Dispatch review: All in a day’s work

**Dispatch Review: A Superhero Narrative That Sets a New Standard**

Seven years after AdHoc Studio was founded by former Telltale Games, Ubisoft, and Night School developers, the studio has finally released its debut title. **Dispatch** is an original interactive narrative game that draws heavy inspiration from the genre’s classics—yet builds on them to deliver one of the best experiences I’ve had in years.

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### Rock Bottom: Setting the Stage

**Dispatch** follows the story of Robert Robertson, once the popular superhero Mecha Man. A third-generation hero, Robert lives in the shadow of his father and grandfather. After his suit is destroyed while pursuing the man who killed his father, Robert finds himself at rock bottom and completely powerless.

Now, instead of saving the day himself, he’s recruited by the SDN (Superhero Dispatch Network) to manage heroes from behind a desk. The catch? The team Robert is assigned to—the infamous Z-Team—are all former criminals. The SDN seeks to rehabilitate these ex-villains and turn them into heroes as part of the “Phoenix Program.” This is where **Dispatch** finds its narrative hook, turning underdogs into stars.

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### Falling for the Z-Team

Over the course of the story, I grew to love this crew of misfits and their hilarious shenanigans. Working with them develops Robert as a hero in his own right, even if he no longer dons a super suit. The evolution of both Robert and the Z-Team is one of the game’s strongest threads, making for a truly rewarding journey.

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### Stellar Writing and Performances

I was blown away by **Dispatch’s** exceptional writing. I dove in knowing next to nothing and by the end of Chapter 1, I was absolutely hooked. AdHoc does a fantastic job of establishing its world, its key players, and the stakes at hand.

Much of this is bolstered by a star-studded cast:
– **Aaron Paul** (Breaking Bad’s Jesse Pinkman) voices Robert
– **Laura Bailey** voices Invisigal
– **Jeffrey Wright** voices Chase
– **Matthew Mercer** voices Shroud

They’re all phenomenal, nailing every ounce of emotion and humor required. Several Z-Team members are voiced by content creators and artists, all of whom deliver impressive performances.

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### Episodic Format Done Right

In classic Telltale fashion, **Dispatch** uses an episodic format, with two episodes releasing weekly throughout October and November 2025. Episodic releases can be hit or miss, but **Dispatch** gets the pacing nearly perfect. Every chapter packs impactful decisions, memorable moments, and cliffhangers that made me eager to return each week.

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### Choices Matter

As an interactive narrative game, **Dispatch** puts the power to influence the story in the player’s hands. The narrative branches in various directions based on your actions and responses, whether choosing what food to throw in the break room or deciding who gets cut from the Z-Team. Every choice feels weighty, bringing real consequence.

One character stands out: **Blonde Blazer**, who brings you into the fold at SDN. She’s a pillar of strength in the superhero community and one of two romance options (alongside Invisigal). Following her storyline was one of the game’s most rewarding decisions, thanks in large part to Erin Yvette’s flawless performance.

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### Not Without Flaws

While **Dispatch** satisfies most playstyles, it suffers from a few genre foibles. The constraints of branching narratives mean some story events are guaranteed, which can undercut certain decisions—especially on replay when you see all dialogue options lead to the same outcome. Nevertheless, the emotional journey more than makes up for occasional predictability.

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### The Secret Sauce: Music

Before moving on, I have to praise **Dispatch’s** music choices. The indie songs selected for key moments are inspired. Deep Dreem’s “Little Light” at the end of Episode 4 made me feel like I was levitating. “Radio” by Bushy capped off the party scene in Episode 6, my favorite moment in the entire game. Add in a memorable original soundtrack, and music becomes a pivotal part of the **Dispatch** experience.

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### A Compelling Management Sim

Beyond its story, **Dispatch** surprised me with its dispatching minigames. Instead of feeling like chores, these management sim elements are clever and enjoyable. You’ll assign heroes to tasks across Los Angeles—rescuing cats, breaking up fights, or even handling kaiju on the beach. Each mission requires specific hero stats, and your choices impact success, leading to character progression and leveling.

You’ll need to strategize: heroes need time to travel and rest, and synergy between characters adds another layer of strategy. Thoughtful management is key; send too many heroes at once, and you might be shorthanded for what comes next.

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### What It Means to Be a Hero

**Dispatch** is my most pleasant gaming surprise this year. Amid countless superhero parodies and deconstructions, **Dispatch** carves its own unique path. Its message—that anyone can do good, regardless of their past—truly resonated with me. I’ll admit: I got emotional during the final credits.

On top of that, it’s a hilarious superhero romp with satisfying storylines and a cast I’m absolutely dying to see return.

If this is the standard AdHoc Studio will set moving forward, the interactive narrative genre is in very good hands.

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**Review Details**

This review is based on the Steam version of **Dispatch**. The game is available now for $29.99 USD on PC and PS5.

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**Have you played Dispatch yet? Share your favorite Z-Team moments and thoughts in the comments below!**
https://www.shacknews.com/article/146836/dispatch-review-score

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