Dispatch looks like a proper evolution of the Telltale style narrative game

by

Okay, so I was pretty hyped when I heard a team of ex-Telltale developers started a new studio – Telltale games were amazing! But honestly, Dispatch from Adhoc Studio totally delivers. It’s got that same witty, natural humor as Tales from the Borderlands and the characters feel just as well-developed as in The Wolf Among Us. The writing is fantastic, and the voice acting is incredible – seriously, Aaron Paul, Jeffrey Wright, Laura Bailey, Matt Mercer, and Erin Yvette are all killing it! Plus, they even got some YouTubers involved, which is a fun little bonus.

In Dispatch, you play as Robert Robertson, also known as Mecha Man – a superhero whose suit is broken and who lacks the resources to fix it. He ends up working as a dispatcher, sending reformed supervillains on emergency missions. If he can successfully guide these heroes, he’ll earn enough money to repair his own suit.

The game blends classic dialogue choices, similar to those found in Telltale games, with strategic elements like managing time and resources, and engaging hacking challenges. It features vibrant, comic book-style animation, often with intense action. Your decisions will affect how the story unfolds and your relationships with other characters.

Jeffrey Wright starts a scene by gruffly telling Aaron Paul to introduce himself – and he does, using the name Robert Robertson, which gets a big laugh. Things quickly get bizarre, with one character launching into a shockingly explicit insult about donuts. The show’s tone is similar to edgy, darkly comedic series like *The Boys* and *Invincible*, balancing serious drama with fast-paced, often hilarious, dialogue.

Every hero you control has different strengths in five areas: fighting, health, speed, charm, and smarts. When emergencies happen, you choose the best hero for the job based on what needs to be done. For example, rescuing a balloon from a tree requires someone who can climb high without scaring a child. You’ll see a percentage chance of success based on each hero’s stats, and the team you choose, along with other factors, can unlock special abilities and bonuses. In the demo, sending the hero Invisigal revealed she’s more effective working alone, which speeds up her response time. Heroes can also improve their chances of success by completing missions and leveling up.

During missions, your team members might ask for help. If you don’t respond quickly, they can get hurt, which temporarily weakens them. If they take too much damage, they’ll be knocked out of action for the remainder of the mission. Occasionally, you’ll be able to offer advice during a crisis, but they might not always follow it.

During important missions, you’ll see dynamic scenes through a camera feed where your decisions really matter. You’ll have to think quickly – maybe by choosing what to say, or by racing against the clock to solve a hacking puzzle and unlock more camera views of the area – all while exciting, well-planned fights happen on screen.

This feels like a natural step forward for the storytelling style Telltale is known for. Adding a simple strategy element makes the characters more complex and changes how the team interacts. The strong writing, acting, and overall presentation really tie everything together.

I can’t wait to start playing when the first two episodes are released on October 22nd for PlayStation 5 and PC. Then, two new episodes will come out each week, with the final episode arriving on November 12th.

Read More

2025-09-17 18:16