Postal 2
- April 12, 2003
- Running With Scissors
- 17h median play time
Postal 2: Paradise Lost delivers on expectations by bringing more of what we love from the franchise, but doesn't do much more than that.
Postal 2 is a single-player, open world comedy game with a good story and beautiful gameplay, despite being full of bugs. As the Postal Dude, complete everyday chores in a dense, emotionally charged world filled with humor and opportunities for violence. The game's soundtrack adds to the atmosphere, and the high replayability makes it worth playing multiple times. The unique and often outrageous world keeps players on their toes, with unexpected encounters and challenges around every corner.
Mac OS
PC
Windows
Gog Com
Linux
Reviews
- humor3,231 mentions
- 98 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The humor in Postal 2 is characterized by its dark, crude, and often offensive nature, drawing comparisons to shows like South Park. Players appreciate the outrageous scenarios, absurd violence, and satirical commentary on societal issues, finding it both hilarious and cathartic. However, the humor is not for everyone, as it heavily relies on shock value and can be seen as tasteless or juvenile, making it essential for potential players to have a strong tolerance for politically incorrect content.
“Postal 2 has a charming, funny, and super over-the-top vibe that I love!”
“The voice lines are hilarious, fun politically incorrect humor within the story, and the hidden easter eggs scattered are fun to find.”
“It's funny, edgy, and made with more love and care than most AAA titles that are released today.”
“A completely tasteless, juvenile, unfunny jankfest.”
“The jokes are not funny.”
“This game is disgusting, gross, extremely unfunny and jank.”
- story1,380 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 66 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The story of "Postal 2" is often described as simplistic and absurd, revolving around the mundane tasks of the protagonist, the Postal Dude, who must complete errands throughout a chaotic week. While some players appreciate the humor and outrageous scenarios that unfold, many note that the narrative is secondary to the gameplay, which allows for a mix of violent mayhem and dark comedy. Overall, the game is seen as a satirical take on societal norms, with a plot that serves more as a backdrop for chaotic fun rather than a deep or engaging storyline.
“The voice lines are hilarious, fun politically incorrect 2003 humor within the story, and the hidden easter eggs scattered are fun to find.”
“The gore, ridiculous weapons, the hilarious dialogue, the insane storyline - it has everything!”
“The story is funny.”
“There's no real story or purpose to the game beyond just causing chaos, and even that gets old quickly.”
“The plot here is not really existent.”
“The story is pretty much non-existent; you are a dude who needs to get/deliver/go things for his wife.”
- gameplay1,051 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Postal 2 is characterized by its open-world design, allowing players to engage in a variety of chaotic and often absurd activities, including completing mundane tasks while wreaking havoc. While some players appreciate the humor and freedom of choice, others criticize the repetitive nature, dated mechanics, and frequent crashes. Overall, the game offers a unique blend of dark humor and sandbox gameplay, making it a polarizing experience that appeals to fans of outrageous and controversial content.
“The gameplay is where Postal 2 really shines, making it an absolute blast to brutally murder innocent civilians and slaughter those who are in the way of completing your chores for the day.”
“Postal 2 has a very addicting and simple gameplay loop, and with achievements that are very easy to sink your teeth into and farm for, I think this is easily one of the best completionist experiences I've had in a game.”
“Its gameplay and mechanics are simple and easy to understand, along with having satisfying gameplay for those who crave virtual violence, with various levels of difficulty for all to enjoy.”
“The gameplay itself is repetitive and lacks any real depth.”
“What a joke of a game, not entirely sure why people like this, shock and toilet humor that isn't funny at all and gameplay that would make you want to claw your eyes out.”
“The gameplay is very bad even for its time, and the 'jokes' are really scraping the bottom of the barrel fart jokes only a kid would find funny.”
- graphics856 mentions
- 24 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The graphics of "Postal 2" are widely regarded as outdated, reflecting its 2003 release, with many reviewers noting that they resemble those of early 2000s games. While some players find the visuals charming and fitting for the game's dark humor, others criticize them as subpar, even for their time. Overall, the consensus is that while the graphics may not impress by modern standards, they do not significantly detract from the game's enjoyment, which is driven by its outrageous gameplay and humor.
“The graphics are modifiable and the gameplay is hilarious for adults.”
“For what it's worth, the game has some really nice modern graphical and quality of life options.”
“The graphics in Postal 2 are nothing to be proud of, but they are still good for a game that was released in 2003.”
“The graphics are terrible and look like they belong to that of an N64 game.”
“The graphics are very dated, but as far as free roam first person shooters with a urination mechanic go, it's second to none.”
