window

Downloading Steam

Go To: http://www.steampowered.com
Click Install Steam


Do not click "Install Steam Now"
It will automatically install Linux Steam
Select Windows Steam instead
click "Windows" under the green button


Navigate to your desktop
Click Save


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: zenoclash2
No spaces
Click Next


Select all three options:

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

Click Next


Select Wine 1.8
Click Next


Select "32 bits windows installation"
Click Next


Configure Wine

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: 1024x768
Click Ok


PlayOnLinux Packages (Libraries, Components, DLL's)

Check the following libraries:

• POL_Install_corefonts
• POL_Install_d3dx9
• POL_Install_Physx
• POL_Install_dotnet40
• POL_Install_tahoma
• POL_Install_vcrun2010

Click Next


Note: All packages will automatically download and install

Installing Steam

Click Browse


Navigate to your desktop
Select: SteamSetup.exe
Click Open


Click Next

Click Next

Check: I accept the license...
Click Next

Click Next

Click Next

Click Install

Click Finish

Updating Steam

Steam might not have any fonts due to dwrite functionality
Click the "X" to close Steam login


PlayOnLinux Shortcut

Select Steam.exe
Click Next


Name your shortcut: Zeno Clash 2
Click Next


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


PlayOnLinux Configure

Back to PlayOnLinux
Click Configure


General Tab
Arguments: -no-dwrite -no-cef-sandbox
This fixes the missing font and store problem


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 size of Memory your video card/chip uses


Close Configure

Launching Steam

Select Zeno Clash 2
Click Run


Note: Click debug to see errors and bugs.

Click "Login to existing account"


Login


Select Zeno Clash 2
Click Install


Uncheck "Create desktop shortcut"
Uncheck "Create start menu shortcut"
Click Next


Click Finish


Click Play


Optimization

Click "Help & Options"


Click Video Settings


Adjust:

• Resolution
• Full screen
• V-Sync
• Anisotropic
• Texture Quality
• Cast Shadows
• Motion Blur
• Occlusion Post Process
• Bloom
• Light Shafts Effect
• Retro Mode
• FOV

Press ESC to save settings


Rule of thumb
High settings = More detail, lower frame rates
Low settings = Less detail, higher frame rates

Conclusion:
Zeno Clash 2 runs great once I could figure out the fullscreen/windowed settings. Sometimes it has a hard time going fullscreen and defaults to windowed. Pressing F11 on the keyboard can help fix it.
I had no problems running Zeno Clash 2 on my GeForce 9800 or my 550 Ti, but for some reason my GTX 950 had some strange artifacts on the screen. Enabling Strict Draw Ordering in PlayOnLinux configure fixed it.

Gameplay Video:


Screenshots: