Dispatch Reviews
Dispatch is honestly an amazing piece of storytelling. Probably the best we’ve had about superheroes in a long time. The game honestly had me gripped. I have been fully invested in the story and characters since first playing episode 1. For some that statement might mean nothing, but to those who played episode 6 it hits hard. I can’t wait to see where this will end and hope we might get a sequel. All I have to say to all our readers is, Keep Up. Here’s to more amazing storytelling games from AdHoc Studio in the future. In the meantime, I give Dispatch the Thumb Culture Platinum Award.
Dispatch is absolutely “phenomamal!” Much like a good TV show, its weekly release schedule had me waist-deep in fan theories and discussions, a feat owed largely to the game’s consistently sharp writing and compelling characters. Sure, the pacing is slower than I’d like at times, and the illusion of player choice starts to fade once you notice the train tracks. Even so, I adore how the gameplay is always tied to the story and how the plot feeds back into the dispatch calls. When the credits rolled and all was said and done, I could do nothing more than raise my arms and mutter, “absolute cinema!”
Now that every episode is available, it’s clear that AdHoc Studio’s hard work and dedication made Dispatch stand out in all the best ways possible. Dispatch is the result of learning from mistakes made in the genre, while doing just enough to make it special.
With smart, witty writing delivered by top tier talent, Dispatch tells a gripping story that will have you laughing out loud and gawping at the consequences of your decisions in equal measure.
Dispatch is a fantastic take on the familiar adventure game formula that anyone who digs superheroes will find plenty to love. It has a couple of small things that could be improved upon, but it’s an overall refreshing adventure.
Dispatch is, above all, a narrative experience. It doesn't try to deceive the player with promises of mechanical depth, nor does it get lost in complex systems. It wants to tell a story of flawed superheroes, with biting humor, choreographed action, and choices that shape relationships without ever punishing the player for "making mistakes."
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Dispatch proves that there will always be space for great stories told the right way within the gaming industry. Featuring captivating characters, out-of-the-box gameplay, and a stellar cast, the game is a must-play for anyone who loves good narratives.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Dispatch is a one-of-a-kind mix of tactics, story, and humor. It breaks traditional superhero tropes by placing players in the role of a superhero manager rather than a hero. It also has Telltale-style stories, dynamic gameplay, and memorable characters. Every choice you make is important and fun because of the dispatch system, missions that change over time, hero growth, and easy puzzles.
After four episodes, I can confidently say that Dispatch is the best Telltale-esque game ever. With Dispatch, AdHoc Studio proves that the episodic format still has a place. It combines the strong narrative tradition of its predecessors with modern presentation, excellent voice acting, and a surprisingly fun mini-game that ties into the story. The superhero world feels fresh and believable, despite the genre being a bit too common these days. The episodic model demands patience, and the structure is a bit too familiar, but these are minor drawbacks compared to the overall quality. You can also get the game in a month, so you can play through everything straight away.
Review in Dutch | Read full review
We're only at the beginning, but for now, we feel like giving Dispatch top marks across the board. The gameplay is never boring and brings just the right amount of variety to the narrative genre: it's hard to take your eyes off the screen when you have a team of trouble-making heroes at your disposal, ready to be sent out to solve emergencies around the city! The voice acting, writing and animations are simply fantastic. The story, a mix between The Boys and The Office, is irreverent, and we're curious to find out where it's going. We'll talk about it again when the adventure is over, but one thing is certain: we can't wait to continue this curious video game!
Review in Italian | Read full review
Dispatch is ambitious without going too far, polished without seeming dull, and most importantly, it's a "dispatch" that's worth every cent you spend on it (sorry for making that pun again). AdHoc has created something that pays tribute to Telltale while still making its own way. The game is both fun and emotionally moving.
This isn’t just a comedy game. It’s a story about finding meaning after loss, about how we carry grief without letting it define us. The writing has moments of silence and softness that stick with you and make you want to replay the episodes again and again. This might be strange to say, but this game is something truly beautiful.
[DISPATCH] sets up an engaging premise and situation with two familiar tropes: superhero shows and office workplace comedies. The superhero dispatching gameplay is clearly a simpler version of an emergency response simulation title by design, but it is fun to play through, especially with the witty banter that goes on as you keep putting up figurative and literal fires in the city. The cinematics and animation are beautiful and serve their purpose in being half an animated series of the streaming service variety, and the voice-work and acting are top-notch.
The game comes across as a direct successor to Telltale’s lineage that’s similarly defined by sharp dialogue, fleshed-out characters, and difficult choices (which are of dubious narrative importance). Having played the first two chapters out of eight, I’ll be there weekly to see where this superpowered workplace comedy goes next.
AdHoc Studio has created an intriguing premise for a narrative game in Dispatch, a “workplace comedy” in a novel setting. Buoyed by a stellar cast that strikes just the right balance of “aha, so that’s who that is” in its celebrity status with powerful performances from its heavyweights, the first two episodes of Dispatch left me thoroughly wanting more. While Dispatch does lack some of the freedom of prior Telltale experiences (at least thus far), the quality of the narrative and presentation is enough to get me hooked for now. I’m eagerly anticipating Episodes 3 and 4, and I can’t wait to share my thoughts on them with you all soon. In the meantime, if a lower-stakes, more comedic narrative experience in a superhero world speaks to you, Dispatch is worth checking out.