POSTAL 4: No Regerts – Review

Final Verdict: 8/10

POSTAL 4: No Regerts is a satirical and outrageous comedic open-world first-person shooter and the long-awaited true sequel to what’s been fondly dubbed as “The Worst Game Ever™”, POSTAL 2!

Several years have gone since the tragic events that wreaked havoc on the once-proud town of Paradise. The forlorn everyman known as the POSTAL Dude and his faithful dog Champ. The only two survivors of the disaster. They drive aimlessly through the sweltering deserts of Arizona looking for a new spot to call home. After a fortunate gas station rest stop results in the theft of their car, trailer home, and other worldly things, all the Dude appears to have left to his name is his canine companion and his bathrobe, neither of which smells particularly pleasant. However, the duo notices an unfamiliar and beautiful town on the horizon that draws them.

Rolling the Tape

Postal 4 appears to be a sort of apologia for Postal III. It returns to the first-person perspective of the cult favourite Postal 2 and attempts to push the insanity to new heights. The Postal series has always been purposely edgy and contentious, boldly displaying itself as a monument to bad taste. Postal 4 doesn’t try to break the formula, but its edginess is a little too safe. It’s politically wrong and doesn’t shy away from crude humour. But it comes off as more of a caricature of what was edgy in 2003 and lacks the shock impact that it did in 2003. Or perhaps I’m simply desensitised.

Street names like Dutch Oven and Inyo Butte may make you laugh. But they seem dated and something a kid in the 90s or early 2000s would use for pranks. As Edensin feels very much like a magical parallel to the actual world, the ludicrous and hyper violent universe of Postal 4 provides a safe area to play out mad rampages and revenge fantasies. When half of Edensin’s people are wearing facemasks and convenience stores’ arrow-guided aisles have visibly bare parts on their shelves, reality sets in. If this game had been launched two years earlier, it would have been a relevant reference to the most bizarre year in modern history.

A Blue Monday

The Postal Dude proceeds through the story by beginning each day and completing all of his responsibilities. His responsibilities change from day to day, but we’ll go over a day in the life of the Dude. Focusing on Monday’s activities because it’s the least spoilery day to discuss. When the Dude arrives at the temp agency, he is assigned three jobs to do before the end of the day: prison guard, animal control specialist, and sewer sanitation specialist. As strange as these work assignments are, they’re actually rather useful because they provide the player with a variety of circumstances to deal with, each with its own set of mechanics.

Dude has to physically find and input security codes to override the lockdown after his prison guard job goes tragically wrong. During this process, all of the convicts are released, and they must be dealt with. By gunning them down. It’s a simple goal, but it demonstrates where the game AI could be improved. If some inmates survive being shot, they will attack you; normally a couple of shots is enough to take them out. Some will flee, while others will simply stand there in a stupor. Even though a few people have guns, they don’t pose a significant threat, and the most difficult part is travelling the prison to find the computers and enter the codes.

Going Postal (2)

The game does have a similar feel to Postal 2. From the writing (which is very subjective and may not be everyone’s cup of tea) to the gameplay aspects. It tries to appeal to the fans of the older games. it doesn’t seem to want to shy away from controversy. And it isn’t even scared of modern day cancel culture. Heck, just like Postal 2, this game wears its divisive critical rating like a badge of honor. Because that’s what the fans want.

Final Verdict

If you’re a fan of Postal 2 then Postal 4 is a no-brainer. Load up the game, shut your brain off and go nuts. Sure it isn’t the most polished title and has its fair share of technical issues. But this game is straight-up made for the die-hard fans of this series. And it is bound to satiate their hunger for a title like this.