Developer: AdHoc Studio
Platforms: PC (Reviewed), PS5
Genre: Action, Adventure, Strategy
Publisher: AdHoc Studio
Dispatch is a superhero workplace comedy where choices matter. The game was developed and published by AdHoc Studio. When I first saw Dispatch, my immediate reaction was ‘This looks like Invincible’, and if you have seen the animated series Invincible, you will instantly notice the resemblance in visual style. The bright, expressive animation and comic book flair are extremely present. But Dispatch is not a clone of just any superhero show; it is a game that stands on its own, combining cinematic storytelling with clever, hands-on gameplay that feels fresh yet nostalgic.
Dispatch puts the players in the shoes of Robert Robertson, better known as Mecha Man, who is a third-generation hero who had no superpowers. Following a failed encounter with the villain Shroud, Robert’s superhero career hits a dead end as his Mech sustains way too much damage. That is, until he crosses paths with Blonde Blazer, who offers him a new role as a Dispatcher at SDN (Superhero Dispatch Network). From here, Robert takes on the responsibility to manage a dysfunctional set of heroes straight into action.
Dispatch has a total of 8 episodes, with two episodes releasing weekly from the initial release date (22nd of October). Each episode feels like watching a 45-minute animated series that is filled with humour, personality and plenty of chaos to keep things unpredictable. The narrative is full of clever dialogue and well-developed characters, from quirky side heroes to the mundane-filled personality of Robert. AdHoc Studio consists of previous developers/writers of the well-known Telltale games, The Wolf Among Us and Tales from the Borderlands. The team knows exactly how to balance story-driven tension with genuine moments.
One of the most unique aspects of Dispatch is the ability to play either interactive or cinematics modes. I personally played in Interactive mode, which lets you participate in action sequences by clicking or dragging on beats to match punches, dodges or attacks. For example, when Mecha Man throws a punch, the frame freezes, and you need to drag your mouse in sync with the motion to land the hit. It is a small touch that makes every fight feel much more involved. However, in some of these moments, the controls did feel slightly delayed, especially in sequences that demanded quick back-to-back reactions.
Dispatch also features an in-game mechanic, the dispatch system, where the real strategy kicks in. You view city locations from a top-down perspective and receive calls for crimes or emergencies. Based on the hero’s skill sets, you assign the right people to the right missions. Successful dispatches earn XP for your heroes, helping them level up and unlock new abilities. As the calls start flooding in, it becomes a matter of resource management and planning. Heroes need rest time, emergencies will overlap, and quick division making is essential, truly making the player feel like an actual dispatcher. Occasionally, you will even get urgent interruptions mid-dispatch, forcing you to hack systems or make moral decisions to get the heroes out of sticky scenarios.
The visuals in Dispatch are stunning. The art style blends sharp, comic book aesthetics with fluid animation that feels alive. Every punch, explosion and character expression bursts with so much personality and colour. The colour palette itself is extremely vibrant, which reminds one of watching those animated cartoon shows. Besides just the spectacular visuals, the voice acting is outstanding, with a cast so identifiable, diverse and spot on. Aaron Paul voices Robert Robertson, giving him that grounded charm. Jacksepcticeye voices Punch Up, an eager Irish-inspired hero. MoistCr1tiKal as Sonar and Yung Gravy as Golem are surprising but brilliant fits for their characters. Even if you do not recognise every voice, each one brings uniqueness and depth to the heroes and villains you meet. Additionally, the music is upbeat, dynamic and syncs well with the visuals. The end-credit songs for each episode genuinely feel like you are watching an animated superhero show.
Dispatch is about balance, both in narrative and gameplay. It combines cinematic storytelling with a layer of engaging top-down management gameplay. Each dispatch mission feels meaningful, especially as your heroes grow stronger. In the future episodes, I hope to learn more about the backstories of the heroes that Robert has to manage. It is especially amusing when you see the heroes bickering during the dispatch sessions.
The Digital Deluxe Edition adds even more for fans who want to dive deeper. It includes a digital art book showcasing concept art and design notes from AdHoc Studio, which is perfect for players to learn more about the game art and development (telling a story of its own). Completing episodes unlocks digital comic books that expand the lore and flesh out the world’s heroes and villains. It is such a creative way to reward players and keep them intrigued in the world of Dispatch.
As someone who grew up loving Telltale Games and their storytelling, Dispatch feels like a great revival of that genre, where you get to make choices that matter. I do like that the developers added an interesting gameplay mechanic; however, for some, the balance between the length of gameplay time and cinematics may not be ideal. For instance, the first episode leans heavily on cinematics, while the second strikes a great balance between story and action. I found myself genuinely excited for the next six episodes, and that itself says a lot. The storytelling, art and music come together to create such an intriguing experience.
