Give us some more info: do you get an error message? Does the game crash? Does it get stuck at a blank screen? Does DOSBox crash?

If it gets stuck at a blank screen, one thing you may want to try is deleting the file "SETTINGS" from the Zool directory.

I tried running the game executable but it exits out and prints a selection of weird computer characters. It does the same even without settings.dat

Please read the guidelines for requesting help and provide all of the information mentioned (it's the top thread in the forum). People can't help you if they don't know:
- What your exact setup is
- What exactly you're doing
- What exactly is happening as a result

If any of those is missing then it's just a guessing game or we have to go around in circles asking 20 questions to get the needed info.

Actually, that gave me all the necessary info. He has a cracked version of the game. The trick to get it working is blindingly obvious, but since it's pirated, I'm not going to disclose it here.

🤣

gothic_hobbit wrote:

I tried running the game executable but it exits out and prints a selection of weird computer characters. It does the same even without settings.dat

works here ill attach a shot of the game version CRCs

That's the sequel dude.

And yes, I am using a cracked version.

Do I need to seek out an uncracked legal copy for it to work ?

That should work, yes.