The Linck
Published
DXVK_ASYNC=1 VKD3D_FEATURE_LEVEL=12_0 PULSE_LATENCY_MSEC=100 mesa_glthread=true WINEDEBUG=-all __GL_THREADED_OPTIMIZATION=1 PROTON_LOG=0 WINE_DISABLE_VULKAN_OPWR=1 %command%
Trying to re-bind controls softlocks the game. An old bug present on all platforms.
Reducing effects helps a lot
RAM cosumption skyrockets while using several mods from Steam Workshop, may eat all the memory of the system
Used the online mode very little, only enough to get the achievements that force the player to use it (bad achievement design)
One of my favorite games of all time
Had to completely bypass EAC with the last launch option, which can be fine for offline but risks getting banned while playing online.
DXVK_ASYNC=1 VKD3D_FEATURE_LEVEL=12_0 PULSE_LATENCY_MSEC=100 mesa_glthread=true WINEDEBUG=-all __GL_THREADED_OPTIMIZATION=1 PROTON_LOG=0 WINE_DISABLE_VULKAN_OPWR=1 PROTON_NO_WRITE_WATCH=1 %command%/../Gobi/Binaries/Win64/Back4Blood.exe
Need to reduce graphics settings and some performance parameters (like mesa_glthread=true, __GL_THREADED_OPTIMIZATION=1 and WINE_DISABLE_VULKAN_OPWR=1) for a smooth gameplay.
The fact that this game only runs un updated Linux distros (post GLibC change) bypassing it's outdated anticheat show how much it is abandoned by it's developers and publisher. All they would need to do for the game to work out of box is to update EAC but they just don't care. The developers of this game should be forever ashemed of themselves, for letting a good and fun game rot like this.
DXVK_ASYNC=1 VKD3D_FEATURE_LEVEL=12_0 PULSE_LATENCY_MSEC=100 mesa_glthread=true WINEDEBUG=-all __GL_THREADED_OPTIMIZATION=1 PROTON_LOG=0 WINE_DISABLE_VULKAN_OPWR=1 PROTON_NO_WRITE_WATCH=1 %command%
Some ingmae graphical lags, mostly solved by the used configuration options. Cutscenes become unbearablily laggy after some seconds, to the point all the audio plays much earlier than the scenes themselves.
Needs some work on performance, specially in cutscenes, but the EAC update made this game playable on Linux. Being one of the few FPS that I really like, it's great to see it working again whenever I'm wanting to play it.
The game is enjoyable to play casually with a bot or a friend, trying to solo everything is a path of pain and suffering.
VKD3D_FEATURE_LEVEL=12_0 PULSE_LATENCY_MSEC=100 mesa_glthread=true WINEDEBUG=-all %command%
Post-processing and Effects quality were the most demanding settings on my pc, reducing both to minimum effectively eliminated the lag
The game has it's own list problems that have nothing to do with Proton or Wine, the compatibility is excellent. But this "Waifu Souls" shows huge ammounts of wasted potential, already while doing the story for the first time - but specially while going to get all achievements.
VKD3D_FEATURE_LEVEL=12_0 PULSE_LATENCY_MSEC=100 mesa_glthread=true %command%
My PC is somewhat old, doesn't look like a problem with the game.
Playing this game with friends will be always funnier
Playable with proper settings, but will have noticiable slowdowns on certain scenarios. Other games from the same year run a lot better.
__GL_THREADED_OPTIMIZATION=1 WINEDEBUG=-all mesa_glthread=true WINE_DISABLE_VULKAN_OPWR=1
Had to install vcrun2022 dependency for SpecialK mod.
Needed to reduce the screen resolution to 1280x720, disable anti-aliasing and remove Global Ilumination (with SpecialK mod) to get a playable framerate.
The problems with performance on hardware close to the recommended specs on the store show clear lack of optimization. Regardless, can be played from beginning to all endings with proper options and modding. But some BS on the game itself, mainly non-replayable sidequests and forced "optional" endings is a lot worse than the performance - specially the requisite to get Ending Y, a real insult to skilled players.
Runs flawlessly
Did the game from beginning to 100% achievements, no problems seen during this time.
DXVK_ASYNC=1 __GL_THREADED_OPTIMIZATION=1 mesa_glthread=true WINEDEBUG=-all PROTON_LOG=0 PROTON_NO_WRITE_WATCH=1 WINE_DISABLE_VULKAN_OPWR=1 %command%
Texture, Water and Shadow quality affect the performance the most, needed to set them to the lowest option to make the game playable.
The performance problems are worse in multiplayer. Some agressive parameters are needed for performance.
When the game runs properly (with reduced graphics and agressive launch options for performance), it's a relaxing time to share with friends. But the proccess to get to this point might be too frustrating for most people - like it was for me, when I did give up on it before trying again the next day for pure stubbornness. Needs serious work on performance on Proton, but looks like this won't come from the devs.
Perfect compatibility
This is an awesome metroidvania, that goes far beyond the fan-service being really good to play. It's so lightweight it's hard to even notice if there's any performance impact by using Proton.
The only negative thing is the stupid "Rune Packed" achievement, which is locked by an annoying low-rng item farm, completely unnecessary forced grind in a game that definitively doesn't need it.
In a new game, the initial custscene plays normally, but after the gameplay begins crashs are iminent when pausing or going to the next room).
Loading the game through the continue option crashes immediatly, as soon as the scene begins to render it's first frames. When loading by the Retry option, the game will only crash at the same conditions of a new game: pausing or going to the next room.
Currently only intro cutscreen, main menu, settings menu, game loading menu, and new game options works fine with my HW.
In previous versions of Proton the game didin't crash with simple actions, but the NPCs or the playing character wold be invisible. After december Steam's update the game become unplayable, crashing before almost anything can be tested.
Runs out of box, may play smoother with costum launch options
May have slight framedrops sometimes in custcenes, nothing that impacts gameplay.
When I did return to the game, after 7 years from my initial review, it run almost perfectly. The only real trouble I had was adapting to the difficulty of the hardest game modes, and doing the rarest achievements. Some performance launch options (like DXVK_ASYNC and mesa_glthread) may help with eventual cutscene framedrops.
A big part of the difficulty I've face came from the dirty-cheap joystick I had at the time, that endend with two broken buttons after getting all achievements this game. Definitivily worth it.
Once the game was not launching, but restarting Steam solved the problem.
A funny game that lacks polishment on some things, specifically on the terrible mana system (may softlock you after failing new puzzles repeatedly) and the terrible dash-cube mechanic (reaction times are too short). Other than that, it will be a good experience, with a challenging difficulty increase for every level.
