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Cryostasis

From PCGamingWiki, the wiki about fixing PC games
Cryostasis
Cryostasis cover
Developers
Action Forms
Publishers
Steam 1C Company
North America Aspyr Media
Europe 505 Games
Japan Zoo Corporation
Engines
AtmosFear 4
Release dates
Windows February 27, 2009
Reception
Metacritic 69
IGDB 65
Taxonomy
Microtransactions None
Modes Singleplayer
Pacing Real-time
Perspectives First-person
Controls Direct control
Genres Adventure, Shooter
Art styles Realistic
Themes Arctic, Horror, Supernatural
Cryostasis on HowLongToBeat
Cryostasis on IGDB
Cryostasis guide on StrategyWiki
Cryostasis on MobyGames
Cryostasis on Wikipedia

Key points

Supports Hardware PhysX and allows for additional PhysX effects on Nvidia cards.
Badly optimized and has numerous problems with performance, even on systems with specs way above recommended ones.[1]

General information

GOG.com Community Discussions
GOG.com Support Page
Steam Community Discussions

Availability

Source DRM Notes Keys OS
Retail
Disc check (requires the CD/DVD in the drive to play)
StarForce 5 DRM (Russian release) and SecuROM 7 DRM (Europe release) [2].
Russian title - "Анабиоз. Сон разума" (literally "Anabioz: Son Razuma")
Windows
GamersGate (unavailable)
DRM-free after installation (requires an internet connection during installation)
[3]
Windows
GOG.com (unavailable)
DRM-free
Windows
Steam (unavailable)
Icon overlay.png
Windows
Amazon.com (unavailable)
DRM details are not known
Digital download is no longer available.
Windows
Original (russian) retail-release can be played without needing the CD, if installed official patch version 1.01. [4]
North American retail version and GamersGate release has no DRM.
This game is not available digitally anymore.

Essential improvements

Patch

Patch 1.1 can be downloaded here. Among other things, it enables PhysX and disables DRM. Already included with digital releases.[5]

Skip intro videos

Edit init.cfg[6]
  1. Go to <path-to-game>\Data\Scripts\
  2. Open init.cfg with a text editor.
  3. Change r.showlogos 1 to r.showlogos 0
  4. Save the changes.

Patch 32 bits Cryostasis.exe to use 4 GB on Windows 64 bits

Patch Cryostasis.exe to use 4 GB RAM in 64 bits Windows[7]

Because Cryostasis is a 32 bit program, in Windows it only can use 2 GB of memory for the game. In 64 bit systems, it also uses as 2 GB at maximum, but you can patch 32 bits EXE to use 4 GB of RAM in 64 bits systems.

  1. Download NTCore 4GB Patch
  2. Apply the patch in <path-to-game>\Cryostasis.exe
  3. Play the game
It increases the performance and helps avoiding known issues.
Only works when playing the game in 64 bits Windows.
Doesn't work with the Steam version, but you can use the EXE from the 1.1/PhysX patch to replace and patch the Steam Cryostasis.exe.

Game data

Configuration file(s) location

System Location
Windows <path-to-game>\config.cfg[Note 1]
Steam Play (Linux) <Steam-folder>/steamapps/compatdata/7850/pfx/[Note 2]

Save game data location

System Location
Windows <path-to-game>\Data\Save\[Note 1]
Steam Play (Linux) <Steam-folder>/steamapps/compatdata/7850/pfx/[Note 2]

Save game cloud syncing

System Native Notes
GOG Galaxy
Steam Cloud

Video

General settings.
General settings.

Graphics feature State WSGF Notes
Widescreen resolution
Natively supports 16:9 and 16:10 resolutions such as 1920x1080 and 1680x1050.
Multi-monitor
If needed change @r.aspectratio = 1.600000 to the desired aspect ratio in config.cfg. Game is Vert- and FOV needs to be increased to compensate.
Ultra-widescreen
If needed change @r.aspectratio = 1.600000 to the desired aspect ratio in config.cfg. Game is Vert- and FOV needs to be increased to compensate.
4K Ultra HD
Field of view (FOV)
Default FOV is 80°. See Field of view (FOV).
Windowed
Borderless only. See Windowed.
Borderless fullscreen windowed
Enable Windowed and select the desktop resolution in-game.
Anisotropic filtering (AF)
Toggle On/Off
Anti-aliasing (AA)
Toggle On/Off
Vertical sync (Vsync)
60 FPS and 120+ FPS
No frame rate or refresh rate cap.[8] DirectX 10 (Shader Model 4.0) mode is switching the display to 60 Hz refresh when using fullscreen.
High dynamic range display (HDR)
See the glossary page for potential alternatives.

Field of view (FOV)

Edit config files[6]
  1. Open these files with a text editor:
  2. Find the first instance of r.fov 80 and change 80 to the desired FOV in all three files.
  3. Save the changes.

Notes

Changing FOV can be tested in the console by modifying the r.fov cvar.
The distance of the player camera can also be changed.

