History VideoGame / PostalIII

''Postal III'', which is built on the [[Creator/ValveSoftware Source engine]], was co-developed by Running With Scissors, [=TrashMasters=] Studios, and Russian developer/publisher Akella. It was announced in 2006, and was released worldwide via digital distribution on the UsefulNotes/{{Steam}} store Christmas week on December 20, 2011, although ''three retail versions'' were released in Russia a month before on November 23, 2011. It was supposed to be released on PC, Mac OS X, and Linux, with UsefulNotes/{{Xbox 360}} and UsefulNotes/PlayStation3 ports announced for 2012; however, only the PC version was released. The game was released unrated due to Akella not wanting to pay for an ESRB rating, meaning that the game was (at one point) only available in non-Russian territories through the Running With Scissors website; it is currently on Steam but was briefly taken off, [[KeepCirculatingTheTapes making it unplayable with third-party methods]] until Zoom Platform added the game to their library, removed the DRM and improved the DRM-free mod that was used to previously play it meaning the game was brought back to Steam and added to Zoom Platform. Due to a combination of lackluster sales, some serious miscommunication between RWS and Akella, and the sheer number of problems with the game, RWS has [[CreatorBacklash dropped the title from their store]] and [[CanonDiscontinuity refers to the title as "Russian Postal", officially declaring it a spin-off game]].

** Many in the [[CosmeticAward achievements,]] including ones to Film/TheMatrix, ComicBook/JudgeDredd, Film/RepoMan, and various action movie actors.

** A ''VideoGame/SilentHill'' save sigil can be found in the obligatory sewer level.

''Postal III'', which is built on the [[Creator/ValveSoftware Source engine]], was co-developed by Running With Scissors, [=TrashMasters=] Studios, and Russian developer/publisher Akella. It was announced in 2006, and was released worldwide via digital distribution on the UsefulNotes/{{Steam}} store Christmas week on December 20, 2011, although ''three retail versions'' were released in Russia a month before on November 23, 2011. It was supposed to be released on PC, Mac OS X, and Linux, with UsefulNotes/{{Xbox 360}} and UsefulNotes/PlayStation3 ports announced for 2012; however, only the PC version was released. The game was released unrated due to Akella not wanting to pay for an ESRB rating, meaning that the game was (at one point) only available in non-Russian territories through the Running With Scissors website; it is currently on Steam but was briefly taken off, [[KeepCirculatingTheTapes making it unplayable with third-party methods]] until Zoom Platform added the game to their library, removed the DRM and improved the DRM-free mod that was used to previously play it meaning the game was brought back to Steam and added to Zoom Platform. Due to a combination of lackluster sales, some serious miscommunication between RWS and Akella, and the [[ObviousBeta sheer number of problems]] with the game, RWS has [[CreatorBacklash dropped the title from their store]] and [[CanonDiscontinuity refers to the title as "Russian Postal", officially declaring it a spin-off game]].

* DifficultButAwesome: This installment's [[ObviousBeta rather loose physics]] has made using [[MacheteMayhem the Machete's]] [[PrecisionGuidedBoomerang alt-fire throw]] much more difficult, though it still kills enemies pretty damn quickly.

* ObviousBeta: The game has some glaring glitches. Certain Steam achievements are bugged and don't unlock, the AI for certain [=NPCs=] (particularly for those you have to {{escort|Mission}}) are still primitive or broken, and certain computer builds make the game crash constantly. It was chiefly for this reason that RWS [[CreatorBacklash all but disowned the game]].

* ShoutOut: Many in the [[CosmeticAward achievements,]] including ones to Film/TheMatrix, ComicBook/JudgeDredd, Film/RepoMan, and various action movie actors.

* EliteMooks: On the "Insane" story path, [=SWAT=] officers aren't much tougher than regular cops the first time you fight them, but they receive a major durability upgrade much later in the game during the prison break level, capable of surviving several headshots or a lot of torso shots before going down.

''Postal III'', which is built on the [[Creator/ValveSoftware Source engine]], was co-developed by Running With Scissors, [=TrashMasters=] Studios, and Russian developer/publisher Akella. It was announced in 2006, and was released worldwide via digital distribution on the UsefulNotes/{{Steam}} store Christmas week on December 20, 2011, although ''three retail versions'' were released in Russia a month before on November 23, 2011. It was supposed to be released on PC, Mac OS X, and Linux, with UsefulNotes/{{Xbox 360}} and UsefulNotes/PlayStation3 ports announced for 2012; however, only the PC version was released. The game was released unrated due to Akella not wanting to pay for an ESRB rating, meaning that the game was (at one point) only available in non-Russian territories through the Running With Scissors website; it is currently on Steam but was briefly taken off, [[KeepCirculatingTheTapes making it unplayable with third-party methods]] until Zoom Platform added the game to their library, removed the DRM and improved the DRM-free mod that uses to previously play it meaning the game was brought back to Steam and added to Zoom Platform. Due to a combination of lackluster sales, some serious miscommunication between RWS and Akella, and the [[ObviousBeta sheer number of problems]] with the game, RWS has [[CreatorBacklash dropped the title from their store]] and [[CanonDiscontinuity refers to the title as "Russian Postal", officially declaring it a spin-off game]].

