Dispatch Game Review: Why Its Characters Make Heartless Choices Impossible

In a recent Dispatch game review published on Rock Paper Shotgun, the episodic superhero management title from Adhoc Studio stands out for its compelling character-driven narratives. The critic attempted a heartless playstyle but found it unsustainable due to the game’s emotional gaming experiences, which encourage empathetic decisions. This blends Telltale-style games with strategic elements, highlighting how strong storytelling can shape player choices in narrative-driven adventures. As the industry shifts toward deeper emotional engagement, Dispatch underscores the impact of well-crafted characters on gameplay, potentially influencing future titles.

Game Overview and Core Mechanics

Dispatch casts players as Robert Robertson, a retired superhero managing the Z-Team—a squad of reformed villains. The game unfolds via weekly episodic missions, where strategic team assignments and interpersonal choices drive the plot. Drawing from Telltale-style games, it features branching paths that reflect decisions on missions and relationships.

Key mechanics include balancing super-powered skills with emotional dynamics. For example, assigning the wrong team member to a high-stakes mission can lead to narrative consequences, such as strained alliances or personal growth arcs. The Rock Paper Shotgun review notes that these elements transform a basic management sim into a “cozy series about found family,” with redemption themes at its core (https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/i-tried-to-be-heartless-in-dispatch-but-its-characters-had-too-much-heart-to-let-me).

Review Highlights: The Emotional Pull of Characters

The reviewer initially aimed to play as a detached leader, ignoring backstories and focusing on efficiency. However, the character-driven narratives quickly dismantled this approach. A concrete example is an early scene where a character

unleashed a cracking punch that knocked Robert on his arse,

revealing raw humanity amid superhuman abilities. This moment, as described in the review, sets a tone of vulnerability that makes cold decisions feel unnatural.

Characters like Invisigal, Sonar, Coupé, Water Boy, and the enigmatic Callum Williams each offer unique arcs centered on redemption and teamwork. The critic admits,

Dispatch’s writing is too smart for that,

referring to failed attempts to overlook their charms. These interactions echo Telltale-style games, where choices ripple through relationships, fostering emotional gaming experiences that prioritize empathy over strategy.

The review praises how the game’s design integrates relatable plot points, such as evolving vulnerabilities, making detachment impossible. This is evident in mission outcomes tied to player choices, where ignoring a character’s backstory might lead to suboptimal results, like failed objectives or missed redemption opportunities.

Parallels to Telltale-Style Games and Industry Impact

Dispatch positions itself as a spiritual successor to Telltale’s hits, blending choice-based narratives with management. The episodic structure mirrors Telltale’s model, which achieved “a million-selling success story” through engaging stories. Here, weekly releases keep content fresh, building on prior decisions for ongoing character development.

Industry-wise, this approach highlights the value of emotional gaming experiences in choice-based adventures. By humanizing reformed villains, Dispatch appeals to fans of narrative-heavy titles, offering a fresh spin on superhero tropes. The Rock Paper Shotgun piece emphasizes that “well-written interactions” ensure players feel the weight of decisions, potentially inspiring developers to prioritize character depth in management sims (https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/i-tried-to-be-heartless-in-dispatch-but-its-characters-had-too-much-heart-to-let-me).

Key Features of Dispatch

– Superhero Management and Team Assignments: Strategically pair Z-Team members for missions, weighing skills against personal dynamics—for instance, sending Water Boy on a stealth op could leverage his abilities but risk emotional fallout if relationships are strained.
– Choice-Based Narrative with Branching Paths: Decisions create divergent storylines, similar to Telltale-style games, with outcomes affecting team morale and plot progression.
– Reformed Villains and Character Development: Dive into backstories of misfits like Invisigal, whose arcs explore growth through teamwork and redemption.
– Episodic Structure with Weekly Releases: New missions drop regularly, ensuring sustained engagement without a fixed end date.

Near-Term Implications and Future Outlook

Adhoc Studio’s weekly release model promises more missions and deeper explorations of characters like Sonar and Coupé. Upcoming installments could introduce new team dynamics or escalating threats, building on player choices for personalized narratives. This format may influence similar games, blending accessibility with emotional depth to attract broader audiences.

For gamers, Dispatch offers immediate value through its ongoing story, encouraging replayability via branching paths. Industry observers note potential for expanded content, such as DLC or spin-offs, given the positive reception. As emotional gaming experiences gain traction, titles like this could set benchmarks for integrating heart into strategy.

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