Grand Theft Auto 2 is a classic 3rd person shooter from 1999 where you basically play sandbox style driving any vehicle and killing anyone you want. You can accept missions or go completely postal... just watch out for the police.
Follow my step-by-step guide on installing, configuring and optimizing Grand Theft Auto 2 in Linux with PlayOnLinux.
Note: Make sure to search online for the free version (at your own risk) of Grand Theft Auto 2 ahead of time. Save it to your Desktop, extract if necessary.
Tips & Specs:
To learn more about PlayOnLinux and Wine configuration, see the online manual: PlayOnLinux Explained
Mint 19.3 64-bit
PlayOnLinux: 4.3.4
Wine: 5.0 32-bit
Wine Installation
Click Tools
Select "Manage Wine Versions"
Look for the Wine Version: 5.0
Select it
Click the arrow pointing to the right
Click Next
Downloading Wine
Installed
Click (amd64) Tab
Select 5.0
Click the arrow pointing to the right
Downloading Wine 64-bit
Installed
Wine 5.0 32-bit and 64-bit is installed, you can close this window
Note: Grand Theft Auto doesn't necessarily need 64-bit Wine, but it is helpful for future games.
PlayOnLinux Setup
Launch PlayOnLinux
Click Install
Click "Install a non-listed program"
Select "Install a program in a new virtual drive"
Click Next
Name the virtual drive: gta2
Click Next
Check all three options:
- Use another version of Wine
- Configure Wine
- Install some libraries
Select Wine 5.0
Click Next
Select "32 bits windows installation"
Click Next
Wine Configuration
Applications Tab
Windows version: Windows XP
Click Apply
Graphics Tab
Check "Automatically capture the mouse in full-screen windows"
Click OK
PlayOnLinux Packages (Components, DLLs, Libraries)
Check the following:
- POL_Install_corefonts
- POL_Install_d3dx9
- POL_Install_tahoma
Note: All packages should download and install automatically
Click Browse
Select "GTA2.exe"
Click Open
Click Next again...
Follow InstallShield Wizard
When its completed
Uncheck "Launch GTA2 Manager"
Click Finish
PlayOnLinux Shortcut
Select "gta2.exe"
Click Next
Name the shortcut: Grand Theft Auto 2
Click Next
Select "I don't want to make another shortcut"
Click Next
PlayOnLinux Configure
Back to PlayOnLinux
Select "Grand Theft Auto 2"
Click Configure
General Tab
Wine version: 5.0
Display Tab
Video memory size: Enter the amount of memory your video card uses
Close Configure
Launching Grand Theft Auto 2
Select "Grand Theft Auto 2"
Click Run
Note: Click debug to see bugs and errors
Conclusion:
The game may run extremely fast, so make sure to check the "Frame Limiter" box. This will make it run properly.
You can also change the controls in a config file, otherwise stick with the default directional arrows and control key.
I tried a widescreen fix by thirteenag and it seemed to work. You basically download the file and extract to the game directory, then make changes to the GTA2.WidescreenFix.ini
I had to launch the game a few times for it to appear in full-screen 1920x1080, but it worked.
I was even able to host a game through the Manager and join on another computer for multi-player.
Screenshots: