GO POSTAL BLOG - RAMPAGE DIARY - DECEMBER 28, 2025 EDITION

POSTAL (1997) / POSTAL Redux (2016)

The series kicked off in 1997 with POSTAL, an isometric top-down shooter that dropped you into the shoes of the unnamed Postal Dude — a seemingly ordinary guy snapped by a "hate plague" from a government conspiracy. You fight through a small town gone mad: ghetto, train station, trailer park, ostrich farm, all the way to an Air Force base. Gameplay is fast, brutal, and absurd: mow down civilians, cops, dogs, anything that moves, with weapons like a pitchfork, shotgun, and rocket launcher. The voice in your head taunts victims with cryptic one-liners, adding dark humor to the carnage.

Critics back then called it controversial for its violence, but fans loved the unapologetic satire. It got re-released as Postal Plus with the Special Delivery expansion (new levels like EZ Mart, Shanty Town, Earthquake, La Palamino Resort, plus Japanese-exclusive Super POSTAL stages). Fast-forward to 2016: POSTAL Redux rebuilt it from scratch in Unreal Engine 4. Twin-stick controls, HD visuals, remastered audio/dialogue, rebalanced weapons, a new Carnival level, revolver, better AI, new endings, and Rampage Mode (score-attack endless waves). It's the definitive way to play the original — faithful yet modern. In 2025, it's still a blast for quick chaotic sessions, especially with the OST like Temporomandibular Grind pumping during rampages.

Why play now? It's short (4-6 hours), cheap on Steam, supports controllers perfectly, and captures pure 90s edge without today's hand-holding. Redux fixes all the jank while keeping the soul — if you want the roots of the series, start here.

POSTAL 2 (2003) + Apocalypse Weekend (2005) + Paradise Lost (2015)

POSTAL 2 is the undisputed king of the series — an open-world first-person sandbox where you play the Postal Dude trying to survive a normal week in Paradise, Arizona. Tuesday to Friday: buy milk, get a signature, protest, return a library book... but everything spirals into insanity. Use a cat as a silencer, piss on protesters, launch milk exploding heads, set dogs on fire, flip birds at cops — or just go full rampage. The game satirizes American life, media, politics, religion, and consumerism with zero filter. Non-linear errands, dynamic NPC reactions (they remember you), and total freedom make it endlessly replayable.

Apocalypse Weekend (2005 expansion) picks up Saturday-Sunday after the main game's "ending." Linear but brutal: fight mad cow zombies, Gary Coleman clones, Krotchy dolls, and more. New weapons like the rocket launcher, sledgehammer for cow-smashing. Paradise Lost (2015 DLC) continues post-nuke: Dude wakes from coma years later in a wasteland, searches for Champ the dog, explores ruined Paradise with new areas, weapons, and dark humor. All three combine into one massive package on Steam — still updated with mods, VR support, and community content in 2025.

Reception was mixed due to controversy, but it's a cult classic for its humor and freedom. Mod scene is huge (Eternal Damnation, Corkscrew Rules). In 2025, it's aging like fine wine — chaotic therapy, especially with friends in co-op mods.

POSTAL 3 (2011)

POSTAL 3 shifted to third-person over-the-shoulder view, developed by Russian studio Akella. After Paradise's destruction, Dude arrives in sister city Catharsis low on gas — stuck in a corrupt, extremist hellhole. Missions are linear: find work, deal with greens, cops, fanatics. Choices between "good" (less violent) and "insane" paths, but bad path often feels punishing with bugs. Weapons include fart gun (later DLC), classic cat launcher, but performance was rough on release.

Infamous for bugs, poor voice acting, linear design (unlike P2), and rushed feel. Retconned as a dream/coma in Paradise Lost. Still has funny moments (Krotchy, absurd satire), but most fans skip it. Mods like Postal 3 Unreal try to fix it by rebuilding in UE2 on P2 base. In 2025, play for completionism or laughs at how bad it got — but expect jank.

POSTAL 4: No Regerts (2022)

True sequel to Postal 2 (ignoring 3). Back in Paradise years later, Dude does errands in a polished sandbox: better graphics, driving (sort of), co-op elements in updates, more weapons/power-ups (energy drink dual-wield). Non-linear freedom returns — start simple tasks, end in apocalypse. Satire targets modern issues: cancel culture, influencers, politics. "No Regerts" title is peak Dude spelling.

Early Access in 2019 funded development via community. Final 2022 release fixed many issues, but still criticized for bugs, dated humor, performance. Strong fanbase loves the chaos and updates. In 2025, it's the most current mainline entry — great for long play sessions with mods/workshop support.

POSTAL: Brain Damaged (2022)

Spin-off boomer shooter (Doom/Ultrakill style). Dude in asylum nightmare: nurse medicates patients into monsters. No starting guns — improvise with punches, piss streams, improvised weapons. Fast-paced, skill-based levels: dash, rocket-jump, attach shotgun alt-fire to targets. Expands story with ginger purge DLC. Retro-modern visuals, brutal difficulty, dark/crude humor intact.

One of the best recent Postal games — fresh take, no open-world bloat. High praise for gameplay loop and level design. In 2025, perfect for quick, intense runs. If you like retro FPS revivals, this is essential.