Windowed

Edit init.cfg[citation needed]
  1. Go to <path-to-game>\Data\Scripts\
  2. Open init.cfg with a text editor.
  3. Change r.windowed 0 to r.windowed 1
  4. Save the changes.

Notes

Only works if using Shader Model 2.0 or 3.0 in-game.
The window is locked to the top-left corner of the screen.

Input

Audio

Audio feature State Notes
Separate volume controls
Single volume slider
Surround sound
Up to 7.1 output[9]
Subtitles
Located under "Game" settings
Closed captions
Mute on focus lost
EAX support
EAX 5.0.
Royalty free audio

Localizations

Language UI Audio Sub Notes
English
Czech
Retail Only.
French
German
Retail Only.
Hungarian
Retail Only.
Italian
Retail Only.
Polish
Retail Only. Patch for digital release here.
Russian
Spanish

Issues fixed

Noclip bug

A common problem that is encountered after saving in certain places and then reloading from that save point is the player will suddenly start clipping through walls and be unable to progress normally.
Use console commands[citation needed]
  1. Open the console with ~.
  2. Type in d.noclip=0 and press Enter.
  3. Type in d.fly=1 and press Enter.

"The program cannot start because PhysXLoader.dll is missing from your computer" error at launch

It provides no error message if launched from Steam. This error only appears on direct launch.
Install PhysX legacy

Install the NVIDIA PhysX Legacy System Software.

Advanced PhysX effects not rendering in-game

Install PhysX and set it up
  1. Install Legacy PhysX Software and up-to-date PhysX Software.
  2. Choose your GPU as PhysX Processor in Nvidia Control Panel.
  3. Select Shader Model 4.0 and enable Advanced Effects in the game's video settings.

"Cryostasis Termination" error on startup

On startup, the game crashes directly to an error message stating "Effect::Load() failed. screen_00.fxo File not found".
Change Shader version in config file[citation needed]
  1. Go to the installation folder.
  2. Open config.cfg in a text editor such as Notepad++.
  3. Change @r.shadermodel = 3 to @r.shadermodel = 4.

Black Screen on startup

On startup, the game is a black screen but has audio.
Change Resolution in the config file to your native resolution[10]
  1. Go to the installation folder.
  2. Open config.cfg in a text editor such as Notepad++.
  3. Change @v.sx = 800 to @v.sx = (x width).
  4. Change @v.sy = 600 to @v.sy = (y height).

Cryostasis Termination: Can't upload texture / Random Crash

Termination Window Error "Can't load Textures" (When loading a savegame)
Termination Window Error "Can't load Textures" (When loading a savegame)
Termination Window Error "Can't load Textures" (Randomly during the gameplay)
Termination Window Error "Can't load Textures" (Randomly during the gameplay)

Randomly during loading a savegame, or simply trying to doing somethiing, it crash without warning but sometimes with this kind of warning.[11]

Example:

Cryostasis Termination

Can't upload texture:

***PATHFILE***
Size: 2048x2048
Probably your video hardware has no enough video memory.
Try to set less texture quality.

Script Stack Call:

→ uploadlevelresources
loadsavegame
loadlastsave
server_work_pfire
server_work_player

***PATHFILE*** is something like levels\materials\transp_frost\frost_n.tga, characters\creatures\jailer02\jailer02_n.tga, weapon\mosinnagan9130\mosin_optic_n.tga and many others, in a random way, as sometimes when reaching a point it happens, but the next time doesn't. The Script Stack Call section sometimes appear, sometimes doesn't.

Patch Cryostasis.exe to use 4 GB on Windows 64 bits[12]
Only works in 64 bits Windows OS.
Lower the quality video settings[13]
Only if you can't or wan't to patch the game with the 4 GB patch.

Random "Effect::Load() failed. ***.fxo File not found" crashes during gameplay

Termination Window Error "Effect::Load() failed" (When ending a level to load the new one)
Termination Window Error "Effect::Load() failed" (When ending a level to load the new one)
Termination Window Error "Effect::Load() failed" (Randomly during the gameplay)
Termination Window Error "Effect::Load() failed" (Randomly during the gameplay)

Random crashes (sometimes happen, sometimes doesn't) with the next template:

Effect::Load() failed. ***.fxo
File not found

Script Stack Call:
...
...

The ***.fxo filenames are like blur_00.fxo, optic_glass_00.fxo, screen_00.fxo, refract_screen_00.fxo, energy_noise_00.fxo, etc. The Script Stack Call section doesn't show every time.

Don't change the Shader Model during a playthrough[14]

If you change the Shader Model version in settings, you need to start a new game, although the game allows you to do continue the game with old saves. Older saves created with a different Shader Model setting can carry the old Shader Model setting and create a conflict in random parts of the game.

Tested with two different playthroughs from beginning sticking with Shader Model 3.0[15] and 4.0[16] seems to work. Changing the Shader Model between them in the middle creates the issue, although reverting the change seems to fix it.

