"Decent but flawed"

Way back in 1997 I remember hearing of a game called Postal. I didn't have a PC then so I didn't really care. To be honest I still wouldn't have played the game except I went to a screening of the upcoming Uwe Boll film "Postal" and they were handing the game out for free. You can't beat free...

So you're a man who goes postal. That pretty much sums up the games entire premise, plot and everything. It works and I love the little screens before each stage. I also loved the ending and it made me realize just how sick I was thinking it was a stage to play.

This game really reminds me of the original Grand Theft Auto games. It's played from a top down view. Much like the action games from the NES (think Smash TV). The game is split up into 15 or so missions and perhaps my biggest problem with the game was that the controls were not user friendly for someone who doesn't usually play PC games.

I had no problem using the directional keys and the mouse together to string my movements, felt second nature by the second level. My problem was the game never told me that I had to hit F1 to finish a level.

Each level has the same goal. Kill ?% of the hostiles. It's easy at first with 20 or so but the later levels can up to 50 hostiles and things get really crazy with new weapons being thrown in and missile launchers all around.

The levels themselves are amusing at first but then go downhill and get pretty lame. A train station, a park, trailer park and you get the idea. Not until the end of the game does it really kick in with the satire and give us what we wanted. Retirement homes and retail stores. Oh yeah!

I don't need to say it but this game is all about mindless violence. You kill these hostiles as they shoot and throw bombs at you but see that marching band? Well you can decimate it as well and some how it feels good. It's so far from realistic it becomes comical and enjoyable on a sick level almost.

The music is pretty good though and some stages offer certain sounds rather than music. The Air Force Base offers a siren instead of music. Sadly the little voices of the people grate on your nerves after a while. I swear this one lady kept getting stuck on a phrase on every stage and it was driving me insane.

This title also offered some multiplayer but I didn't mess around with it and some stage editor and challenge modes. I didn't bother with any as my quick run through of the game left me feeling less than happy about adventuring further into it's features.

Yeah, the game may have some simplistic 2D graphics but they still look good today. If it wasn't for the control issues or lack of an explanation of how to end a level (this came with no manual) I would recommend this as I'm sure it's cheap. But to be honest it did get boring after a while. Maybe if you're having a bad day it's worth popping in and taking care of some business but otherwise I don't see myself ever replaying this game.

Story - 6/10
Graphics - 8/10
Sound - 6/10
Control - 6/10
Game Play - 7/10
Replay Value - 5/10

Final Score - 7/10

Reviewer's Score: 7/10, Originally Posted: 04/14/08

Game Release: Postal (US, 09/30/97)