IIRC, the "scrunched video" problem is related to VESA and can be resolved with a VESA driver (e.g. SciTech Display Doctor) and/or command line switches made available in a patch. Not sure if you need 1.03 in addition to 1.05, but both patches are here.

My italian is a bit rusty, but from google translate it seems these patches are mainly for running the game under Windows XP?
I've downloaded SDD though, and I'll try it tomorrow. If that doesn't work, I'll try with my Trident 9440 graphics card.

Ignore what's written on the page, it's just a place to get the patches (which were released in 1996 for DOS).

Aye, I decided to do just that. Had another look at them and gave them a go. Sorted the graphics issues.
I've been waiting a few years to finish this game.
Thanks 😀

Love this forum - of course, the only place in the world where someone else had this issue with a solution included....thanks!

I have tried installing both patches and still have this issue. Is that the case with anyone else?
Running 32-bit windows , intel on-board graphics. Widescreen laptop monitor. Config file is set to original video resolution.

The v1.03 patch is the one you need for VESA issues.
You also have to start the game with command line options to disable VESA 2.0.

- Added command line options to INSTALL, SETUP, and RIPPER to disable support for Vesa 2.0, disable use of protected mode ba […]
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- Added command line options to INSTALL, SETUP, and RIPPER to disable
support for Vesa 2.0, disable use of protected mode bank switching code,
or both. Use /V1, /V2, or /V3 (respectively) to disable these features.
Example:
RIPPER /V3
This will run Ripper, disabling support for both Vesa 2.0 and protected
mode bank switching code.

You can still use the /V option to force Ripper to run in 480 line mode.

If you experience black screens or apparent lock ups, try this:
RIPPER /V /V3

I had the video issues when I was using svga_s3 Vesa 2.0 Compatible.
When I tried vesa_oldvbe VESA 1.2 compatible. Game was perfect.