I have many regerts.

I'm a big fan of Postal 2, despite some flaws and overall jank in the gameplay department, game's humor from back in the day is the reason that made me fall in love with it. After few trailer leaks of Postal 4 and quick release in Early access, I bought it on day 1 with no hesitation just to support the development. I was sure that Running With Scissors will deliver a true sequel to my beloved franchise. Haven't touched the game since that day because I wanted to experience it in it's full potential. The time has come and to say that I'm disappointed would be a huge understatement. It's ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ disgraceful.

Postal 4 does feature some gameplay improvements over Postal 2, but the main gripe I have with it is that it's akin to what the new Simpsons are to the old Simpsons.

Postal 2 was made in a time where the moral authorities were incredibly concerned about these newfangled vidjagaems and upstart politicians wanted to lift their career by banning this evil that seeks to corrupt our children, which lent Postal 2's stance of "being as offensive as humanly possible" some genuine bite and heart to it. A huge portion of Postal 2's views and comedy and themes have aged like ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ milk, but I think it still has some cultural value in that, it's a perfect time capsule of that early 00s/early-South Park rebellious DGAF attitude where everything and everyone were being made fun of.

Postal 4 was being made in a moment of time where the moral authorities of society don't really care about blaming videogames for all ills in society anymore, and where its sense of humor was largely co-opted by irony poisoned nihilist humorless culture warriors who take the internet too seriously, which gives the game a very different vibe. It has the appearance of being offensive, but it's awkward because you can't tell who the game is supposed to offend. On the other hand, the subjects Postal 4 is clearly trying to ridicule have either been already thoroughly ♥♥♥♥ on by everyone years ago, or are too culturally irrelevant for anyone to give a ♥♥♥♥ about. Most of what Postal 4 then does is just repeat its old raunchy gags in a new skin, stuff that might've given a soccer mom two decades ago a heart attack, but nowadays just makes everyone either mildly dilate their nostrils or sigh in annoyance. Postal 4 is too out of touch to be a good satire, and too disconnected and meta to be a sincere stand-alone work, as it would instead constantly go "remember this? remember this?" instead.

It seemed to me like they didn't bother with satirizing or making talk about any of the daily frustrations the world has been suffering through this last decade. That's a big part of Postal 2's fun and notoriety, atleast in my opinion.

Fun fact: I had a more enjoyable pass time in Postal 3. This is how hard they ♥♥♥♥♥♥ up on the gameplay department in Postal 4.

Soundtrack is a banger though.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p70imhi3D_k
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1GJw7x7rhOw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1mdRR5mpbY