‘Post’ and ‘Void’, two words both with a multitude of different meanings. Post can be an upright support, an action to display information, or can even mean something that is after an event. Void can render something invalid, refer to the emptiness of space or be an action of draining away fluid or gas. Put these words together and what do you have? The game ‘Post Void’.

Now a lot of those definitions when put together will make no sense, and spending time with this game can potentially have the same results. Developed and produced by YCJY Games one can’t help but ask, “How much rotisserie chicken were they eating when making this fever dream”? I’ll give my thoughts on what I believe this game is at the conclusion of this review, but for now, let’s talk about what Post Void is.

Post Void is a first-person shooter taking similarities from the original ‘Doom’. Standard first-person movement along with jump, slide and reload are what you’ll have to speed your way to victory Depicted as a set of hands, one holding a weapon and the other holding an idol. You move through 2D pixel-art corridors shaped into a 3D environment. The corridors are colourful which contrasts the enemies perfectly allowing you to identify them quickly and easily.

The goal is to reach the end of the level and enter the oasis. This trip through the corridors needs to be done with some haste as the idol’s fluid slowly drains overtime. The idol represents your health and if your idol runs out of fluid the game ends and you go back to the beginning. As each run is procedurally generated, you will never run the same corridor twice.

The enemies that block your path not only serve as an obstacle but also provide fluid to refill your idol. Each enemy is not only distinct in appearance but has specific attacks. Learning how to deal with each enemy as quickly as possible will soon have you speed-running like a pro.

With 11 stages to conquer the difficulty increases by the number of enemies you face and the type of enemies in that stage. Upon completion of each level, you get to choose one of three offerings to upgrade making your run easier to the oasis. The offerings range from different weapons, faster reloads, and more fluid for your idol just to name a few. There are four weapons and you always start with the pistol. The other three are a knife, a shotgun, and an uzi. Each weapon has its pros and cons and feels distinctively different from one another.

The music is fitting as it whips you into a frenzy to run and gun as quickly as possible to the oasis. With only one track, however, it becomes repetitive just as quickly as your runs. Each enemy has a distinctive sound so you will always know what enemy you’re up against even if it’s behind you.

A speed runner’s delight this game could easily become a group of friends bragging rights as to who can reach the end faster. Ultimately, that is what Post Void is all about. Whether you find meaning in it or just use it as a cathartic release, it is a short simple game that gives joy in what it’s shooting for.

Now my thoughts on what Post Void is truly saying are just that, my thoughts. Everyone will take something different out of this game. I respect that to someone this game means nothing while to others the deeper meaning through symbolism will speak more than what the game offers through its limited introduction.

First of all, the name Post Void, as mentioned in the beginning these two words can mean different things but to me when put together I translate it to mean “Residual product remaining in a vessel after voluntarily voiding”. This translation further solidifies for me as upon completion of the tutorial, you are shown a short black-and-white video with text and sketched images.

I won’t break down exactly what the video entails, but to me, this is a story of a person trapped by their own emptiness, with their final moments depicted through the symbolism of the gameplay itself.

Through pain and suffering, they battle to the end where an oasis awaits. With the reaching of each oasis descending further into the end of their existence. The only purpose is to reach the end, to re-enter the void of emptiness.

Written by: Ashley Barnett-Cosgrove