Review - Dispatch

Developer & Publisher: AdHoc Studios

Available on: PC, PlayStation

Review system: PC (Steam)

Super Call Center

Dispatch is an interactive narrative game from new studio AdHoc, putting you in the shoes of the protagonist Robert Robertson (III) and his journey from hero to (basically) father figure. All while making choices, managing Heroes, hacking, and using his actual super power, “Endless Charisma”. Originally, they released this via an episode format with 8 episodes in total (30-60 minutes an episode). They are all released now, so I am talking about the game as a complete package and will be talking about it as spoiler-free as I can.

Let’s talk about the experience.

Press Left to be a Chad, Press Right to be an UltraChad.

It’s important to understand that Dispatch is an interactive narrative first and foremost. Meaning that you are more or less watching a prerendered scene and making response selections and playing QTE while the story plays. If you have played a Telltale game, which several of Dispatch’s founders are ex-employees of, you get the idea. This is the bulk of the game, and honestly, it's hard to find much to be upset with. Writing is excellent, characters are all designed well and memorable with great voice actors, not to mention opening a new front on the Waifu wars, and the story has all the beats and twists one could want. If this were a show, I think it would do pretty well by itself.

The next major system is managing your superhero team via the dispatch system. You select emergency notifications on a map, interpret the clues in the description, then decide on which heroes (if any) you wish to send in response. Based on how well the heroes meet the skills criteria, you have a percent chance of succeeding or failing the event. The closest system I can think of is “This is the Police”. An early rookie mistake is sending too many heroes out early, but once you get into the groove, it is a very satisfying gameplay loop with new narrative challenges that come as the episodes progress. You get to hear great character interactions along the way and level your heroes' skills as they complete outings. If there is anything I would gripe about, I wish the after-action from completing the calls gave you a bit more. You get a “Completed,” but it would be nice to see some animations, drawings, or even just some text talking about the end result. The other odd choice is that there is no endless mode. Honestly, the dispatch system is strong enough on its own. I think it’s something fans would get a lot out of.

The final part of the gameplay is the occasional hacking minigame. You use the keypad to roll around a grid, accomplishing QTE prompts with progressively more complex interactions as you continue. It’s fine. Nothing to write home about, but serviceable at mixing up the other two gameplay elements.

There really isn't much in the way of graphics for this, as everything is a prerendered cutscene. It is a great animation, though. Make sure there is no one in the room with you when you start episode 4.

The game is very vocal about using cast members from Critical Role to voice its characters, and I would say they nailed it. Aaron Paul, Jeffrey Wright, Laura Bailey, Travis Willingham, Matthew Mercer, and many more did a fantastic job and really elevated the story. I challenge anyone to play the game and not find at least one character they like.

If I am trying to find anything to not like about the game, I would stress that this game is a story and not an RPG. You get to decide some of the choices of Robert, but you aren’t defining Robert or making independent choices. Like many interactive story games, some of the binary choices you have to make…may have less story impact than you may think. Certainly, many dialogue choices are an “Illusion of Choice” than story-impactful. But when the story is done this well, it’s no reason not to play. I am baffled that they didn’t include an endless mode for the dispatch gameplay, but I understand they spent 7 years developing the project, so I can understand they wanted to get it out there. A minor gripe, I understand they cut a romance scene with best girl Blonde Blazer, and how dare they. Release the DIRECTOR'S CUT!

Putting on the Headset

I struggled for a while in writing this review. I am approaching this as a game review, but it could just as easily be written as a show/anime review. Dispatch hit me at the right time, because 2025 has been the year for great anime releases, and Dispatch could certainly fall on that list. The game finishes a playthrough in about 6-8 hours. You are definitely playing for quality over quantity, but man, there is a lot of quality. If you like quality animation, great voice acting, or just need a break from endless live service games, Dispatch is a great choice, and you would be hard-pressed not to have a good time.

DISPATCH IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED