POSTAL 2 vs. POSTAL 2: VR

It is over two decades since Running With Scissors released POSTAL 2. While the game was controversial, it also became wildly popular. The developer has released two expansions over time, adding new levels and content to the game. Now, the studio is working on something bigger and better than another expansion: a VR, reimagined version of the game titled POSTAL 2: VR.

POSTAL 2: VR promises to revamp every aspect of the original game. While it is still in development, there is enough information out there to know what to expect. Here is a detailed comparison of POSTAL 2 versus POSTAL 2: VR.

What is POSTAL 2?

POSTAL 2 is an open-world first-person shooter known for its gory violence and dark humour. It casts players as an average guy called The POSTAL Dude. His wife regularly sends him on various errands across the town of Paradise, Arizona. While the tasks are nothing out of the ordinary, they can lead to dangerous, violent situations, and trouble seems to follow The POSTAL Dude around. As such, he must find ways to navigate different situations and complete his errands. There are different ways to handle every situation, from pacifism to extreme violence and everything in between.  

POSTAL 2 has two expansions in addition to the original edition. The Apocalypse Weekend expansion introduced two new levels. The second expansion, Paradise Lost, went bigger, adding an entirely new five-level campaign, a bigger map, a new story, and new items.

Interestingly, a few countries found the game so controversial and violent that they banned it. Nevertheless, the game received an overwhelmingly positive reception and has maintained cult-like popularity over the years.

What is POSTAL 2: VR?

POSTAL 2: VR is a reimagined, VR-based version of POSTAL 2. It maintains the original game’s theme and concepts of extreme violence and offensive humor. Moreover, it applies the same gameplay mechanics and much of the content in the original edition and the two expansions. This means that players run the same errands, use the same weapons, and do everything else they would in the original game, only in virtual reality.

However, POSTAL 2: VR also features new content, better graphics, more realistic physics, and smoother mechanics. As such, it promises to be overall better, more fun, and more immersive than the original version.

Story

The POSTAL Dude is an ordinary guy who runs various errands for his nagging wife. They are harmless tasks, such as returning an overdue library book or buying milk. However, bad luck seems to follow the guy everywhere, and chaos and violence break out everywhere he goes.

Character

The main character in both games goes by the name The POSTAL Dude. Interestingly, he is more of an anti-hero than a hero. He is an easy-going guy with a short fuse and is capable of shocking violence when he wants to. Moreover, he is also sarcastic and seems to have an issue with society. He even hates his wife, who he refers to as The Bitch. However, he loves his dog, Champ, who he takes everywhere.

Gameplay

POSTAL 2: VR retains much of the gameplay design and mechanics in POSTAL 2. However, the gameplay in the former is smoother and more immersive than in the latter, thanks to two decades of gaming tech advances and the virtual reality platform.

The gameplay in both games involves lots of action, adventure, and interaction with NPCs. The action is intense, and fights are often bloody and gory. Notably, the opening scene in the official trailer for POSTAL 2: VR showcases The POSTAL Dude standing in a room strewn with dismembered body parts.

There is an extensive arsenal of weapons in both games. They range from simple items like shovels to handguns, rifles, grenades, and even rocket launchers. Every weapon is unique and feels and works differently based on the game’s impressive physics. They feel even more realistic in the VR version, which features manual weapons handing for players to feel every reload. However, players can also make insane, hilarious modifications to the weapons, such as using cats as silencers.

Besides guns and other weapons, players can also engage in melee combat. Again, melee combat is better in the VR version, as players can execute different moves and styles.

While the game is action-packed, The POSTAL Dude doesn’t have to be violent. He can choose to be a pacifist and uphold the peace. The game’s AI-powered NPCs and environments react dynamically to every choice and action players make. As such, chaos and murder ease if players choose to avoid violence. However, danger lurks everywhere regardless of how much players try to avoid it.

Besides action, players can also enjoy a fun adventure as they run errands across town. The game features a sandbox open world with a non-linear exploration system. Paradise, Arizona, the town on which the game’s world is based, looks and feels realistic. The virtual reality setting and improved visuals make the adventure more immersive in POSTAL 2: VR. Moreover, it features a new mini-map system that is specifically designed for the VR platform.

The game’s world is full of NPCs with unique looks and personalities. Everyone goes about their activities, giving the virtual world a more realistic appeal. Some of the NPCs are quite eccentric and memorable. Players can interact with the NPCs in various ways. They can be civil or unleash violence on everyone they meet. Notably, there are more ways to interact with NPCs in POSTAL 2: VR. The game features gesture-based reactions; players can do things like flipping people off or hitting them with precision.

Platforms

Officially, POSTAL 2 is only available on PC, including Windows, macOS, and Linux. However, there is also an unofficial, fan-made port for Android mobile devices. Unfortunately, the game’s controversial nature hindered its release on consoles. POSTAL 2: VR will be available on PlayStation VR2, SteamVR, and Quest 2 and 3.

Verdict

POSTAL 2 has not lost its touch or appeal after two decades. It is now set to get better with the upcoming release of POSTAL 2: VR. The VR version promises to be bigger, more immersive, smoother, better-looking, and overall better in every aspect.