“The graphics may not be state of the art but you won't really care about them, you will be too busy murdering, dismembering (every limb pretty much) or urinating all over people.”
- stability176 mentions
- 3 % positive mentions
- 1 % neutral mentions
- 95 % negative mentions
The game's stability is widely criticized, with numerous reports of frequent crashes, freezes, and various bugs that can disrupt gameplay. While some players find the glitches amusing and part of the game's charm, many others note that these issues can be frustrating and detract from the overall experience. Despite the technical shortcomings, the game remains enjoyable for those who appreciate its absurd humor and chaotic nature.
“The game runs great!”
“A solid bug-free game.”
“Few to no glitches, few to no framerate dips (too much fire can cause problems), a solid quicksave system, an innovative open-world design (for its time), and some neat game mechanics.”
“Funny, just as entertaining as it was nearly 20 years ago, but so buggy you can get soft locked within seconds of starting the game still.”
“Postal 2 is a buggy mess with a somewhat incomprehensible story where people try to kill you no matter what, with the sole purpose being to piss off as many people as possible that crashes every 20 minutes.”
“It's buggy as all hell, runs horribly, looks horrible, sounds horrible, the gunplay is garbage, but the music selection is mwah.”
- replayability171 mentions
- 42 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The reviews for "replayability" in Postal 2 highlight a wide range of opinions, with many players praising its high replay value due to the open-world design, multiple gameplay styles, and extensive mod support. While some users feel the game lacks replayability after the initial playthrough, the majority appreciate the numerous challenges, achievements, and the ability to approach tasks in various ways, making it a game that can be revisited multiple times for different experiences. Overall, Postal 2 is often described as having "endless" or "infinitely" replayable content, particularly enhanced by community-created mods.
“Whatever the case, if you're looking for a game with near-limitless replay value then look no further.”
“The workshop mod support is also amazing, it gives the game even more replay value than it already had.”
“This game has great replayability; there is so much this game has to offer.”
“It has zero replay value and absolutely no reason to go back to the start.”
“To me, this game has very little replayability value; if I played it on the first playthrough, then I've basically seen most of it and never got around to playing it again.”
“I beat the game and it had no replay value whatsoever.”
- music159 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 69 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the fitting blend of rock and electronic tracks that enhance the game's dark and absurd tone, while others criticize the lack of a substantial soundtrack during gameplay, leading to moments of silence. Notably, the map music is often highlighted as a standout feature, providing a calming contrast to the chaotic gameplay. Overall, while the soundtrack has its moments, many players feel it could benefit from more consistent and engaging music throughout the game.
“The music is fitting for the game's dark and absurd tone, with a mix of rock and electronic tracks playing in the background.”
“It's crazy, cast and weapon variety aside, the soundtrack is, perhaps, the best part of the whole game.”
“The bizarre world, surprisingly good music (especially that map theme) and just the overall absurdity of the story come together really nicely to create a memorable experience.”
“There are constant issues with controls and soundtrack - you can hear the audio clicking repeatedly in the opening minutes of the game because whoever did the sound design stitched together a bunch of stock sound effects and didn't crossfade the adjoining tracks.”
“The music of the map is so lame, even when you know it's on purpose; it's meant to be an ironical tune, but it's downright awful.”
“There's not much music in the vanilla game, which can make the game feel a little dull sometimes, that's a shame.”
- emotional91 mentions
- 96 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is described as a mix of wholesome and darkly humorous experiences, with players expressing feelings ranging from joy and laughter to deep emotional connections and even tears. Many reviews highlight the game's ability to evoke strong reactions through its absurdity and relatability, while also noting its controversial themes that may not be suitable for all audiences. Overall, it is characterized as a unique blend of heartwarming moments and chaotic, often violent humor.
“This game hits really close to home. I cried on my first playthrough because of how it reminded me of the time a crazed psycho stuck my cat on the edge of their gun and proceeded to use them as a suppressor right in front of me. I've never been the same since, but I am glad my traumatic experience can be relived via a realistic imitation of life!”
“Beautiful, breathtaking, and stunning don't quite give you a foreseeable idea of the beauty of this powerful and emotionally moving experience of a video game.”
“The heart-wrenching backstories, the hidden plots, the relatability.”
“Boring story that goes nowhere.”
“Slow, boring story; the map is hard to read.”
“Postal 2 is a violent open world with a very boring story and slightly funny characters.”
- grinding73 mentions
- 4 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 51 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized for being excessively tedious and monotonous, with many players feeling that it requires an unrealistic time commitment. Navigation and mission objectives often feel repetitive and boring, detracting from the overall enjoyment of the gameplay. While some appreciate the humor and chaotic elements, the grind can become overwhelming, leading to frustration and a desire for more engaging content.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“A bit grindy sometimes.”
