Dark Legions - MS-DOS 1994

ClassicGMR

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dark_Legions

Has anyone found a way to get this running in Linux with DOSBox perhaps? If so - would it run on a Pi 3B+?

If yes to both can someone walk me through it? I would LOVE to see this game again and a Pi port would be perfect. :)

KN4THX

@classicgmr I'll see if I have it in my collection and play with it.

ClassicGMR

@thedatacereal I can get it to run but when trying to config sound.exe the program initially says it found and successfully installed SoundBlaster 16. When I run it via dl.exe it crashes.

Running the game from Retropie through dl.exe I get no sound but it runs.

I tried all this under the experimental lr-dosbox. Will try again with one of the other modules. I just like the lr cores. :)

EDIT : I installed DOSBox from the regular packages menu and it works a LOT better. I ran DL.exe right off the bat and, while no sound was present, it ran so much faster.

Still can't get sound.

I ran SOUND.exe and tried to install "Sound Blaster 16 Asp" which defaults and saves as A220, I7, D1. I used this since that's what the program said it found and the install seemed to work. DL.exe crashed back to Emulation Station.
I then ran SOUND.exe and tried "Sound Blaster Regular" which is also A220, I7, D1. That seemed to work too however DL.exe crashes again.
I tried "Roland SoundCanvas" for the hell of it with default settings A330 I2. Said it found the card and init successful. DL.exe didn't like that either.
I set SOUND.exe to "No sound" and DL.exe runs fine.

I feel like I am missing whatever the card, Address, IRQ and DMA settings are with a Pi.

KN4THX

@classicgmr I initially tried it on my Windows machine to configure the settings before transferring the files and I ran into the same issue in that environment; runs great with no sound but crashes once sound is enabled. No better luck on the Pi either so far

quicksilver

@classicgmr with sound enabled does the game boot at all or it just instantly crashes back to ES?

ClassicGMR

@quicksilver DOSBox loads, the command prompt comes up, it runs DL.exe, flashes the DOS4GW line... then Emulation STation comes up.

I just ran it from DOSBox rather than ES.

I ran SOUND.exe and selected Sound Blaster 16 Asp. It installed fine.
I ran DL.exe and I get "cannot find melodic.bnk". DOS/4GW crashes back to command line.
I tried running SOUND.exe again and no matter what I picked (except for No Sound) none of the cards can now be found.

I think I am missing a file.

/opt/retropie/configs/pc/dosbox-SVN.conf and it looks like it has sb16 set correctly (I didn't change it just checked it) :
sbtype=sb16
sbbase=220
irq=7
dma=1
hdma=5
sbmixer=true
oplmode=auto
oplemu=default
oplrate=44100

EDIT: This happens in DOSBox on my laptop too. Same error. It's not a Pi issue. Still annoying as hell. I'll keep looking.

KN4THX

Someone on YouTube said they got it to run using D-Fend Reloaded, a dosbox configuration tool. I might give this a try tomorrow and see what settings change.

ClassicGMR

I found a way to get it running.

I have the eXoDOS collection and it includes the CD version of the game - I only have the floppies. Floppy versions are also what you'll find on abandonia, etc...

I extracted the file MELODIC.BNK from the ISO and dropped it into the directory on the Pi. I set SOUND.exe to Sound Blaster 16 Asp A220, I7, D1. Then I ran DL.exe. It works perfectly.

Exited back to Emulation Station and ran DL directly from the menu. Ran through a quick preset "Balanced", configured my two gamepads for the battles and sent my fire demon after a water demon. I dun kilt him ded!! Everything works perfectly.

BTW - this also worked with my laptop install too. So nice.