diff --git a/decompiler/level_extractor/extract_merc.cpp b/decompiler/level_extractor/extract_merc.cpp
index 148b4ac403..5e08e1d9a8 100644
--- a/decompiler/level_extractor/extract_merc.cpp
+++ b/decompiler/level_extractor/extract_merc.cpp
@@ -957,6 +957,16 @@ ConvertedMercEffect convert_merc_effect(const MercEffect& input_effect,
       use_alpha_blend = true;
     }
 
+    // workaround for https://github.com/open-goal/jak-project/issues/3682
+    // when the pillar is very close to the screen, they fade it out, to avoid blocking the camera.
+    // but, for unknown reasons, they move this to an alpha bucket as well (normally not required
+    // for fade), but rely on merc disabling alpha blend. OpenGOAL's detection of alpha blending
+    // just checks the bucket, but there's more logic than this in the shader. Rather than figuring
+    // this out, just fix this specific case for now:
+    if (debug_name == "comb-pillar-lod0") {
+      use_alpha_blend = false;
+    }
+
     handle_frag(debug_name, ctrl_header, frag, frag_ctrl, merc_state, result.vertices,
                 merc_memories[memory_buffer_toggle], can_be_modified, combined_lump4_addr, fi);
     u32 vert_count = frag.lump4_unpacked.size() / 3;
diff --git a/game/graphics/opengl_renderer/background/Hfrag.cpp b/game/graphics/opengl_renderer/background/Hfrag.cpp
index 3fb68a2931..b4e73ecd9a 100644
--- a/game/graphics/opengl_renderer/background/Hfrag.cpp
+++ b/game/graphics/opengl_renderer/background/Hfrag.cpp
@@ -415,7 +415,10 @@ void Hfrag::render_hfrag_level(Hfrag::HfragLevel* lev,
       continue;  // no need to bind texture.
     }
     glBindTexture(GL_TEXTURE_2D, lev->montage_texture[bucket_idx].fb.texture());
-    glTexParameteri(GL_TEXTURE_2D, GL_TEXTURE_MIN_FILTER, GL_LINEAR);  // HACK rm
+    glTexParameteri(GL_TEXTURE_2D, GL_TEXTURE_MIN_FILTER, GL_LINEAR);
+    glTexParameteri(GL_TEXTURE_2D, GL_TEXTURE_MAG_FILTER, GL_LINEAR);
+    glTexParameteri(GL_TEXTURE_2D, GL_TEXTURE_WRAP_S, GL_REPEAT);
+    glTexParameteri(GL_TEXTURE_2D, GL_TEXTURE_WRAP_T, GL_REPEAT);
 
     const auto& bucket = lev->hfrag->buckets[bucket_idx];
     for (u32 corner_idx : bucket.corners) {
diff --git a/goal_src/jak3/pc/progress/progress-pc.gc b/goal_src/jak3/pc/progress/progress-pc.gc
index 19aa5a8777..eb3b64bfc5 100644
--- a/goal_src/jak3/pc/progress/progress-pc.gc
+++ b/goal_src/jak3/pc/progress/progress-pc.gc
@@ -1435,7 +1435,11 @@
 (defmethod respond-progress ((this menu-sub-menu-option) (arg0 progress) (arg1 symbol))
   (let ((s4-0 *progress-work*))
     (when (and (not (-> s4-0 secrets-unlocked))
-               (or (= (-> arg0 current-options) *title-pc*)
+               (or
+                 ;; for some reason we hit this case on the non-debug first time title screen.
+                 ;; we don't have to worry about insufficient memory card space, so this is just
+                 ;; commented out.
+                 ;; (= (-> arg0 current-options) *title-pc*)
                  (= (-> arg0 current-options) *unlocked-secrets*)
                  (= (-> arg0 current-options) *select-scene-options*)
                  (= (-> arg0 current-options) *select-start-options*)