Patching the game to v1.02 on Steam (incl. crash fixes and extended graphics options) (2024)

I will guide you through the process of applying the official patch v0.2 (released date 2002-10-07) to the Steam version of the game that was made available in early 2017. After applying the patch the game will launch as version 1.02.

This patch will solve numerous issues, bugs and crashes in the original release and also unlock some graphics settings as well as the option to disable pre-loading cache files which fixes at least one game-breaking crash on nGlide version of the executable.

The patching process in it's entirety shouldn't take more than 5 minutes.

Keywords: Messiah, Messiah (2000), Interplay, patch, bug fix, crash, crash fix, game crash, workaround, fix

Patch changelog

Below is the official patch changelog released by Shiny Entertainment.

Originally posted by messiah.com - Troubleshooting:

What does the patch 0.2 solve?

- Fixed graphical corruption when high resolution character setting was selected.
- Game no longer calls setgamma more than once per frame to avoid pallette corruption and system hangs on the GeForce video cards.
- Added menu option to turn on functionality for FSAA on Voodoo 5 and GeForce 2 video cards.
- Addressed general stability problems.
- Crash fixed when saving and loading during kissing animations.
- Menu option added to disable level pre-loading to address an issue where some systems would hang during heavy combat or loading of a new area.
- Graphic corruption fixed between levels while loading.
- Graphic corruption fixed when quitting current game and starting a new one from the main menu.
- Respawn added to the Outskirts area to address logic problem.
- Issue addressed where player could exit the level into black void near the entrance to the Wasteplant.
- Fixed various issues with F5 message.
- Fixed various problems with CD music loops.
- Fixed issue with end sequence not playing after saving and loading in the Satan boss arena.
- Fixed various minor gameplay issues.

- Says I don't have enough space for installing patch even though I do.

Downloading the patch from Interplay

The v0.2 patch was made available on the Interplay support page on 2002-10-07 and can be directly downloaded from the website archived on Wayback Machine[web.archive.org]. The link to the patch installer can be found in the bottom of the page. The link is still alive as of November 2024.

Or alternatively you can use the direct link[web.archive.org] to download the patch.

Manually unpacking the patch

Once downloaded, the patch has to be manually unpacked to circumvent an error that prevents the installer from executing properly as Steam's directory structure differs from that of the retail version of the game. If you try to run the installer you will be greeted with a 'Messiah was not found, please install Messiah before installing the patch' error message.

To unpack the patch installer you can use a suitable file archiver tool. I personally use 7-zip[www.7-zip.org] and can confirm that it can succesfully unpack the installer.

Next you need to unpack the file. With 7-zip this can be done quickest by right-clicking on the file, 7-zip -> Extract to "messiah02\". You should end up with a new folder with a bunch of different files inside, some very familiar looking.

You are now done with unpacking!

Just for the record, there is most likely a way to make the actual patch installer work as it seems to use a installation path key in the following registry entry to determine game installation location:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Sofware\Shiny\Messiah\1.00.000

The Steam version of the game actually runs a batch file that runs a registry edit to update some game-specific keys in the registry. However I'm not sure if it works as intended.

Applying the patch

To apply the patch we need to copy the main executable from the unpacked patch folder over the existing old one in the game's working directory overwriting it.

To do this, copy the file named MessiahGlide3x.exe from your unpacked patch folder and paste in:

X:\...\SteamLibrary\steamapps\common\Messiah\game

When you are prompted with a Replace or Skip Files dialogue choose to Replace the file in the destination.

If you play the game with the Direct3D executable you want to copy file named MessiahD3D.exe instead. I personally recommend running the game with nGlide if possible, especially on Windows 10.

Confirming that the patch works and disabling pre-loading of cache files

To confirm that the patch works, start the game either through your Steam Library or running MessiahGlide3x.exe in the installation directory. Upon launching you might see v1.02 on the bottom left corner before main menu.

Once the game has started, go to Options and Video Settings. You should now see a couple of new options including the ability to enable/disable ELSA compability, MIP mapping, polygon strips, full screen anti-aliasing et cetera.

In order to fix at least one known game breaking crash you need to disable pre-loading of cache files.

