POSTAL: Brain Damaged
- June 9, 2022
- CreativeForge Games
- 9h median play time
"POSTAL: Brain Damaged" is a first-person shooter game where players control the series' protagonist, the Postal Dude, as he navigates through a hostile world using a wide range of weapons. The game features a unique "brain damage" system, where players can choose to temporarily boost their abilities at the cost of their sanity. With a distinctive comic-book style and dark humor, players will face off against strange enemies and complete various missions in a post-apocalyptic setting.
Reviews
- humor465 mentions
- 97 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The humor in "Postal: Brain Damaged" is a divisive aspect, with many players appreciating its crude, low-brow style reminiscent of the original Postal games, while others criticize it as outdated and reliant on juvenile jokes. The game features a mix of dark humor, pop culture references, and shock value, often landing well for fans of the series but feeling cringe-worthy or forced to those less inclined towards its irreverent tone. Overall, the humor is described as hit-or-miss, with some finding it hilarious and others deeming it unfunny or overly reliant on tired memes.
“The animated cutscenes are dynamic & funny as hell.”
“I thought this game was going to be just funny and stupid, well it was that but insanely more enjoyable than I expected, I love what the developers did on this game, a lot of references and the humor was so freaking good, and I really want to see more projects made by these guys, I really loved it.”
“It's a game that rip-offs a lot of mechanics of other games (doom eternal, titanfall 2, ultrakill, dusk) but unlike many other triple a genre's of military shooters and ubisoft tower games this game had the common sense to steal the good ideas from other franchises and then put them in its own actually unique aesthetic that surprisingly balances humor with an underlying dash of horror and insanity all wrapped around intense fast paced shooting.”
“Much of the game was either unfunny or outright hard to listen to; a lot of it became the latter after a while.”
“Maybe the most aggressively unfunny game I've ever played, in terms of plot, dialogue, enemy voice lines, and weapon/visual gags.”
“Painfully unfunny and boring.”
- gameplay401 mentions
- 49 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Postal: Brain Damaged" is widely praised for its fast-paced, smooth mechanics reminiscent of classic boomer shooters like Doom and Quake, featuring a variety of unique weapons and movement options such as sliding and grappling. While some players appreciate the humor and creativity infused into the gameplay, others find the humor outdated and the level design occasionally linear or confusing. Overall, the game successfully combines nostalgic elements with modern mechanics, resulting in an engaging and enjoyable experience for fans of the genre.
“The gameplay is amazing, the soundtrack is solid, and the art style and enemy designs are pretty cool.”
“The mix of this surreal world and solid shooting mechanics is a dream come true.”
“Gameplay feels so smooth and flawless, the controls are not that complicated so you can get yourself used to it for the first few minutes in the level.”
“The gameplay feels like a less-impactful version of Doom Eternal and is very bland.”
“I could tolerate all the stupid stuff if the gameplay would be fun, but it isn't.”
“This game just suffers from a severe lack of guidance for the player, and that's only exacerbated by the fact that a lot of the time certain mechanics just aren't introduced very well.”
- graphics218 mentions
- 44 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The graphics of "Postal: Brain Damage" are characterized by a retro, low-poly aesthetic reminiscent of classic 90s shooters, blending vibrant colors and imaginative designs that evoke nostalgia while maintaining a unique charm. Many players appreciate the cohesive art style and creative enemy designs, although some note that the visuals can become repetitive over time. Overall, the graphics are seen as a fitting complement to the game's humor and chaotic gameplay, appealing particularly to fans of the boomer shooter genre.
“The graphics are a really nice touch, and as I mentioned earlier I think the enemies are really well designed.”
“The art style, the level design, weapon and enemy variety, overall gameplay is all really good.”
“The graphics are gloriously retro, the gameplay is perfectly tuned, and the humor is pretty much what you would expect from a Postal game.”
“The graphics are awful!”
“Meh - art style is ugly and thematically incohesive.”
“The map felt bland, the art style didn't match the tone of the franchise, maybe it needs to be delayed...”
