You have searched all over the internet but everyone has been telling you to go enable DirectPlay or reinstalling your Windows. But what if there's no DirectPlay and you also don't want to reinstalling Windows? You're lost, and it seems like there's no way out. Read on!

If you can't enable DirectPlay via Optional Features following this guide:
https://psteamcommunity.yuanyoumao.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=972239958

Here's what I found.

You know, you cannot install Directx 8 anymore, so...
I find Directx 8.2 archive from oldversion site, and extract all 'supposedly' relevant files from it.
I have then narrowed down what seems to get the game running. Here it is.

*NEW*
dplayx.dll from DirectX 9 archive. (try this first, it should yield better performance)
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1kA_vhVNmUkvoTgRe9vxinn1qCPbS3OyV/view

or
dplayx.dll from DirectX 8.2 archive.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1jYCinP71g_kNqZU6WhXlfasfJTL5HIqd/view

Just extract this .dll to your game folder with .exe
You can now run the game!

PS. There's no virus, scan if you want.
PS2. If it doesn't work, then try extract this whole folder instead.(dx8.2) (pass is xinge)
https://drive.google.com/file/d/126jVndtoy_IIYhwRNGUzoY7uJm_WxkS2/view
PS3. There're two dplay dlls, dplay.dll and dplayx.dll. I suspect it might relate to 32/64bit? If you need dplay.dll, it's included in above archive.

Good luck!