“They're not too grindy and are actually very fun to get.”
“Going from one spot to another was tedious and boring.”
“The combat becomes slower and more tedious, and since I didn't find the double barrel after I had it taken from me, I had to fight bullet sponge enemies the whole time and it became very annoying and slow.”
“Missions are tedious for they involve far too much wandering and far too little excitement.”
- optimization68 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
Overall, the optimization of the game has seen improvements since its launch, with many users noting that it runs smoothly on lower-end systems and has a variety of performance options. However, some players still experience crashes and minor FPS issues, particularly during intense action sequences, indicating that while the game is generally well-optimized, it still has room for further enhancements. Despite these issues, the game's humor and replay value often overshadow the performance shortcomings for many players.
“The character models and environments are detailed and well-designed, and the game runs smoothly even on lower-end systems.”
“Worth mentioning that the game has got an advanced option menu to make it run smoothly; I found it really helpful with my gameplay.”
“This game can be played even on low-performance computers, which gives it a huge advantage.”
“Even after bumping a lot of performance options down, especially ticking off an option that specifically advertises reduced crashes, it still crashes unfortunately frequently.”
“A buggy, unoptimized, broken piece of shit.”
“Performance tanks in the last level in hell.”
- atmosphere47 mentions
- 45 % positive mentions
- 49 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is a blend of dark humor and unsettling elements, creating a unique experience that ranges from satirical to disturbing. Players appreciate the detailed environments and ambient sounds that enhance the immersive quality, while the game's juvenile humor and chaotic events contribute to its memorable, albeit jarring, atmosphere. Overall, it evokes a mix of challenge and discomfort, making it a standout in the genre for those who enjoy a provocative and unconventional setting.
“It's a fun, delightfully satirical, atmospheric game that I love.”
“The design of the map is small with mysterious places and a creepy atmosphere, but it leaves a certain impression of realism with its inhabitants; without them, it wouldn't be the same.”
“Absolutely adore the dark yet hilarious atmosphere this game has.”
“Navigation is horrendous and the atmosphere is depressing.”
“Profoundly juvenile 'edgy' humor, atmosphere that is somehow disturbing and boring, and carries with it a brand of violence that just feels seriously uncomfortable.”
“However, the game itself has an intention far, far away from amazing the player with the dialogues or surrounding you with its unreal and vivid atmosphere; no, it's nothing like that, and that should be clear from just watching the trailer.”
- monetization10 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 10 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players initially perceiving it as a cash grab due to its controversial content. However, many appreciate the lack of microtransactions and ongoing updates that enhance gameplay, suggesting that the developers genuinely care about the product. The presence of in-jokes and humorous ads within the game adds to its charm, contrasting with the prevalent monetization strategies seen in other titles.
“I played Postal 2 a long time ago, stopped, then played a small bit about on April 1st, and there was much more new content. Hell, even an April Fools joke which was joking about microtransactions. In other words, they're still updating and upgrading the game.”
“It was a nice break from all the microtransactions of EA and all the loot boxes.”
“Good thing this game doesn't have microtransactions, oh wait...”
“On the surface, this game looks like a lazy cash grab made to make a few bucks and piss off as many people as possible at the same time.”
“I played Postal 2 a long time ago, stopped, then played a small bit about on April 1st, and there was much more new content; hell, even an April Fools joke which was joking about microtransactions. In other words, they're still updating and upgrading the game.”
“At first glance, you might just think this to be a controversy-fueled cash grab of a game, but the developers actually care about their product so it's a fun experience.”
- character development10 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
Character development in the game receives mixed reviews, with some praising its depth and the lovable protagonist, while others criticize the overall execution and lack of realism. Despite its age, the game is noted for clever storytelling and engaging character arcs, though it may not satisfy those seeking a more refined or realistic experience. Overall, it appears to be a strong point for some players, while others find it lacking in comparison to their expectations.
“Despite its age, the mechanics, story, fluidity of gameplay definitely hold up even today, with clever gags, concepts, character design, and missions for each day of the game.”
“Good story and character development.”
“Interesting story, brilliant character development, and a very lovable protagonist.”
“If you're looking for a game with plot and character development, then buy something else because you won't be happy. However, if you don't care and want a mindless first-person open-world do-whatever-you-want game, then get it on sale.”
“As a game, it is crudely made with poor weapons design, poor physical character design, and a generally unrefined theme - environments are simplistic and detail is rather low.”