Crash description, no spoilers:

The crash occurs roughly 30-40 minutes into the game. After fighting in a hall where a constant wave-like conflict between the 'chots' and the 'cops' occurs the player can enable power to a lift that takes them to the next floor and leaves them right next to a gate. On the old, unpatched Steam version of the game opening the gate with the use key crashes the game instantly (verified on nGlide executable / Windows 10). However the crash does not occur if the patch has been installed and pre-loading of cache files is disabled, thus allowing you to continue the game past this point.

Note that I have not confirmed whether other new available graphics options actually work.

Extras - Running nGlide configuration tool

As Steam doesn't provide any dialogue or a link to the nGlide configuration tool upon launching the game, I figured I'd also include that in this guide.

The Steam version of the game comes shipped with the nGlide wrapper made by Zeus Software[www.zeus-software.com] that allows us to run the game in higher resolution, on a higher refresh rate, enable virtual sync et cetera.

You can run the config tool named nglide_config.exe located in the Messiah installation directory:

X:\...\SteamLibrary\steamapps\common\Messiah\game

The nGlide 1.04 configurator allows you to:

• Change your screen resolution up to 7680 x 4320
  
• Specify aspect ratio
  
• Choose refresh rate (up to 144 Hz)
  
• Enable or disable vertical synchronization aka. v-sync
  
• Adjust gamma correction
  
• Disable 3Dfx logo splash screen

Remember to apply changes before exiting the tool and running the game.

Credits

That's all for now! I hope this helps other fans to run this highly underrated game made by Shiny Entertainment back in 2000.

Credits:

• Interplay Support pages & Wayback Machine for hosting the patch installer
  
• GOG.com forums for troubleshooting tips for the GOG-version of the game (some of which apply to the Steam version as well)
  
• Wayback Machine for hosting an archived copy of messiah.com with the patch changelog
  
• Myself (patch workaround & other troubleshooting and testing)

[Lilihierax]

It does indeed look like they might have updated the repo at some point. I think SteamDB could have some clues as to when it might've happened. The first two entries of the changelog you quoted look awfully similar to what the developers posted on messiah.com back in the day.

I guess one way to check would be to have a look at the game options. Formerly the only way to unlock some additional graphical settings was to patch the game to 1.2.

"To confirm that the patch works, start the game either through your Steam Library or running MessiahGlide3x.exe in the installation directory. Upon launching you might see v1.02 on the bottom left corner before main menu.

Once the game has started, go to Options and Video Settings. You should now see a couple of new options including the ability to enable/disable ELSA compability, MIP mapping, polygon strips, full screen anti-aliasing et cetera."

[Southern-CobraCommander]

I wonder if version 1.02 is already patched. I see this in the read me (D:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Messiah\game), then scroll down to the read me.


====================================
Messiah (TM)
Update: 0.2
====================================
====================
TABLE OF CONTENTS
====================

- 0.5 Changes in Update 0.2

- 0.75 Changes in Update 0.1


========================================
0.5 CHANGES IN UPDATE 0.2
========================================

- Fixed graphical corruption when high resolution character setting
was selected.

- Game no longer calls setgamma more than once per frame to avoid
pallette corruption and system hangs on the GeForce video cards.

and it goes on to list more.

[Southern-CobraCommander]

How do you check the Steam version currently installed?
Anyone know?

[.kkringe 💪🐘RUS]

Thanks, man :)

[Lilihierax]

Link(s) to the patch installer have been updated & work again! Interplay might have shut down their website but Wayback Machine had a suitable cached copy of the support page where the patch was originally hosted.

[juanito86]

Thanks @Doctor Foo and @Tyranis for the help with the patch, I was able to solve my issues. Additionally, for solving the issues with the sound being lost in some scenes (for example when Satan and Bob are talking), I recommend overriding the winmm file in the game folder with the one here: https://github.com/bangstk/ogg-winmm/releases/tag/1.2 - I´ve read this in GOG forums

[Tek It x Tek]

Links to the patch are dead as December 2023.

[Vicktoria Shepard]

ссылка на патч, вдруг в 2022 не только я инраю в этот раритет https://soggi.org/files/misc/game-patches/Messiah_0.2.7z

[Swole_Joel]

Can someone please make a YouTube video covering this. I don’t know how to input these types of stuff lol

[Moffin]

will this fix the crashes on map change