Episodes 3 and 4 continue to build on the strong foundation of the first two, and they just continue to get better. These episodes do a fantastic job at blending gameplay and storytelling seamlessly. I especially love the addition of the new game mechanics, where you can injure your heroes if they fail missions, or run into teammates sabotaging one another. It is chaotic in the best way possible, your team feels more unpredictable, and full of personality. The group dynamics become more pronounced, and you really start to see how their synergy impacts every mission. The humour shines even more as the jokes land perfectly, thanks to the sharp writing and natural chemistry between the cast. It genuinely feels like you are managing a quirky, dysfunctional team of superheroes.
What is great about the episodic release is that it keeps players hooked and anticipating what’s next. Each new episode pays off by building tension and excitement for the coming chapters. I felt as though the choices made in these two episodes were so much more impactful, which I enjoyed, as it gets you to think about which is ‘better’. The gameplay itself continues to evolve by adding more layers of security in the hacking system.
These two recent episodes stand out as there is a growing sense of connection with the characters. As the episodes develop, you start to form genuine bonds with your heroes, which adds an emotional layer to Dispatch. This makes the story about teamwork, trust, and the hero’s lifestyle.
Dispatch captures the essence of what made narrative-driven games so special by blending cinematic storytelling with meaningful player interaction. As you dive deeper into Robert’s journey as Mecha Man, you will uncover heroism and humour while balancing the chaos of managing a team of unpredictable superheroes. Enjoy a superhero story that feels like you are both watching and living through the animated series. Be sure to check out Dispatch as more episodes release with loads more action and drama to come!
Episode 5: Team Building
This episode seriously stepped it up. I love how Dispatch keeps finding new ways to make the gameplay feel fresh. The new synergy mechanic, where going over a certain limit can cause you to fail a mission or help you gain additional XP, was a smart touch. It really makes you think more carefully about whom you send out, instead of just picking whoever.
What needs mentioning in this episode is that fighting montage, hands down, one of my favourite moments so far. Without spoiling anything, the way it transitions between two completely different moments was stunning. It felt cinematic and super immersive, and honestly, having brought back the player actions was on point. Everything was smooth, the performance was incredible, and the team was flawless together.
The SDN gameplay this time around was way more engaging. I feel as though every episode gets better, which I enjoy and look forward to. I finally managed to nail a successful shift, and it made the whole sequence so much more rewarding. The hacking sessions keep surprising me, too. Every time I think I have it figured out, they add a clever twist that ties into the story perfectly. I love how each call feels unique and never gets repetitive.
The ending for this episode was so sweet, as it really brought the whole team dynamic together in such a wholesome way. Definitely one of the most heartwarming conclusions so far. It almost feels like I am part of the Z-Team!
Episode 6: Moving Parts
Episode 6 was completely different. I loved how the previous calls you handled during the SDN shifts actually ended up connecting to Robert’s real-life situation. It is such a cool way to show that everything you have been doing matters, not just as mini-missions but as part of the bigger story.
This episode brought back that tension I was missing from the previous episodes. The emotional stakes were higher, the character dynamics really started to unfold, and it felt like the choices you were making were never the right option (in a good way). This episode had an ending that was gut-wrenching. It is one of those cliffhangers that hits out of nowhere but still feels hopeful because of everything that built up before it. It is raw, emotional and honestly left me staring at the screen in shock afterwards.
The final two episodes of Diaptach seriously stuck the landing. It’s got that intense cinematic build-up where you think you’re heading toward a big hero moment when things go sideways in the most chaotic way possible.
What really hit me, though, was how clearly the game shows the impact of your earlier choices. You actually feel the weight of all those “__ will remember this” moments paying off. Without spoiling much, there are several endings the game offers, which allow for even more replayability (with the game fully released, this is even easily done). I love how the different endings can either be good or bad, which makes you rethink the choices you had previously made. Depending on how you handled things earlier, and seeing the finale play out is super satisfying.
The ending wraps up the story beautifully. Robert Robertsone finally feels like he fits where he’s always wanted to, but it still keeps the spotlight on the Z-team and everything they have become. Not to mention, the twists are absolutely unhinged in these last two episodes in the best way possible!
The final episode is full of pure tension. It throws you into absolute chaos and makes you feel like you are losing control for a second, but then all those skills you have built over your SDN dispatch shifts kick in. It is much more rewarding. Watching your team max out their abilities, sync up perfectly, and bulldoze every red-ring nightmare thrown at them feels like the hero payoff you have been waiting for.
Overall, it’s the kind of ending that leaves you sitting there thinking, that ‘this was worth it’. I will also say that with the Deluxe Edition of the game, the extra content (especially reading the comics) was so much fun and built upon the lore for each of the heroes. I truly hope to see more to come with Dispatch in the future, maybe even another season with even more chaos!
Overall: 10/10
This is S & S. We are world game explorers. We play games. We have played over 10,000+ games! We travel, we write reviews AND we play more games!!!!
