Enter the Matrix

What works

I installed using the 4 CDs and then I applied the "Patch 1.2 for i845 chipset" (all that you still can find at myabandonware, GL; HF). During the installation, some files presented checksum mismatch, but I just ignored it. The game ran smoothly after some workarounds.

What does not

The game started without issues, but after reaching the initial menu, the input was messed (some keys seemed to be pressed, including part of the directional buttons). Other users reported that as the "character walks backward infinitely" bug. Luckly, I was able to workaround that (see below).

Workarounds

It was necessary to connect an USB Controller or to disable the MB "LED Control" (which is awfully recognized as a joystick by Ubuntu, occuping /dev/input/js0) to avoid the "character walks backward infinitely" bug. One can disable the "unwanted controller" by calling wine control command, and then running "Game Controllers" inside wine control panel. This bug looks like a combination of wine reading garbage from /dev/input/js0 and the game itself who accept this garbage as input (I have several games installed on wine, and only this one showed this bug so far).

What was not tested

I just played a few dozen minutes... so, I am not sure if those checksum issues will crash the game afterwards.

Hardware tested

Graphics:

• GPU: AMD
• Driver: proprietary

Additional Comments

The 1.52 (DVD Version) is rated as "Garbage" also due to the "The character moves backward infinitely, and there's no way to stop it." He argued that "tried installing xinput and dinput libraries, plugging in a gamepad, also playing the original game without patch". He should try to disable the unwanted joystick using wine control, and see if the bug persists.