POSTAL Overview

General Information

• Developer: Running With Scissors
• Publisher: Ripcord Games, Loki Software (Linux), Running With Scissors (Android), Wave Game Studios (Dreamcast)
• Engine: RSPix
• Release Date: November 14th, 1997
• Platforms: Windows, Mac OS, Linux, Android, Dreamcast
• Expansions: Special Delivery, Super POSTAL

Plot

• Main character: Postal Dude
• Plot is kept intentionally vague to focus on gameplay.
• The Postal Dude believes he's the only sane individual after a mind-altering substance causes insanity in the town of Paradise.
• Game ends with a psychotic episode and implied incarceration in a mental institution.

Gameplay

• Isometric shooter with 3/4 and top-down perspectives.
• Objectives: Kill a set number of enemies (Hostiles) per level.
• Levels contain both armed hostiles and unarmed civilians.
• Civilians can be killed but with no reward or punishment.
• The player can move to the next level after defeating a percentage of hostiles.
• Includes a Challenge Mode and Level Editor.

Multiplayer

• Features modes like Going Postal (Deathmatch), Capture The Flag (CTF), and The March (kill civilians for points).

Santa Patch

• A December 1997 patch added Christmas-themed elements, like Santa enemies and presents as throwables.

Steam Version

• Released on March 21st, 2013, with updates for modern hardware.
• Removed Multiplayer and Level Editor.

Twinstick Update

• October 5th, 2015, introduced twin-stick controller support.

20th Anniversary Community Update

• November 14th, 2017, included improvements and restored Japanese Super POSTAL levels.

Remake

• POSTAL Redux released on May 20th, 2016
• Developed with Unreal Engine 4, features new HD assets and arcade-style Rampage mode.
• The ending differs from the original game.

Open Source

• Source Code released on December 28th, 2016, under GPL2 license.
• Game made freeware on Steam and GoG.
• Dreamcast port released in June 2022.

Trivia

• Notable for being darker and more disturbing than its sequels.
• The voice in the game is not Postal Dude but a demon taunting him.
• Anti-piracy measure involved setting in-game characters on fire.

External Links

• Steam store page
• GoG store page
• Source code on Bitbucket