They didn't know it then, but back in 1997 the developer Running with Scissors created a game that would become not only a landmark PC title, but one of the most controversial video games of all time. Little did they know the act of violence known as the Columbine Massacre committed two years later would be endlessly tied to both the POSTAL and Doom game series'.
The antagonist of the game is a schizophrenic man, known iconically as The Postal Dude, who has been evicted from his home. Being a conspiracy theorist, he believes that the United States Air Force has been releasing a mind-altering substance within the town of Paradise that has affected everyone but himself. Of course, the only way to solve this problem is to slaughter all of the humanoids and cleanse the earth of their infected presence. This more elaborate plot is not conveyed well within the game itself, despite the short dialogue in the loading screens that appear each time prior to progressing to the next level, rather it relied on the box art and manuals from back in the day to fully understand.
I won't spoil the ending for you, though I will say that it's not just the amount of killing that garnered this game such controversial fame; rather the very morbid subject matter, and dark humor-filled quips from the antagonist himself as he shows no mercy or remorse for his actions. This is a game that, while the plot is kept deliberately vague, taking the story and mental state of the main character into consideration makes it all the more disturbing and gruesome.
There are a total of 21 levels in POSTAL, most of which can be completed in just a few minutes each; the longevity of this title is not its strong point, clocking in at 1-2 hours for a full playthrough at best. Beginning at his home, The Postal Dude works his way through a truck stop, parade, trailer park, all the way to the military air base. This version does include the extra content from the Special Delivery expansion pack, which includes four new levels and the Gauntlet Challenge; the latter being a survival mode. Beware, however, as all of the co-op modes that were featured in the original release of this title are not available in this version; this is a single-player experience only.
The visuals within the game haven't aged incredibly well, but they're nothing to scoff at either. The backgrounds in particular are noteworthy, as they're completely hand-painted. The buildings and environments are wonderfully dark and morose, making way for an incredibly evil experience as The Postal Dude spills gallons of blood onto the ground. The character models are really what have aged terribly, as they're mini-verisons of models that would be found in games such as the original Resident Evil title for Playstation 1, and there aren't many different ones either. As far as a soundtrack goes, there's not one to speak of other than a looping set of guitar chords during the credits, although there are some subtle ambiances to be enjoyed; POSTAL is a game that plays better if you throw on your own "Mix to Kill By".
What will probably feel the most aged for modern gamers are the controls, this title no longer functions like any top-down isometric shooter of the current era. While you can set the game up to utilize your mouse, the mouse control becomes inverted at random intervals and becomes more frustrating than anything. It's best to stick to using the keyboard, where WSAD is used to move and the arrow keys are used to shoot. There's a decent guide in the forums for what's the best control set-up, so fear not if you need help.
With all of that being said, the original POSTAL still stands as a landmark game almost a decade later. For any fans of over-the-top, pointless violence, this is the game for you. The Postal Dude, despite not having a name and only having a small set of sarcastic, witty quotes, has become one of the most iconic characters in cult-classic fandom. Except for a few achievements, the game doesn't have much replayability or longevity, which is its only true downfall. However, at the price of $2.19 CAD, that's not extremely devastating. Still a classic, still dark, still blood-soaked, still fun, still worth buying. Long live The Postal Dude!
Rating: 5.0/5.0 - An astonishing achievement, this game must be played.The Horror Network
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