- music189 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 47 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its heavy metal and rock influences that complement the gameplay and atmosphere effectively. While some tracks are noted as outstanding, particularly the final boss theme, there are occasional reports of bugs affecting music playback during combat. Overall, the soundtrack is described as energetic and fitting for the game's chaotic style, enhancing the overall experience for players.
“The soundtrack is outstanding, right up there with (and quite similar to) Mick Gordon's tunes for DOOM 2016/Eternal and Andrew Hulshult's work for Dusk.”
“The music is awesome and dynamic, going from moody and atmospheric while exploring straight to sick metal riffs in combat arenas.”
“The soundtrack kicks ass.”
“The only things that detract from the experience for me personally are that the music seems to be bugged in some places.”
“The game is good but the last boss battle music is pretty bad.”
“The music is honestly generic and forgettable for a boomer shooter.”
- story141 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 66 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The story in "Postal: Brain Damage" is generally viewed as nonsensical and minimal, often serving as a backdrop for the game's chaotic gameplay and humor. Set within the protagonist's dream, it features absurd scenarios and a loose narrative that parodies various cultural references, but many players agree that the story is not the main draw of the game. While some appreciate the humor and creativity, others find the plot lacking depth and coherence, suggesting that the gameplay and comedic elements compensate for the story's shortcomings.
“The story is set in a dream (or nightmare) that the postal dude is having, which allows for plenty of creative freedom for abstract level design and enemies to fight.”
“The humor is fun, the visuals are fun, the gameplay is fun, the movement is fun, and so far the story is fun.”
“The game has style and artwork going on, but again in contrast, story and jokes didn't land on me at all.”
“There is no story at all, only kill or get killed.”
“Sadly, the story pretty much doesn't exist and goes nowhere.”
“The story is literally the postal dude going through different acts trying to get his TV, his toilet, and random shit happens along the way.”
- optimization40 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players praising its solid performance and low hardware requirements, while others report significant performance issues, particularly in later episodes. Many users noted that despite the game's retro style, it suffers from frame rate drops and occasional bugs that impact gameplay. Overall, while some found it well-optimized, others felt it still needed improvements to enhance the experience.
“Plays great, optimized well; of course low poly graphics but no problem.”
“On another note, this game is insanely well optimized!”
“The movement is stellar, the optimization is rock solid, the gunplay and the story... holy moly, it is unhinged and hysterically fun, with a soundtrack that goes hard full throttle and never stops!”
“For a game that looks so bad, it is optimized horribly; I shouldn't be getting better framerates on Yandere Simulator of all things.”
“There's an optimization feature where far away enemies' animations get very choppy due to frame rate reduction.”
“So hyperstrange, if you see this I strongly recommend looking into this, because the graphical and processing usage don't justify such nasty drops in performance considering how the game runs very smoothly in all other instances.”
- stability23 mentions
- 13 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 87 % negative mentions
The game's stability has received mixed reviews, with some players experiencing significant glitches, framerate drops, and occasional crashes, particularly in later levels. However, others report a generally smooth experience with minimal interruptions, praising the game's performance on high-end systems. Overall, while there are notable issues, many players found the game enjoyable and stable enough for a satisfying playthrough.
“I'm not sure if I'll ever replay this, but while it lasted, it was a fun experience—smooth and bug-free on release day.”
“It doesn't have many graphical options, but the game runs great, and the retro look really suits it.”
“It runs great on my 1080 Ti at full graphic settings.”
“On top, the game occasionally suffers from framerate drops into single digits despite the less than unimpressive graphics, and some of the later levels are way too long, confusing, and even buggy at times.”
“I can't understand how a game this buggy could have such glowing reviews.”
“Great game, but had level-breaking glitches twice.”
