Game launcher won't launch the game. Even with SA Mod Manager

[QC_BlancoStarz]

Hello, it seems like a comon issue but I havent found a solution yet.
Launching the game from steam, or from the launcher, causes the launcher to run. When I click "Save settings and launch...", it closes the launcher and launches it again.

What I have tried:

Compatibility mode, launch as administrator. This just launches the launcher and has the same looping problem.

Rename launcher.exe and rename sonic2app.exe to launcher.exe. This just causes the app to loop launching itself and I need to kill it.

Install SA Mod Manager without any mods, and click "save and play". It launches the launcher. All I did is install the mod manager, made sure it detected the correct folder, and clicked save. No other modifications.

I am not sure what else to try, everything just makes the launcher run but not the game.
Any other ideas?

[mdesaleah]

Did you skip the initial message when you first launch the game? It takes a minute or two, but its required.

If you want a full reset. Manually delete the game files, then Verify. This is different from just uninstalling.

You'll also get that message again, and you have to wait until its done.

[QC_BlancoStarz]

I have tried to completely uninstall the game, and delete it's folder from my computer.
Ill see if there's a save folder somewhere as well as I have played a few years ago when I needed my nostalgia rush (Sonic 1 movie release lol)
I did not get any message when I launched the game. Straight to launcher.
For added details, I tried all 16:9 resolutions I could think of, both in 59hz and 60 hz.
Another added detail is in the mod launcher, I did select the game folder and clicked Install Mod Loader.

EDIT: Checked and apparently everything is within the steam common's folder :/
The behaviour is:
Launch from steam or from launcher.exe, get the launcher window, click save and launch, launcher closes and reopens immediately.

Im starting to think Ill have to pirate the game..

[MetoolMan]

Yeah, this seems very frustrating. I've also had a similar problem with this game refusing to launch in the past.

Keep in mind the Mod Manger is NOT compatible with pirated versions of the game if that's what you have to resort to, so I implore you to keep trying.

As an example: Are you using an outdated version of Windows, like Windows 7? Steam ITSELF no longer supports it so that might be an issue for some reason.

Also, SA Mod Manager generates a file in AppData / Local, so you might want to check that out. You can easily access AppData by typing %appdata% in your computers search bar.

Please remember I'm not a professional when it comes to technology and I'm only attempting to help guide you towards a solution. Good luck!

[MetoolMan]

Keep in mind you can also directly run sonic2app.exe as a temporary solution to the problem. If that doesn't work, I don't know what will.

[mdesaleah]

Uninstalling isnt the same as manually deleting the files then verifying.

I recommend then putting the SAModManager and installing it again after trying to open the main game for "the first time".

You can keep your saves if you back them up before.

[QC_BlancoStarz]

Sadly, launching sonic2app.exe launches the launcher. Even after renaming it to launcher.exe, it keeps relaunching itself as if the code of the executable was broken.

I am on Windows 10, up to date and non pirated.

When I uninstalled the game from Steam, I also deleted the left over folder in steamapps/common for the game. Couldn't find any other traces on my computer.

SAMonManager is indeed in the game folder.
I have tried to run the game, and then put it and install the mod loader (Manager Config -> Install Mod Loader)
And I have tried (after the uninstall and delete) to install the mod loader before launching the game.

Same issue in all cases. I wonder what causes that. As an IT professional, I am baffled.

EDIT: I tried a clean install after deleting the mod manager's files in Appdata as well but sadly other than asking me to choose the language and accept the TOS, nothing has changed. It it was a crash I could at least investigate it in the event viewer or checking crash dumps

[Descensus_ad_inferos]

This is how I solved that but I am not sure if it will work for you: In the "Manage 3D" settings in the control panel, add the Sonic2app.exe to customize. Then, in the option titled "preferred refresh rate" select "Application-controlled" and of course, apply. I also set the monitor technology to "Fixed Refresh" but I'm not sure if that helped at all.