''Postal III'', which is built on the [[Creator/ValveSoftware Source engine]], was co-developed by Running With Scissors, [=TrashMasters=] Studios, and Russian developer/publisher Akella. It was announced in 2006, and was released worldwide via digital distribution on the UsefulNotes/{{Steam}} store Christmas week on December 20, 2011, although ''three retail versions'' were released in Russia a month before on November 23, 2011. It was supposed to be released on PC, Mac OS X, and Linux, with UsefulNotes/{{Xbox 360}} and UsefulNotes/PlayStation3 ports announced for 2012; however, only the PC version was released. The game was released unrated due to Akella not wanting to pay for an ESRB rating, meaning that the game was (at one point) only available in non-Russian territories through the Running With Scissors website; it also used to be on Steam but was taken off, [[KeepCirculatingTheTapes making it unplayable with third-party methods]]. Due to a combination of lackluster sales, some serious miscommunication between RWS and Akella, and the [[ObviousBeta sheer number of problems]] with the game, RWS has [[CreatorBacklash dropped the title from their store]] and [[CanonDiscontinuity refers to the title as "Russian Postal", officially declaring it a spin-off game]].

''Postal III'', which is built on the [[Creator/ValveSoftware Source engine]], was co-developed by Running With Scissors, [=TrashMasters=] Studios, and Russian developer/publisher Akella. It was announced in 2006, and was released worldwide via digital distribution on the UsefulNotes/{{Steam}} store Christmas week on December 20, 2011, although ''three retail versions'' were released in Russia a month before on November 23, 2011. It was supposed to be released on PC, Mac OS X, and Linux, with UsefulNotes/{{Xbox 360}} and UsefulNotes/PlayStation3 ports announced for 2012; however, only the PC version was released. The game was released unrated due to Akella not wanting to pay for an ESRB rating, meaning that the game was (at one point) only available in non-Russian territories through the Running With Scissors website; it is now only available on the Steam store, although still unrated. Due to a combination of lackluster sales, some serious miscommunication between RWS and Akella, and the [[ObviousBeta sheer number of problems]] with the game, RWS has [[CreatorBacklash dropped the title from their store]] and [[CanonDiscontinuity refers to the title as "Russian Postal", officially declaring it a spin-off game]].

* GameplayAndStorySegregation: The Dude's initial goal upon arriving in Catharsis is to get more gasoline for his car so he can keep going. Because of the recession, gas prices have skyrocketed, so he has to take up odd jobs to come up with the cash. The fact that you can pick up dozens of full gas canisters throughout the game and all you can do with them is to help burn stuff goes uncommented, and he never seems to put two and two together.

* UnreliableNarrator: If you get the bad ending, it reveals that [[spoiler:the entire game was just a fake story that the Dude made up just to get into Heaven. Unfortunately, St. Peter saw through his lies and sent him to Hell as punishment.]]

** Sure Mr. UN Officer, [[TooDumbToLive put the ''Postal Dude'' in charge]] of a BigRedButton and [[IdiotBall ask him not to push it, or let anyone else push it.]] [[SarcasmMode That's a good idea.]]

* CustomUniform: Ever so slightly. If the Dude goes clean and signs up to join the police, wearing different outfits like a cop uniform, a secret service suit and SWAT armor, he keeps his happy face and Christian cross buttons, as well as his FingerlessGloves and tan boots. He keeps these for his janitor and prisoner outfits on the Bad Path, even on ''the Krotchy outfit.''

* EmergencyWeapon: The kick returns. There aren't any doors you need to kick open (as any you need to go through open automatically just by getting close to them), but it'll knock over most human foes, setting them up for any number of nasty finishing attacks.

** A sandbox Free Roam mode was patched in post-release. In their words, "Explore Catharsis. [[VideogameCrueltyPotential Kill things.]]"
[[/folder]]

* Padding: The counts for several objectives such as collecting cats at the start of the game were bumped up before release, other things such as the fact you have to tase over 10 people (Without killing any in-between) to increase your Karma meter, which takes a long while if you aren't using the Pre-order exclusive Fart gun.

* BeeAfraid: Swarms of African Killer Bees roam some areas, most notably the Ecotoligists' compound. They slowly eat away at the health of anyone they chase after. The Postal Dude can acquire [[ImprobableWeaponUser bee hives to throw at enemies,]] thus unleashing the bees on them.