How to install the PureHD mod for Sacred Gold and play on Windows 10 properly

[89ermis]

This is the best HD mod if you don't want to have any changes in the game's balance, providing the best vanilla experience but in HD.

This method was created by youtuber locust here (https://youtu.be/ciDegOQAhiQ)
I'm writing this in text for those who want a text version.

1) Download the mod here (remove the spaces): mega . nz/file/kN0R1YoY#G6-l1ZfqR2dfB54anx1JwHetMIYVPk_0C28GgDIeEj8

2) Extract the files uzing 7zip or any other such program.
3) Copy and paste the files in your sacred installation (your drive letter/ steam/ steamapps/ common/ sacred gold), select yes when it prompts you to replace the files
4) Move the antiqua and cyrillic files to the font folder
5) Open settings.cfg using notepad or any such program
6) For a more vanilla experience you can delete the portion of the new fonts , from FONT 1 to FONT 7
7) Change the language from RU to US or whichever language you have on your computer
8) In the resolution , change it to
PHD_RES_SCX : 1920
PHD_RES_SCY : 1080
9) Add this line in both settings files at the end
WAITRETRACE : 0
If you are using the steam version, you should do all the above again in the steam settings file as well.
10) Open the config.exe file and select 'full screen' , press OK
11) Right click on the sacred pure HD executable file, and select properties. Go to compatibility settings, select windows xp service pack 2, also check 'run as administrator'.

You are ready to play the game in HD. For ease of use you can make a shortcut on the desktop that leads to the modded exe, right click the pureHD exe -> send to desktop

[OFFICIAL]

the linked Rar file does not want to decompress, do you have an alternative link?

[Kírby]

With fullscreen there is a blackscreen and than the game will crash.

Without Fullscreen the game has no Fonts

[Zerisius]

dont trust external downloads. for what? just download it from the original source: http://www.sacred-nl.necropol.sumy.ua/html/pureHD/download.php

you are not supposed to play in fullscreen mode, just put in the resolution and it will be good

@kirby you need to make sure you have the desired language pack installed (download here under language packs): http://www.sacred-nl.necropol.sumy.ua/html/download/download.php

[d^]

Does anyone have a new link for this? Site listed just above is down.

[Wulf[NL]]

Publicado originalmente por LOL:

Does anyone have a new link for this? Site listed just above is down.

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1vgLqhEfBL4m-865My399q8KiCtZGp_w7?usp=share_link

A quick google would have netted you this thread:
https://steamcommunity.com/app/12320/discussions/0/6142387869097406275/

[AstroAss]

I went with the PureHD + dgVoodoo route and, after a bit of tinkering, got flawless results at 4K, 5K and 1440p (fullscreen).

I installed the PureHD mod, made sure my language is set to "US" and not "RU" (which seems to be the default with the mod, lol) and I set the game res to 1920x1080 in the settings.cfg file.

In dgVoodoo (DirectX tab):
Filtering: Force Anisotropic x16;
Check "Force filter only if not point sampled" - IMPORTANT! (this ensures you're ONLY filtering the 3D elements, leaving 2D backgrounds alone, otherwise you get background lines/seams);
Check "Disable mipmapping";
Resolution: 3840x2160 (4K);
Antialiasing (MSAA): OFF - IMPORTANT! (any anti-aliasing will screw up background alignment and you'll get seams/lines in the game world);

In-game options:
FSAA Filter: DISABLE - IMPORTANT! (same as above - AA will introduce background seams)

Result: 4K SCREENSHOT[cdn.discordapp.com] (night time in my screenshot, but you get the idea).
Vanilla game (no rebalancing), but with sharper visuals! The only downside so far is that the very main menu is a bit split-up, but it does not matter, since it's not the game itself.

I use 4K DLDSR to play, so these are my settings above.

My native screen res is 1440p and for that I need to reduce the original resolution (in the settings.cfg file) to 1280x720, then apply 2560x1440 via dgVoodoo (all the other settings stay the same) to avoid any of the aforementioned seams/lines.

1440p SCREENSHOT[cdn.discordapp.com]

If it's not clear yet - you are, ideally, upscaling via dgVoodoo at an integer factor (no decimals), so for something like a 5120x2880 (5K) output resolution - you're still using 720p base, but set 5K as the output (for a neat 4x in each axis).

