Postal 4: No Regerts Preview
Release date: October 14th, 2019 (Still in Early Access)
Developer: Running with Scissors
Platforms: Steam (Reviewed)
Price: $24.99
Postal, a franchise that graced the 90s when FPS games were becoming kings. Postal was one of the games that was banned in many countries for its no holds barred on everything. The series is making a return and Running with Scissors has decided that anything is possible in this crazy over the top FPS.
This is not your average FPS, anything that could offend someone is in the game. When I first played this at PAX East 2020 I knew it was going to be offensive. Well, as of right now it's even got something like Covid in it.
In postal games players can kill, destroy, harass and yes, pee on things. The character known as the “Dude” can also do drugs and players can do whatever they want. While the game play is no holds barred, the game’s environment isn't great. Things look okay, character models are decent. There aren't a lot of details in the background. Players aren't going to stop and admire NPCs or the buildings. The game has decent controls, use a keyboard and mouse if you can. The action is fast paced and the objectives are easy to follow. There are plenty of weapons and items to use, some of them are more fun than others.
My issues with the game aren't the content, but how buggy it is. I got stuck in walls, the map that’s supposed to guide players isn't very intuitive when it comes to objectives. I got lost a few times. The game is in early access mode so I did take a lot of what I ran into and what I say with a grain of salt.
I guess the biggest question is even though there are fans of this series, in general, are gamers still interested? Outside of modern FPS games, gamers seem to be on a retro kick lately, look at Ion Fury or Wrath Age of Aeon. Both are well done retro FPS titles that have gotten rave reviews. The graphics may be a step back but the action and gameplay takes us back to the 90s. Postal may be one of those games that are part of a bygone era that may not have enough to keep gamers wanting more in the long run. We will have to see what the final product is when it's released.
Thanks to the publisher for letting us review Postal 4.
Final Score
Pros:
Weapons are fun
Players have no limits of what they can do
Cons:
Map and objectives are hard to follow
Lots of bugs
Uninteresting environments