If the game needs to start from Dos (i.e. starts a Dos window and tries to run it in the window), you can get the most recalcitrant Dos progrms to work as follows....go into Control Panel/system and click the advanced tab. Now the environment settings button.
To user variables, add variable 'files' and put a value 80 or more. For system variables. the value 'ComSpec' will currently point to cmd.exe. Change that to command.com and reboot. You will now find that every dos program icon properties is newly-endowed with several extra tabs, including critically a memory tab, where setting EMS to zero will make a world of difference, and if your PC memory exceeds 500Mb, you must also switch OFF 'uses HMA'.