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

Click Next


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

Click Next


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: