[Fix] [Corrupted File Save] - How to bring it you back in working manner!?

If like me you experienced a "Your file save is corrupted ... " .... WELL! Just read that and breathe again :)

The BIG Hit!

While the game is entertaining and use an autosave feature, there is some moments when the game didn't save your session properly.. and all it left is a corrupted file and your eyes on the edge to cry T_T

So if you've experiencing the same issue than I experienced, never give up. Your data can certainly be recovered with my Guide.

The issue is described in the screenshot I added as support picture.

The reason

The reason can be multiple:
Powering off the game while it not saved completely, a power surge, or even worse a save file not compatible from one version to the current one.

Wait! There is angelic hope in darkness!

Linux (as it's my operating system (OS)) or Windows have differents $savepath but same structure inside

Please don't cry, I can help you to successfully bring you back your save file.

Here is the procedure for two OS systems, only the path of the directories changes.

Remember the $savepath under Linux is :

(Where the game location for Steam is Installed)/steamapps/compatdata/449960/pfx/drive_c/users/steamuser/Application Data/Return2Games_WIP21

Remember the $savepath under Windows is :

C:\Users\(Your Windows Session Name)\Return2Games_WIP21

We will assuming that our SteamCloud ID will be by example: 12345678

0 - Close the game (it's no use to insist with the game still opened yet)

1 - Let now open and discover what it lies in the $savepath, there is your SteamCloud ID named folder and a folder exactly named likely the same but with ONE character missing and .corrupted term added.
BY EXAMPLE:
¤ one special folder named: 1234567.corrupted
¤ and another folder named: 12345678

/!\ NOTE: 1234567.corrupted is empty while 12345678 is not but is corrupted.
/!\ NOTE: 12345678 have YOUR save (characters, cards, achievements). But is unusable from now as the game keeps saying it's corrupted.

Aswell, at $savepath : There is also a bunch of many folders here and files :
_Global0
_Global1
Player0
Player1
general.dat
r2g_launcher_log.txt
steam_autocloud.vdf

2 - Now, go back to your 12345678 named folder.

/!\ The structure here seems a lot different but files required to bring your save in safe way are here. Listing them all would be useless, the fact is, we need only some files from there.
So ignore the "Player.files.backup" directory OR the "Joueur.files.backup" (in French Version, as I am).

Therefore, you can notice another same special directory named as *.files (where * is YOUR savename) ; Well, it's pretty simple here, let simplify it by an example ; MY FOLDER was named as "Temperance.files".
So for the example we use my name, but from your side, just browse your own named directory !

/!\ NOTE : The structure of "Temperance.files" is really full of folder and files, but here is some explanations of the structure.

$savepath/12345678/Temperance.files/game_bod_ccg = is useless, ignore it!
$savepath/12345678/Temperance.files/game_bod_v2 = is important, we need it, but ignore .dirty files, there are pretty useless.
$savepath/12345678/Temperance.files/game_general = is important, we need it, but ignore .dirty files, there are pretty useless.
$savepath/12345678/avatars.dat = is important file, we need it.

:: Now more explanations ::

\(^_^)/ ~~ In "game_bod_v2" there is 4 folders respectively named as:

- "slot_0" : it's the location of the demons.save, (probably containing if you killed OR not the archdemon, as the file is different from only 1 byte from a default new save).
- "slot_1" : it's the location of the game traveling ; then understand it as your dungeons percentage done and cards/characters unlocked.
- "slot_2" : it's your current cards setup ; your cards builds for the PRIMARY set (set #1).
- "slot_3" : it's your current cards setup ; your cards builds for the SECOND set (set #2).
- All .dirty files are useless. Ignore them!

\(^_^)/ ~~ In "game_general" there is 1 folder respectively named as:

- "slot_0" : it's the location of your unlocked achievements, no more, no less. File is using binary octal representation, meaning that each achievement is 0 (locked) or 1 (unlocked), that's pretty simple, and it's just for your comprehension, you doesn't need editing anything!

\(^_^)/ ~~ And for the "avatars.dat" file, what is it's use?? :

- "avatars.dat" : it's the unlocked avatars and also your own avatar currently used in game.

3 - As you may discovering it, you can easily see the difference from an old save and a freshly new default save..
That's difficult to compare it as the FOLDERS structure aren't same.
Therefore, there is something that may interest you: files are the SAME.

So guess what?
You can restore it from your OLD save to your NEW save.
But don't do with haste, let just think how the things works in a NEW save from an OLD one.

Now let me explain you the structure of a NEW save (that mean from the root of your $savepath directory):

:: Now more explanations ::

\(^_^)/ ~~ In "_Global0" and "_Global1" there is 1 folder respectively named as:

- "files" : it's the unlocked avatars and also your own avatar currently used in game. The fact is while folders have a different name, the content must be the same from one to the other one.

\(^_^)/ ~~ In "_Player0" and "_Player1" there is 1 folder respectively named as:

- "files" : it containing all "slot_*" directories previously saw. The fact is while folders have a different name, the content must be the same from one to the other one.
-- subdirectories "slot_*" (where * is defined by an integer from 0 to 3) are same utility than OLD corrupted save file.

\(^_^)/ ~~ All others files respectively named as:

- "general.dat" : must remain as it. Ignore it and do not touch it (containing encoded profile name, DO NOT EDIT IT OUTSIDE OF THE GAME)!
- "r2g_launcher_log.txt" : must remain as it. Ignore it and do not touch it (Just a log file)!
- "steam_autocloud.vdf" : must remain as it. Ignore it and do not touch it (it's your SteamCloud ID)!

4 - There we are, now we understood the file structure, we can easily rebuild our save file from OLD to NEW structure.

\(^_^)/ ~~ We need to rebuild our:

- AVATAR(S) settings :
[Copy-From] - $savepath/12345678/avatars.dat
[Paste-Into] - $savepath/_Global0/files
[Paste-Into] - $savepath/_Global1/files
(overwrite the old content when it is asked for).

- ACHIEVEMENTS settings :
[Copy-From] - $savepath/12345678/Temperance.files/game_general/slot_0/achievements.dat
[Paste-Into] - $savepath/Player0/files
[Paste-Into] - $savepath/Player1/files
(overwrite the old content when it is asked for).

- DEMONS settings :
[Copy-From] - $savepath/12345678/Temperance.files/game_bod_v2/slot_0/demons.save
[Paste-Into] - $savepath/Player0/files/slot_0
[Paste-Into] - $savepath/Player1/files/slot_0
(overwrite the old content when it is asked for).

- DUNGEONS/CARDS/CHARACTERS settings :
[Delete-Everything-Into] - $savepath/Player0/files/slot_1
[Delete-Everything-Into] - $savepath/Player1/files/slot_1
[Copy-Everything-From] - $savepath/12345678/Temperance.files/game_bod_v2/slot_1
[Paste-Into] - $savepath/Player0/files/slot_1
[Paste-Into] - $savepath/Player1/files/slot_1
(overwrite the old content when it is asked for).

- PRIMARY CARDS BUILD settings :
[Delete-Everything-Into] - $savepath/Player0/files/slot_2
[Delete-Everything-Into] - $savepath/Player1/files/slot_2
[Copy-Everything-From] - $savepath/12345678/Temperance.files/game_bod_v2/slot_2
[Paste-Into] - $savepath/Player0/files/slot_2
[Paste-Into] - $savepath/Player1/files/slot_2
(overwrite the old content when it is asked for).

- SECOND CARDS BUILD settings :
[Delete-Everything-Into] - $savepath/Player0/files/slot_3
[Delete-Everything-Into] - $savepath/Player1/files/slot_3
[Copy-Everything-From] - $savepath/12345678/Temperance.files/game_bod_v2/slot_3
[Paste-Into] - $savepath/Player0/files/slot_3
[Paste-Into] - $savepath/Player1/files/slot_3
(overwrite the old content when it is asked for).

- LAST THING TO DO for overwrite your SteamCloud old saved game save (which is corrupted in fact).
[Delete] $savepath/12345678
[Delete] $savepath/1234567.corrupted

5 - Now we are ready!
Just launch your Game.
And when SteamCloud ask which game save version to keep, just select your LOCAL one!
(do not pay attention to the date, as we merged the old files within the new one, it's normal to have some anterior dates from current one!)

Let Steam upload your save (just wait), and the game will start soon.

6 - Your savefile is restored! That's done!
Have fun in your game with your restored game save !

Kiss and hugs.

[._.Stashed Girl._.]

Hi pendantry, yes, I explain both strategy to bring saves back on both operating system: Windows or Linux. There is only one differences to take in consideration if you're on Windows.
It's the location of the save files:
- C:\Users\(Your Windows Session Name)\Return2Games_WIP21
OR sometimes it can be: C:\Users\(Your Windows Session Name)\Return2Games_WIP21

But you can see in the screenshot I added to guess and access the Application Data in Windows ;)

Just take a try ;)

And, as I dislike lossing my games saves, I naturally think that it's also the case of many people: losing games saves when long time playing involved in are on the road, is always a huge big hit xD !

[peNdantry]

I have to admit that I have no clue if your advice here is good as I'm on Windows, not Linux. But kudos for trying to help others!