diff --git a/polymer/eduke32/build/include/build.h b/polymer/eduke32/build/include/build.h
index e291f6802..28727c9bd 100644
--- a/polymer/eduke32/build/include/build.h
+++ b/polymer/eduke32/build/include/build.h
@@ -567,6 +567,7 @@ void   setbasepaltable(uint8_t **basepaltable, uint8_t basepalcount);
 void   setbrightness(char dabrightness, uint8_t dapalid, uint8_t flags);
 void   setpalettefade(char r, char g, char b, char offset);
 void   squarerotatetile(int16_t tilenume);
+void fade_screen_black(int32_t moreopaquep);
 
 int32_t   setgamemode(char davidoption, int32_t daxdim, int32_t daydim, int32_t dabpp);
 void   nextpage(void);
diff --git a/polymer/eduke32/build/src/engine.c b/polymer/eduke32/build/src/engine.c
index fdac7b856..9a8022b87 100644
--- a/polymer/eduke32/build/src/engine.c
+++ b/polymer/eduke32/build/src/engine.c
@@ -2298,6 +2298,28 @@ static inline int32_t getpalookup(int32_t davis, int32_t dashade)
 
 static void setpalettefade_calc(uint8_t offset);
 
+void fade_screen_black(int32_t moreopaquep)
+{
+    if (getrendermode() >= 3)
+    {
+        // we have a ~1 px horizontal line if we don't shift y by -1,
+        // might need a fix in rotatesprite!
+        rotatesprite_fs(0, -(1<<16), 65536<<3, 0, 0,0,4,10+16+1+((!moreopaquep)*32)+1024);  // tile 0: 64x32
+    }
+    else
+    {
+        int32_t i;
+        const int32_t shiftamnt = ((!!moreopaquep)*8);
+
+        assert(!offscreenrendering);
+
+        begindrawing();
+        for (i=0; i<xdim*ydim; i++)
+            ((uint8_t *)frameplace)[i] = transluc[(((uint8_t *)frameplace)[i])<<shiftamnt];
+        enddrawing();
+    }
+}
+
 
 // returns: 0=continue sprite collecting;
 //          1=break out of sprite collecting;
diff --git a/polymer/eduke32/source/menus.c b/polymer/eduke32/source/menus.c
index 0cd913935..266ba8de2 100644
--- a/polymer/eduke32/source/menus.c
+++ b/polymer/eduke32/source/menus.c
@@ -626,17 +626,12 @@ void M_DisplayMenus(void)
     g_player[myconnectindex].ps->gm &= (0xff-MODE_TYPE);
     g_player[myconnectindex].ps->fta = 0;
 
-    x = 0;
+//    x = 0;
 
     sh = 4-(sintable[(totalclock<<4)&2047]>>11);
 
-    if (getrendermode() >= 3)
-    {
-        int32_t x,y=0;
-        for (; y<ydim; y+=tilesizy[MENUSCREEN])
-            for (x=0; x<xdim; x+=tilesizx[MENUSCREEN])
-                rotatesprite_fs(x<<16,y<<16,65536L,0,MENUSCREEN,80,0,1+8+16);
-    }
+    // black translucent background
+    fade_screen_black(1);
 
     if (!(g_currentMenu >= 1000 && g_currentMenu <= 2999 && g_currentMenu >= 300 && g_currentMenu <= 369))
         G_UpdateScreenArea();
@@ -1895,8 +1890,8 @@ cheat_for_port_credits:
                 for (m=0,i=(totalclock/104)%numlines; m<6; m++,i++)
                 {
                     if (i==numlines) i=0;
-                    minitext(161-(Bstrlen(scroller[i])<<1), 101+10+10+8+4+(m*7)-l, (char *)scroller[i], 4, 10+16+128);
-                    minitext(160-(Bstrlen(scroller[i])<<1), 100+10+10+8+4+(m*7)-l, (char *)scroller[i], 8, 10+16+128);
+                    minitext(161-(Bstrlen(scroller[i])<<1), 101+10+10+8+4+(m*7)-l, scroller[i], 4, 10+16+128);
+                    minitext(160-(Bstrlen(scroller[i])<<1), 100+10+10+8+4+(m*7)-l, scroller[i], 8, 10+16+128);
                 }
             }