So here's a 5K SCREENSHOT[cdn.discordapp.com]

Likewise you adjust the base res for your target resolution (divide each axis up by 2, 3, 4 or whatever so that your base res ends up 1920x1080 or below, otherwise PureHD doesn't like it)

A bit of elbow-grease and this game looks better than ever - I hope this helps someone in the future! :slight_smile:

[AQQABALAH ASPYRANT]

Publicado originalmente por AstroAss:

I went with the PureHD + dgVoodoo route and, after a bit of tinkering, got flawless results at 4K

I get error initializing DirtectX message when I run pureHD.exe :(

[Kekko63]

Hi, i put this mod on the steam deck game version, would you explain to me how to do it? Thank you

[LD玩游戏, 游戏玩LD]

Thanks a lot

[mihai.kimochi]

Hi everyone, Can this mode work on other language than Russian or english like spanish? If so what do i need to put?

[Jean]

Publicado originalmente por WulfNL:

Publicado originalmente por LOL:

Does anyone have a new link for this? Site listed just above is down.

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1vgLqhEfBL4m-865My399q8KiCtZGp_w7?usp=share_link

For whatever reason, this "130.1 version from January 2023" currently in the download link (as of typing) a modified Attack Speed bonus for Dwarven Lore, among other balance changes.

Whereas the "110 version from March 2024" currently in the Sacred Discord is called a "Pure version of pureHD with no changes to the game but the resolution."

Purists who expect a "pure" PureHD experience might want to consider downloading that Discord version instead of using the link above. Someone else might want to clear up the confusion (or correct me as needed) if they know anything about this, I'm just a messenger.

Sacred Discord: https://discord.gg/Duu4B8tgjv
Discord message link for the recent "pure" 1.10 version download: https://discord.com/channels/620726494687395840/848347064702468148/1217435750128422942

TLDR; newer version of older version by same author is on the discord for purists

Update: The above is still current (and personally recommended) as of January 13, 2025.

[hexaae]

INTRO/VIDEOS UGLY STRETCHED
Is there a way to play with PureHD for the widescreen res AND play the intro/videos with correct proportions (not horizontally stretched to fill the whole screen)?

[Atronel]

Thanks so much for letting me play my favorite childhood game! Glory to you!

[Skarjarcis]

Thank you so so much my friend¡¡

[Robbonius]

This is a simple guide for those who want to play Sacred Gold in Full HD without any reshade or any of that stuff so to speak.

First Step:

Download Pure HD Mod (https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1vgLqhEfBL4m-865My399q8KiCtZGp_w7?usp=share_link): it's a small modification which allows to play the game in widescreen, plus it fixes small bugs which are still present in the game without changing anything major of the core gameplay.

Copy PureHD.exe and pHD.dll from the zip into the main installation folder of your game. You don't need to copy Setting.cfg since there's nothing you need to change there aside from removing the default 128 VRAM limit by setting GFX_LIMIT128 : 1 to 0 and just save the changes and that's just it.


Second Step:

Download narzoul/DDrawCompat (https://github.com/narzoul/DDrawCompat/files/9736501/ddraw.zip) and copy ddraw.dll into your game folder.
Next run the game by clicking on pure hd.exe and while in the game just press shift+f11, it will bring up a menu, click the export button, and exit the game.


Last Step:

In the game folder you will find DDrawCompatOverlay-pureHD.ini file, click on it and replace the contents of the file with this:

AlternatePixelCenter = on
BltFilter = bilinear
Antialiasing = msaa8x(7)
DisplayFilter = bilinear(100)
FontAntialiasing = on
FpsLimiter = flipstart(60)
RenderColorDepth = 32
ResolutionScale = display(16)
ResolutionScaleFilter = bilinear
SpriteDetection = point
SpriteFilter = point
SpriteTexCoord = round(-1)
TextureFilter = af16x
VSync = on(1)

Save the changes and exit the file. and there you have it folks, this way you will be able to play Sacred Gold in Full HD without any additional apps.

Cfr.: ALL CREDIT GOES TO WILLIAM TOKAREV
original post on Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/Sacred/comments/168r9d3/sacred_gold_definitive_edition/