Dispatch’s stellar reception shows our desire for grown-up games

Even with the weight of their Telltale Games legacy behind it, Adhoc Studio still had a lot to prove with the release of their new choices-matter narrative-focused superhero game, Dispatch. They’ve more than hit the mark, as Dispatch is sitting as one of the best user-rated games of the moment, though critical reception will have to wait until all of the episodes have been released.

At the time of writing, Chapter 4 has been released, and there’s clearly a lot to love. Alongside stellar work from the Dispatch cast, there’s also surprisingly involving gameplay and some of the best reactivity in the genre. What I’m most excited about, however, is how Dispatch is clearly showing there’s an appetite for a little more grown-up in games. There are plenty of great characters out there with deep and compelling stories, but not many of them carry the trudging heft of the everyday.

✓ VideoGamer Summary

• Dispatch has released four of eight chapters so far.
• Dispatch currently has a ‘Very Positive’ user rating on Steam.
• This suggests there’s an appetite among players for grown-up games.

Dispatch plants itself firmly in real situations

What makes Dispatch excel is its grounded nature, despite the superhero trappings. There’s action and fighting, but all of that is almost secondary to what the game cares about: the dysfunctional workplace of the Superhero Dispatch Network. But also, how over-stuffed the city of Los Angeles is with heroes that they can be reasonably expected to fight petty crime or just direct traffic. Being a superhero is a job, and in the world of Dispatch, it doesn’t seem a particularly glamorous one.

So we zoom in on something that’s more The Office than The Avengers, and for most of each episode’s runtime, the spectacle is toned down. It’s well-written and, in places, is really rather funny, but there’s little here to grab the attention of anyone who isn’t picking up what Adhoc Studio is putting down. Even the earlier reliance on frequent swearing and dick jokes gets dialed down after the first couple of episodes, except in the case of Jeffery Wright’s foul-mouthed Chase. We’ve got an adult comedy here that feels distinctly more grown-up than something like Borderlands or Grand Theft Auto.

Dispatch voice actors bring dimension to the characters

The Dispatch cast is central to drawing players in, selling the script and the world in the process. The voice for the protagonist, Aaron Paul, projects Robert Robertson as a layered character, with sarcastic depths matched by occasionally sincere peaks. With an ensemble cast, however, our PC is only the tip of the iceberg. 

Travis Willingham is no stranger to superheroes, having voiced Thor and Superman numerous times, but his Phenomaman has a new edge. Where you start out thinking he’s going to match the archetype of an all-powerful super-jackass, he struggles with depression, and adds genuine moments in between the gags. Despite the put-together super-voice, Phenomaman has cracks that players can connect with.

You might think bringing influencers into Dispatch is just to nab their audience, but they’re an essential part of Dispatch’s entourage. Jacksepticeye, Alanah Pearce, and MoistCr1TiKaL demonstrate their important role in Dispatch’s tapestry through their delivery and the depth they bring to their respective characters. While they may bring in an audience, it’s the quality of their voice acting that keeps players engaged.

Dispatch’s age rating lets us be adults about relationships

The mainstream doesn’t like mixing sex and video games. It’s usually a side reward for romancing characters. Even where it’s given more time, it isn’t usually more than a bit of titillating fun. In Dispatch, we’re able to explore intimacy in a way that games normally shy away from, from the awkward first attraction to the still-awkward developments.

Early on, the game practically throws Erin Yvette’s Blonde Blazer at you as a romance option. She’s strong, capable, beautiful, and can drink you under the table. She’s also your boss, but what kind of workplace comedy would we be in if we didn’t have office romance? As the story unfolds, however, we have another suitor in Laura Bailey’s Invisigal, who seems to struggle with the idea of friends, let alone lovers. A love triangle of sorts develops, and the game is excited to see how you’ll react.

In Dispatch, the characters are the main point, so it doesn’t sideline these connections. We don’t have to hit a high enough score to initiate a cutscene; we can see the attractions play out. It’s much more emotionally mature than how other games approach the subject, even if Invisigal also shows how fun it is to be juvenile with sex references. It’s yet to be seen if Dispatch can stick the landing, but it’s rare for a mainstream Western game to put sex and romance front and centre. It’s a breath of fresh air that we can actually acknowledge there are adults in the room. 

Dispatch’s best choices are also made in spreadsheets

Dispatch is more than just interactive cutscenes with engaging characters; there’s also a central mechanic that plays out a couple of times an episode, where you actually acknowledge the title and dispatch your super-team out on missions. This takes the form of a city map with pop-ups and decisions surrounding who is best for what mission. For how cinematic the rest of the game is, it seems like such a strange visual hit.

Yet this focus on applying the mundane to the superheroic is a perfect pairing of gameplay and story. You have an overview of events as you manage people’s abilities, their inter-personal dramas, and their injuries, all from your map view. These segments aren’t what people might think of as fun in a superhero game, but these spreadsheets are full of heart and character.

Characters refuse to listen to your orders. If you pair the wrong people together, they’ll sabotage each other. There’s constant bickering over your decision-making. Much like Dispatch’s cinematic moments, your time in spreadsheets is on a minimal timer. It’s a level of trust in the maturity of the player and the quality of the offering that Dispatch lets a high-drama story surround this kind of gameplay.

FAQS