mAdCraZyaJ
Published
Upon entering a level I would have a black screen. The Start Menu would still work and you can enter/exit the level and go back to the warp room.
To fix the black screen issue
Shorten the file path to the game directory within Steamapps.
I have Crash Bandicoot installed on another disk volume and by default on PopOS the disk will mount to a directory that includes the disk's UUID. Thus my game directory path was long. Pretending to be too much like Windows probably throws up a "file path too long" error somewhere. For my circumstance I simply changed the mount path to something much shorter (i.e. /mnt/18181818-1-191-1-1-9191 -> /mnt/SSD).
Thanks to Proton Issues thread for pointing me in the right direction:
Turns out the problem indeed is in the length of the path to your save files (or perhaps the game itself, no sure tbh). I've created a new steam library folder ~/Steam Library and moved the game files there (via game's settings menu). Everything works perfectly now!
Highly Recommend - Only one irritating bug.
If the path to the application files are too long, you will receive a black screen when you enter levels. Easy fix, create another SteamLibrary closer to your Root or shorten your mount path.
Crash 2: Cortex Strikes Back - The level Unbearable has a bug where the polar bear has a high chance of not breaking the secret path entrance (bridge). There is also a chance that the final bear will not detonate the TNT before the final stretch leaving you at 46/48. In regards to the entrance, keep dying and the bear will eventually break the bridge (not useful if you're speed running I know). Same with the TNT, the bear will eventually detonate them. I believe his hit-box is screwed.
Performance
I just want to clarify that the remainder of the Crash 2: Cortex Strikes Back game works flawlessly as well as the other games within the trilogy. I experienced zero issues with Crash Bandicoot & Crash Bandicoot: Warped, including the DLC levels.
Proton-5.9-GE-5-ST GloriousEggroll
Launch Commands: RADV_PERFTEST=aco gamemoderun %command% -dx11
Previously using D9VK the game would crash out stating that it had ran out of video memory. Generally at the menu upon loading the Chinese New Year event or at the end of a match. This is a known 32-bit game issue as seen with Borderlands (https://github.com/Joshua-Ashton/d9vk/issues/170).
I tried patching the game as @Jaeman109 suggested to support Large Address Aware, however if anything this made things worse for me with game now crashing mid game with no error message.
I have been waiting for the DX11 client to be launched as I knew this would resolve the memory issues and luckily @StarAurryon made me aware via his report 2 days ago. I have used this client nonstop for hours and I can confirm that the game no longer crashes. The only launch commands that I use now is to switch to ACO compiler, Feral's Gamemode and the dx11 client switch. It is far superior to the Linux native version and I would recommend to anyone.
MUST install Media Foundation (https://github.com/z0z0z/mf-install)! The game works extremely well, often smoother than DX12 Native imo.
Proton-5.1-GE-1 GloriousEggroll
https://github.com/ValveSoftware/Proton/issues/3035 https://github.com/z0z0z/mf-install
Cutscenes do not work without installing Media Foundation.
Upon entering a level (pre-patch) the Y Button would not work, the same would go for the aim/hover button on keyboard. This is resolved with the Media Foundation patch. There seems to be some condition where if the cutscene does not play at the beginning of the level it would nullify the aim/hover.
Proton-5.9-GE-5-ST GloriousEggroll
No more bugs
Using Glorious Eggroll's Custom Proton enables me to just play the game without having to apply any Media Foundation DLL fixes, which is fantastic. Simply use this and you can play the game, Y / Triangle button bugs and all the cinematics play as they should.
Many Thanks GloriousEggroll !
Proton-5.9-GE-5-ST
Just do not Alt-Tab, sometimes you are unable to get back to the game.
Multiplayer - Playing with Friends
The only inconvenience that I would like to point out is that you cannot join/invite friends from the Origin. You can join Networks (Clans) and invite the Network, this is the best way to play as a party.
Performance
Thankfully, I haven't had any stuttering issues.
