Carmageddon ships with the older nGlide renderer version, which is harder to configure and works much worse.
Luckily, ProtonDB user Skau[www.protondb.com] prepared a package with an updated nGlide version that supports Vulcan, and we can just replace the old nGlide with it.

In order to achieve that, do the following:

1. Enter Desktop Mode
   Hold the Power button for 3 seconds and select "Switch to Desktop" option in the Power menu.
   
   At this point, it's worth connecting a keyboard to the Deck or using something like Steam Link to control the deck remotely from your local PC.
   
   
2. Open Firefox browser from the start menu (it might be just a link to the download page, download and install it then) and enter the following URL to download new binaries - https://sharemods.com/m6ydwns8o009/nglide2.10.7z.html
   
   After the file has been downloaded open Dolphin (file explorer), navigate to Downloads, and double-click on carma-winmm.zip
   
   Make the Window full screen and select "Show Hidden Files" as shown on the screenshot
   Then select Home in the "Places" tab on the left and navigate to .steam → steam → steamapps → common → Carmageddon2
   
   Here *important* untick the Extraction into subfolder option and press Extract
   
   A window will pop up asking for your permission to overwrite the files.
   Select "Apply to All" and click "Overwrite"

We're done with the Desktop Mode.
Exit it by clicking "Return to Gaming Mode" icon on the Desktop

In the Gaming Mode select Carmageddon 2, → click on the Cog (settings) button → Properties...

In the General tab find LAUNCH OPTIONS field and fill in the following (again, a keyboard will make everything much easier).


This will change the following:

• WINEDLLOVERRIDES="winmm=n,b - Fixes music not being played during the game
  
• NGLIDE_BACKEND=2 - Will switch to Vulcan renderer
  
• NGLIDE_RESOLUTION=9 - Sets resolution to Deck's native 720p
  
• NGLIDE_ASPECT=0 - Sets a correct aspect ratio to Deck's native

You can find the rest of the settings here - https://www.zeus-software.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=796

Just place the settings before %command% part.
For example, I disabled the VSync to decrease latency.

There's a great Controller Layout available made by I Love My Kitty, but I had to modify it slightly.

I removed F4 from the Back Button, if you accidentally press it with a Right Stick Click (aka Alt+F4), it shutdowns the game. I did it like 4 times, lol.

I also added Z to one of the Back Buttons.
It allows you to "wiggle" your car a bit when it's on the side or stuck in the terrain.
Comes in handy in every race.

You can find my layout as Carmageddon II: Steam Deck Modified


Cheats work very strangely, and this is not really related to the Steam Deck I suppose.
I don't like doing missions, so I use cheat SMARTBASTARD to skip them (type it while in any race to skip the race/mission).

But, in order for this to work, I need to switch the layout in the game settings to layout B.
Then exit the menu back to the race, and summon the on-screen keyboard (Steam Button + X) to type in the cheat.

Most of the time for some reason my game is crashing after switching the layout and halfway trough typing the cheat, but you can just start the race again and try re-entering the cheat again. It should work fine on the 2nd try.

After you entered the cheat, wait for about one second for it to register.

I haven't tried other cheats, but it's possible keyboard binds in the settings are interfering with the cheats, so it's better to create a separate control layout with everything unbound for entering cheats.


I tried to follow this guide but it basically halved the performance, not worth it in my opinion.

Thank you to I Love My Kitty for a great controller layout
And skau for sharing nGlide files and configuration details.

If you would like to add anything to the guide, please let me know in the comments.