- atmosphere15 mentions
- 53 % positive mentions
- 27 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is a blend of humor and darkness, featuring a trippy, nostalgic vibe reminiscent of titles like Postal 2, with dynamic music that shifts from moody exploration to intense combat. Players appreciate the engaging settings and the variety of environments, particularly in the more somber levels, while the low-poly graphics contribute to its unique charm. Overall, the atmosphere is described as fun and immersive, though some feel it could benefit from a more distinct gimmick.
“The music is awesome and dynamic, going from moody and atmospheric while exploring straight to sick metal riffs in combat arenas.”
“Fun gameplay and amazing atmosphere.”
“I think that the main thing this game lacks is some sort of a gimmick - y'know the brutalism of Hrot, the attention to the detail of Selaco, the atmosphere of Cutlic.”
“The game emphasizes its humor, which might not be for everybody, but it also has a dark atmosphere in several levels, lots of gore and all kinds of twisted enemies.”
“I noticed a familiar atmosphere in some of the more somber levels (inside the border wall especially) that is very akin to dusk.”
- grinding14 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 7 % neutral mentions
- 71 % negative mentions
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, with many levels feeling overly long and lacking variety. The absence of a map and frequent enemy encounters contribute to a sense of aimlessness, while long gaps between autosaves can lead to frustrating retreading of completed areas. Overall, the grinding experience is often described as boring and drawn-out, detracting from the enjoyment of the game.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“Many tedious levels and encounters where you have to slog your way through - only liked the exterior asylum level!”
“The game has a habit of leaving large gaps between autosaves, especially in later levels. Given that each level can take between 20 to 30 minutes to finish, this can lead to long stints of retreading old ground on death, which can get tedious after a while.”
“Boring, tedious pixelated eyestrain garbage with a lot of game-breaking bugs.”
- replayability14 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The game offers good replayability, particularly for completionists and speedrunners, with features like a survival mode, secrets to uncover, and leaderboards for competitive play. While the campaign is relatively short, the presence of achievements and higher difficulty levels enhances the replay value, making it enjoyable for players looking to improve their skills and explore every aspect of the game. Overall, it provides a fun and engaging experience that encourages multiple playthroughs.
“There is a survival mode and the replayability of the campaign levels is good.”
“There's lots of secrets and things in each level, lots of achievements and leaderboards for each level so there's lots of replay value you can get out of it.”
“Don't expect the same replay value as this game's contemporaries.”
“There's a lot of replayability with the secret hunting as well, as there should be in a good classic 90s shooter.”
“It took me about 5 hours to play through and has replay value to go through again and find secrets, collectibles, and also to try and complete levels faster.”
- emotional8 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is mixed; while some players found it to be a deeply moving experience that evoked genuine tears, others felt it lacked significant emotional depth and humor. Overall, it offers a blend of wholesome fun and absurdity, with moments that can elicit a range of reactions from shock to laughter.
“Most emotional anime adventure I ever embarked on.”
“Few pieces of art have made me shed a tear.”
“When the postal man pooped himself, I shed a tear.”
- character development7 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is highlighted by its engaging character designs and humor, which contribute to an overall enjoyable experience. While the variety of character designs is mostly well-received, some elements may feel outdated or cringe-worthy. The art direction and sound design further enhance the characters, making them memorable within the gameplay.
“Art direction, sound design, character design, music, level design (except the first level, too open compared to the rest), all culminate into incredibly fun gameplay!”
“But I want to give the developers credit when it comes to the character designs, humor, and overall pace; they gave me a damn good chuckle and the final boss soundtrack was stellar.”
“Only the theme itself, including protagonist and character designs, makes you feel 'a bit' like playing one of the Postal series.”
“Nor did the character designer for that matter.”
“It has a sometimes fine sense of humor, character designs which are mostly hits with one or two misses (Sirenhead...), great feeling weapons, and a neat little art style.”
- monetization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game is perceived as a quick cash grab, with some players noting that while the humor referencing older Postal games and the advertisements in the final area are enjoyable, they feel somewhat outdated.
“Lol, a quick cash grab.”
“The jokes about the older Postal games are great and so are the advertisements in the last area, but man, some of these are dated.”