Permanent blury vision

In Chapter 14 "Poison" after doing one of the Mental Echoes, the game will have permanently blury vision, even after reaching the next level.
Disable the various blur effects/water reflection/caustic and trigger the Mental Echo with a melee weapon equipped.

In Chapter 4 framerate drops to extremely low values

In Chapter 4 "Storm" while doing one of the Mental Echoes, if Advanced PhysX effects setting is On the framerate can drop to unplayable values.
Set Advanced PhysX effects to Off in video settings.
(Alternative) Turn off the water PhysX effects via config
  1. Go to the installation folder.
  2. Open config.cfg in a text editor such as Notepad++.
  3. Change @p.fluids = 1 to @p.fluids = 0.
Аfter the end of this Mental Echo, you can turn it back on.

Crash with "Could not create fluid. Probably Invalid fluid parameters" error

In Chapter 14 "Poison" while doing one of the Mental Echoes, if Advanced PhysX effects setting is On, the game will crash at the moment when the glacier collides with the starboard side of the ship.
In Chapter 17 "Chronos " If the battle with Chronos lasts too long and Advanced PhysX effects setting is On, the game can crash.
Set Advanced PhysX effects to Off in video settings.
(Alternative) Turn off the water PhysX effects via config
  1. Go to the installation folder.
  2. Open config.cfg in a text editor such as Notepad++.
  3. Change @p.fluids = 1 to @p.fluids = 0.
Аfter completion this Mental Echo, you can turn it back on.

VR support

3D modes State Notes
vorpX
G3D
User created game profile, see vorpx forum profile introduction.

Other information

API

Technical specs Supported Notes
Direct3D 9, 10
Shader Model support 2, 3, 4
Executable 32-bit 64-bit Notes
Windows

Enable the console

Edit init.cfg[6]
  1. Go to <path-to-game>\Data\Scripts\
  2. Open init.cfg with a text editor.
  3. Change d.consoleh = 0 to d.consoleh = 1
  4. Save the changes.

Notes

Console is opened with ~ in-game.

Change camera distance

Setting a value above 30 causes visual bugs (if you stand with your back to any wall or door).
Edit autoexec.cfg[6]
  1. Go to the installation folder.
  2. Open autoexec.cfg with a text editor.
  3. Add c.camdist # where # represents the distance of the player camera (default is 0).
  4. Save the changes.

Notes

Changing camera distance can be tested in the console by modifying the c.camdist cvar.

Middleware

Middleware Notes
Physics PhysX

System requirements

Windows
Minimum Recommended
Operating system (OS) XP SP3
Processor (CPU) Intel Dual Core 2.0 GHz
AMD Athlon 4000+
System memory (RAM) 1 GB (XP) / 2 GB (Vista)
Hard disk drive (HDD) 6.5 GB
Video card (GPU) Nvidia GeForce 7600
AMD Radeon X1900


Notes

  1. 1.0 1.1 When running this game without elevated privileges (Run as administrator option), write operations against a location below %PROGRAMFILES%, %PROGRAMDATA%, or %WINDIR% might be redirected to %LOCALAPPDATA%\VirtualStore on Windows Vista and later (more details).
  2. 2.0 2.1 File/folder structure within this directory reflects the path(s) listed for Windows and/or Steam game data (use Wine regedit to access Windows registry paths). Games with Steam Cloud support may store data in ~/.steam/steam/userdata/<user-id>/7850/ in addition to or instead of this directory. The app ID (7850) may differ in some cases. Treat backslashes as forward slashes. See the glossary page for details.

References

  1. Cryostasis reviewed: Graphics cards and Physx benchmarks of the DX10 game - PC Games Hardware
  2. http://redump.org/disc/60312/
  3. https://web.archive.org/web/20120108022353/http://www.gamersgate.com/DD-CRYO/cryostasis-sleep-of-reason
  4. https://softclub.ru/games/pc/5628-anabioz-son-razuma#files
  5. Verified by User:Averygoodperson on 2023-04-08
    Some people say that the digital version isn't patched, but I compared the GOG and steam versions with the european patch and they were basically the same.
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Steam Community :: Guide :: Tweaking Cryostasis: A Quick-Start Guide
  7. Verified by User:LukasThyWalls on 2022-03-11
  8. New 120Hz Games Report - last accessed on May 2023
  9. PC Gaming Surround Sound Round-up - last accessed on May 2023
  10. web.archive.org - last accessed on 9 June 2023
  11. Verified by User:LukasThyWalls on 2022-03-11
  12. Verified by User:LukasThyWalls on 2022-03-11
  13. Verified by User:LukasThyWalls on 2022-03-11
  14. Verified by User:LukasThyWalls on 2022-03-24
  15. Verified by User:LukasThyWalls on 2022-04-01
  16. EponinePlays' Youtube Playthrough (Spanish) https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFmDpEukK49fLV5JfknT-_j4UDYUDkdUu