Adventure Corner ~ Dispatch
Welcome to Adventure Corner, a column where members of the RPGamer staff can give their thoughts, impressions, and pseudo-reviews for various adventure titles that don't come under our usual coverage. Adventure Corner is aimed at delivering opinions on a wide range of titles including visual novels, point-and-click adventures, investigative mysteries, and so forth.
In this edition of the column we take a look at AdHoc Studio's superhero narrative adventure title, Dispatch .
Dispatch
Platform: PC
(also available on PS5 and coming soon to Switch, Switch 2)
Release Date: 11.12.2025
(final episode)
Publisher: AdHoc Studio
Developer: AdHoc Studio
Official Site
Telltale Games rose to prominence in the early 2010s with a series of adventure titles built on popular franchises that combined player decision making and quick-time events to great effect, though its rapid rate of production ended up seeing it fall by the wayside almost just as quickly. Founded by veterans of the studio, AdHoc Studios very much appears to be looking to capture the appeal of those titles with its superhero title Dispatch . Created in conjunction with Critical Role, the game excellently combines a strong original cast of characters, great comedy, and engaging action and gameplay to create a delightful episodic romp.
Taking place in a version of Los Angeles where superheroes and villains are commonplace, including aliens and human hybrids, Dispatch follows third-generation hero Robert Robertson III, aka Mecha Man. After an encounter with supervillain Shroud -- who killed his father, the previous Mecha Man -- puts him out of action, Robert winds up working as a dispatcher for the Superhero Dispatch Network (SDN), leading the Z-team, a group of former villains aiming to become heroes, under the promise that the SDN will use its resources to build him a new mecha suit.
[caption id="attachment_182021" align="aligncenter" width="640"] While not on the front lines, Robert at least gets to remain in the superhero world.[/caption]
Dispatch takes place across eight episodes, each one-to-two hours long. Each episode features a number of animated event scenes that include player decisions or (fully optional) quick-time button presses, alongside a gameplay sequence where the player must dispatch their heroes to deal with various calls that come in from the local populace. These sequences require that players select the correct heroes for each job based on their five attributes and descriptions of the job, keeping in mind that additional calls may come in while the heroes are out or resting from their previous excursion.
The actual dispatching gameplay is a surprising amount of fun, though it can be a bit stressful at times; some failure is to be expected, which helps make it immensely satisfying when a successful shift is put together and all incoming calls are efficiently handled. Certain jobs come with their own disruptions that can potentially block success depending on the player's choice in how to handle them, with certain heroes' presence sometimes unlocking extra options. Some calls will feature competing decisions on how to handle them, which usually amounts to either a less risky task or greater rewards, or allow Robert to get directly involved through a hacking mini-game.
[caption id="attachment_182022" align="aligncenter" width="640"] The dispatch sections prove to be surprisingly engaging.[/caption]
There's a good amount of depth to the system, and though players don't need to devote their full attention to get everything out of it, it's very pleasing when those deeper elements kick in. As players complete jobs, their heroes will level up, allowing the player to increase one of their attributes each time. Heroes with the ability to fly will get to places quicker, and heroes can also undergo training to unlock often very useful passive abilities and effects that kick in when their prerequisites are met. In addition, the way the missions tie into the plot or the heroes' characters keeps players engaged in the setting and story. Both the narrative and dispatching sections are strong on their own, but the unity between them really helps make Dispatch such a memorable experience.
Dispatch' s story is a solid superhero tale heavily featuring subjects of redemption, trust, and revenge. It might not pack any major surprises, but it's made all the stronger by its entertaining cast of characters. There is plenty of comedy throughout, but it's well balanced with its dramatic moments and interpersonal conflicts that get resolved in one way or another, depending on player choices. There aren't any big divergences in how the story plays out up until its final moments, but there are a good number of important decisions throughout the game that majorly impact different characters. The two romance options would definitely be HR disasters in the real world, though would hardly be the most unrealistic thing in the game and offer good emotional payoffs.
[caption id="attachment_182023" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Great writing is aided by fantastic presentation and performances throughout.[/caption]
The game's presentation and pacing are fantastic, and a huge part of why the game is so enjoyable. The animation is stellar throughout, making the game a joy to watch from start to finish, and the game is always looking to move its story forward. Things are further helped by its stellar voice cast, led by Aaron Paul as Robert and joined by powerful performances from others such as Jeffrey Wright, Laura Bailey, additional experienced actors, and a selection of internet personalities who don't feel out of place at all. All of the cast put in delightful performances that help solidify their characters and work hand in hand with the writing.
All in all, Dispatch is a delight. It uses an entertaining cast, superb presentation, and quick pacing to provide a thoroughly engaging story that is further backed up by highly enjoyable gameplay elements. Much like the best TV shows, it also works very well as a game to experience communally, although one should be aware that its mature rating is well earned when choosing who to enjoy it with. For those looking for a fun narrative adventure, Dispatch easily rockets up to the top of the recommendation list.
The post Adventure Corner ~ Dispatch appeared first on RPGamer .
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