Post Void hooked me almost immediately. It wasn’t its unique visual style, best described as what it looks like when you lick a battery. Nor was it the catchy soundtrack, which is my current earworm.
It was the old-school-inspired twitch-based FPS gameplay.
A friend commented that Post Void plays like you’re exploring the old Windows 95 brick maze screensaver while on acid. I can’t get this comparison out of my head because they’re completely right. Developer YCJY Games has crafted the perfect pick-up-and-play experience. It’s hooked me so well that I own the game on multiple platforms.
What on Earth Is Post Void?
First, we need to answer that question.
The game’s description on Steam reads as follows:
“Post Void is a hypnotic scramble of early first-person shooter design that values speed above all else. Keep your head full and reach the end; Kill what you can to see it mend; Get the high score or try again.”
Inspiration from classic FPS titles like Wolfenstein 3D and DOOM is everywhere. If you slow down, it feels like you’ve transported back to the day of Microsoft DOS-based shooters. The problem, though, is that you can’t slow down. Your health is indicated by your character’s idol jar in your left hand. It’s constantly draining, an expedited process every time you take damage. The only way to refill your jar is by killing enemies.
This means you’ll die if you’re stumbling around the procedurally generated maze and can’t find the exit. These gameplay elements introduce a speedrunning feel to the game. You’re not racing to escape the enemies but to beat the clock and survive. Given the randomly generated level design and roguelite powerups you’re given upon completion, every run feels different.
Every run feels fresh, which is important because you can “complete” the entire game in 10 to 15 minutes.
The Ultimate Impulse Buy
There really isn’t more to Post Void; it’s an old-school FPS with speed running and roguelite elements. The aesthetic is beyond trippy, and that’s putting it lightly. So what is it that makes this game special?
First is the price point; the game is around $5 on most platforms. Post Void is the game you can get your money’s worth, regardless if you’ve spent two hours with the game or 20. You boot it up, make your way through the levels, and you’ve lost track of time before you know it.
Sometimes you put the game down and never return it. Post Void isn’t for everyone long term, and that’s okay; you’ve gotten value out of your purchase. Maybe you’ll return to the game at a future date, maybe not.
Other times, like me, you can’t stop thinking about it. This is a dangerous precedent for two reasons. First, there’s the short nature of how long the game takes. I wasn’t kidding when I mentioned that the entire game could be beaten in 10 to 15 minutes. It’s an incredibly satisfying pick-up-and-play style of gameplay that makes you forget that your in-game powerups don’t stay with you when you die.
Try To Avoid Lingering on Mistakes
Second, and this is the only fault I’ve encountered with Post Void, is the fact that the game features a point of diminishing returns. You’ll hit a sweet spot in your run at a certain point in your playtime. You’ll enter a groove and make substantial progress. After a while, sloppy play starts to creep in, and you perform worse.
Is this because the gameplay starts to wear you down? Could it be because the visual style, which comes with a warning before the game, becomes too much of a burden? Honestly, I’m not sure, but it’s something worth noting; Post Void is best in short spurts.
Or, and hear me out, this could be an intentional design.
I want to come back to the game’s Steam description. It warns you: “Try not to look back too much. Try to avoid lingering on mistakes.” It’s human that we do this, especially in these types of games. Post Void will prey on those who doubt themselves. Like any old-school inspired title that draws inspiration from difficult genres, the game can come off as hard. We need to listen to the game’s warnings and learn from its lessons, and only then can we succeed.
Wrapping Up
Despite the many similarities with other titles, few games like Post Void exist. It pays homage to our favorite gaming experiences while delivering something new and unique. Moreover, it’s not afraid to push us to our limits and reward us for our persistence.
“We move forward, we aim to progress,” the game states. Every time I boot it up, I move forward. I progress.
And then I tell everyone how much I love this game. God, I love this game.
The publisher provided a review code.
