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
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
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
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:
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