Controlling super-dumb-heroes: a first look at Dispatch

Dispatch is not a typical superhero comedy that immediately caught my attention due to its interesting gameplay and adult story. Players step into the role of a former hero who now takes on a new role as a dispatcher, leading a team of eccentric superheroes. The game skilfully combines character management with extensive storyline choices that create a fresh and sincere take on the superhero genre in the gaming industry. Currently, only the first two episodes are available. I watched them in one evening and didn't even notice the time flying by, so now I'm ready to share my impressions.

Synopsis.

Dispatch is a superhero comedy where you play as Robert Robertson, a former Mecha Man hero who, after losing his mechanical suit, takes a job as a dispatcher, leading a team of former hero villains. The story progresses through player choices that shape relationships, team dynamics, and the overall plot, combining humour, thought-provoking reflections, and heartfelt moments in a superhero setting. The gameplay involves strategically assigning heroes to various urgent calls based on their abilities and recovery time, managing resources under pressure, and occasionally intervening directly to influence mission outcomes.

5 reasons to buy Dispatch

• You've always wanted to lead a team of superheroes
• Combination of interactive cinema and strategy that makes gameplay interesting
• Dispatch showcases some of the most exciting superheroes in gaming in recent times
• You play as an ordinary guy who now has to find a new mission in life, which is not typical for superheroics
• High-quality voice acting and a sharp, humorous script bring the story to life

2 reasons not to buy Dispatch

• You are still busy with Battlefield 6
• You are sick of superheroes and comics

The rating applies to the first two episodes only. Full review in progress*.

Quick jump:

• Plot: one of the most interesting superhero stories in recent years
• Gameplay: a dispatcher simulator with moral dilemmas
• The technical state of superheroes
• What will happen to Dispatch next?
• Five things to know about Dispatch

Plot: one of the most interesting superhero stories in recent years

Dispatch tells the story of Robert Robertson, a former superhero known as Mecha Man. After losing his mechanical suit in a dramatic battle, Robert finds himself working as an office worker at the Superhero Dispatch Centre, where he is tasked with coordinating a team of heroes who were formerly criminals.

Robert will especially appeal to those who have had to start from scratch: a new job, a new search for themselves, new attempts at love, but will he succeed? Illustration: AdHoc Studio

The game features an ensemble of vivid characters, each with their own flaws, history and personality, which naturally conflict and complement each other. From the bat-man Sonar (no, he's not Batman) to the mysterious and hot (in every sense) Malevola, these characters talk about their problems, have sharp, witty dialogues and jokes in the workplace, which is of great interest because they are not portrayed as perfectly polished.

Arguing and fighting with a drunken, cocky firebrand dude in Dispatch is commonplace. Illustration: AdHoc Studio. Illustration: джерело

Dispatch stands out for its fresh take on superhero storytelling, emphasising a realistic yet funny depiction of life behind the scenes in the superhero world. The choices made by the player in the role of Robert determine not only his fate, but also the fate of the entire team and the Los Angeles they protect.

Watching the characters drink in a bar, quarrel, fight, and generally act like ordinary people is much more interesting than watching the perfect characters save the entire planet from an alien threat. Add to this the incredibly beautiful character designs, and we have a combo that Marvel would easily envy.

Some of the designs are so cool that it is impossible to look away. Illustration: AdHoc Studio

And Robert's journey amidst all this, which reveals the story from despair to finding meaning and leadership in this strange group of misfits, helps you see yourself in it, which makes you love Dispatch even more.

Gameplay: a dispatcher simulator with moral dilemmas

It would seem that we have an interactive cinema, where there is a proven formula for work. And where can you go wild in a genre where you have to listen to dialogues and make decisions? However, Dispatch developers have proved that even in such a situation, you can always come up with something new and interesting.

The main gameplay is built around coordinating heroes to respond to dynamic emergency calls. Choosing the right heroes for each mission is crucial, as each character has its own strengths and weaknesses, peculiarities and special abilities that can change the course of any event.

You have to read the task in detail and choose the hero that best fits the parameters. Illustration: AdHoc Studio

The gameplay requires quick thinking and strategic planning, as calls come in continuously. Sometimes, sending two heroes can increase the chances of success, but the key is to manage limited resources, because, for example, a hero who has just returned from a mission needs time to rest and you cannot send him again instantly.

When difficult situations arise during missions, players can give advice to the heroes or complete a hacking puzzle, which also dilutes the gameplay.

Although hacking puzzles are reminiscent of mobile games, they will test your memory and reaction. Illustration: AdHoc Studio

Heroes also gain experience and level up after successful missions. Players manage the development of skills to eliminate weaknesses or improve special abilities, eventually forming new capabilities for their team.

In between, we can enjoy the usual interactive cinema. We choose options in dialogues that will have an impact in the future and take part in QTEs when action is happening on the screen.

Dispatch is quite action-packed, especially towards the end of the episodes. Illustration: AdHoc Studio

I liked the gameplay as well as the storyline. First of all, because Dispatch is not a traditional interactive cinema game, as it adds elements of an interesting strategy, so you don't just choose to "say this" or "do that" all the time. You have at your disposal a group of the most bizarre and once dangerous and naughty criminals who have now become heroes. And this gang has to be managed in a spectacular way. Thanks to all this, I didn't even notice how I had watched the first two episodes in an evening and now I want more...

The balance between conversations, strategy and action is so well struck that you lose track of the time spent in the game. Illustration: AdHoc Studio

The technical state of superheroes

The game is in perfect order with optimisation. Nothing crashes, there are no bugs, and I haven't noticed any crashes. And when an element is perfectly made, what else is there to say about it when everything is so clear?

Comic book visuals

Dispatch is made in a bright comic style that perfectly complements the theme of superheroes in the workplace. The art style of the game is characterised by bright colours and expressive character designs that are reminiscent of the best modern graphic novels and animated superhero series. All of this makes you feel like you are in a premium animated series.

Maybe one day we will even get a full-fledged series. Such stylised visuals make it possible.

Expensive soundtrack

The game's considerable budget was definitely spent on attracting actors, because in Dispatch you will hear a lot of famous personalities, including Aaron Paul, Jeffrey Wright, Laura Bailey and others. Thanks to this, all the characters sound expressive and emotional, which creates the effect of vividness on the screen.

The soundtrack reinforces the story with strong synth tracks and dynamic sound design that increase tension and excitement at key moments.

What's next for Dispatch?

Only the first two episodes are available now, so it's too early to give it a rating, but if I have to describe my emotions, it's one of the best stories and games I've played this year. I really want to believe that it will only get better from here on out, because these are the kind of projects that we have been missing. Fresh, thought-provoking, and interesting projects that can show a well-known topic from a completely different angle and keep the player engaged. AdHoc Studio has done an incredible job, so now we are waiting for the release of the next episodes to go back to the control room and put dangerous superheroes on the right track, and at the same time get a lot of emotions.

Release calendar for all episodes. Illustration: AdHoc Studio

Five things you need to know about Dispatch

• Dispatch is the debut game by AdHoc Studio
• The game is created in the genre of interactive cinema, but it is not like most of its kind
• Not only do you choose options in dialogues, but you also control a dispatcher who coordinates emergency calls and decides which heroes to send on each mission
• The game shows superheroes in a realistic way. They have their own problems and are far from perfect
• Dispatch is divided into episodes that will be released until 12 November

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