The menu starts and gives me three options: play, view menu and trouble shooting. If I try to hit play the game does not start, any solutions? :)

Don't buy this. game does not work. Steam should resolve this issue and not sell unplayable games moving forward.

DID THE GAME STILL WORKS? DAMMNN THIS IS MY GAME

For some old games that use CD for storage game files there is DRM UN-related requirements for empty disc drive or virtual. For virtual u can use Alcohol Portable (any else portable apps not good for it) maybe, better install full or Daemon Tools. Keep it empty - Steam version still looking to it for music.


Additional requirements for CD and for some reason UN patched in GOG - even from /Games/ set exe to admin run in Properties (maybe better for Steam version too but not required). They require HKLM/Software/Infogrames/InstallPath=. registry entry (empty). GOG installer do that but game without admin use empty HKCU.

Thanks a lot to QWEEDDY who write a post on GOG forums, who explain that! ;)
I think that the DirectPlay feature was the key! x)

UPDATE :
Problem fixed!

• Enable DirectPlay (Control Pannel > Programs > Turn Windows features on or off)
• Reinstall from GOG GALAXY (Launched as admin) the game proprely.
• Put the last "ddraw.dll" from Narzoul's GitHub on the gamefolder directly, after install.
• Set "Launch as admin" on the windows game's propreties. Only that.
• I personnaly launch the game with Default device, the highest resolution (1024x768) and High details.
• Have fun !

Defender and MSE on Win7 and Defender on Win8 not cause issues for me. Again with no C/ installations. Can't say for Win10-11. There is no point turn off AV better remove it entirely (I mean if not keep it on). I can say for older Windows even if MSE don't touch Program Files games WI he ADMIN RUN command, 3rd party security do that. VirtualStore also an issue. It not only copy and operate files from userspace (which stratum mean block reading game folder files), some (ini) files can be ignored at all.

Did you install Steam/Galaxy and games to X/Games/? Do verification in Galaxy (if you use it).
The only reason I know is DEP for silently closing games. Random thing from introduced in XP. You can't add to exception without turn it on for all so, exceptions ignored (as by Task Manager indicator) and DEP work absolutely random (by T.Manager). The only solution is turn it off entirely by Windows CMD specific command promt. Not perfect way. And won't required technically.
Maybe Program Files increase paranoid of DEP?

Hey everyone!
To be straight, i'm on Win 11 and i've GOG Version , but i came here because i think it is the same fix for both versions.
• I've try to put the "ddraw.dll" from narzoul reddit or the Abandonware website, but anything work.
• I've try to launch the GOG version without touching anything.
• I've try to set admin + Win 98/ME + Fix Resolution.
• I've try to set manually on Nvida Control Pannel, my framerate define by application. (Cause i've 165 Hz monitor).

All these tests lead to the same thing :
- Window with resolutions and "Start" button.
- Click on Start.
- Window appear, but black inside.
- 3 to 5 five seconds and crash with explorer.exe, blocking interactions with the mouse.

Don't know how to fix my problem cause i really want to play this awesome game on my PC without going on PSX Emulator.

Thanks for helping us btw! :)

Steam version actually differ from GOG or Retail - original game was not portable (require installpath argument in Win Regedit). Steam and Zoom versions are portable, although exe file gere are from GOG. Maybe new HOWMenu.exe wrapp it but first it looks like just autorun.

Still better reinstall Steam/etc and all games from C/ drive to X/Games/Steam/. Some ini can be ignored even with VirtualStore.