As title states.

I have the game installed to D:\Populous 2
Ran the setup as admin and also have the game exe file set to run as admin
UAC is disabled on my machine
Running Windows 7 Home Premium 64Bit

So, start a conquest game and do the first map against the first deity. Get through this no issues at all. Finish map and get the stats screen, then onto the screen where you add your earned points.

Here I hit save and it says deity info saved (along those lines) then click proceed and it goes back to the title screen.

Click conquest again and it starts you off as if you just hadn't just done anything and you are up against the very first deity with your standard stats.

This has me baffled, I have tried writing the code down it gives you as on the Amiga you used that long code to restore your game. However I am wondering about some form of protection as at the top of the first screen there is a block you can add a few digits of text to and beside it has Number #. I am getting vague recollections of said Amiga version where you had to add a code from a key type card here before clicking continue, if you didn't it would not let you past the first map.

Anyone got any ideas on this one as its starting to wear a bit thin having to do the first scenario over and over trying to work out what is happening and before I contact GOG support.

Hi there! I'm not entirely sure if it is relevant, but for me to get back into my saved game for conquest mode, I first need to replay the first mission (whenever I start the game) And at the end of that click 'load'.

You can defeat the first mission in a few seconds by removing the land beneath your opponents 3 villagers to drown them. After you've done that, click 'load' in the score screen, then continue. Hopefully that will work.

Click "Create your Deity" when you launch Pop 2. Then load your guy.
Back up to the main screen and click Conquest game. Now the level you were at should pop up.

You've quite definitely solved the issue by now but I'll explain for future users:

The way Populous 2 stores data may be pretty confusing at first but basically all you wanna do is maintain your "deity" which is basically your player profile. It stores the name, the looks and the skills of your deity as well as the current mission you're on - all this data is also stored in the "password" on the deity screen.

So all you want to do is click on "save" on this deity screen after each mission. And whenever you start Populous 2 the first thing you wanna do is click on "create your own deity" and then on "load". Then just click on "custom game" on the main screen and you will continue where you left off last time (with the same deity progress and on the same map).

Note that the current map is stored separately and you can switch levels on the "conquest game" screen without abandoning your character. Just type in one of the previous level passwords if you want to replay an earlier level with your current deity.

The other saving and loading feature is only for saving progress ingame but let's be honest - each mission in Populous 2 is so short that you won't ever need to. You're better of just sticking to the buttons on the deity screen. As thekinger explained (but I'm not sure he replied to your post, so maybe you didn't see it) you can instantly view that screen by clicking on "create your deity" on the main screen, so you don't have to beat a level first.

Massively helpful! This should be stickied. I don't think I ever figured this out as a kid. I just remember playing the first few levels over and over... :(

Glad I could help!