“Dispatch” Review by Nick Navarro
Few announcements grabbed my attention at The Game Awards last year quite like “Dispatch.” Between its razor-sharp humor, unique premise, and the pedigree behind AdHoc Studio, a new team formed by Telltale veterans Michael Choung, Nick Herman, Dennis Lenart, and Pierre Shorette, this project already carried a sense of promise. After playing through its first two chapters, “Pivot” and “Onboard,” I can confidently say that “Dispatch” doesn’t just live up to that promise; it shows flashes of something potentially great.
Set in modern-day Los Angeles, “Dispatch” reimagines the superhero genre through an office comedy lens. You play as Robert Robertson, yes, that’s really his name, a once-renowned hero known as Mecha Man, who’s been sidelined after a devastating battle left his mech suit in ruins. Stripped of his gear and reputation, Robert takes a job as a dispatcher for a superhero call center, assigning heroes to handle emergencies while trying to rebuild both his suit and his dignity. It’s a setup that’s equal parts absurd and relatable; think “The Office” meets “Invincible,” filtered through the narrative DNA of the gaming classic I love, “The Wolf Among Us.” What immediately struck me was how seamlessly “Dispatch” blends narrative-driven storytelling with light strategy mechanics. On one hand, it’s a choice-driven adventure game in the spirit of classic Telltale titles, filled with branching dialogue, moral decisions, and relationship-building. On the other, it introduces a new layer, a strategy map where you assign heroes to different missions across the city. Each character has unique strengths and flaws, and part of the fun lies in balancing their personalities as much as their abilities. It’s not just about who’s strongest, but who can work together without self-destructing.
This dispatching system could’ve easily felt like filler, but it’s surprisingly compelling. It adds just enough interactivity to make you feel like you’re managing a living, breathing team of misfits rather than simply watching their story unfold. Every successful (or disastrous) mission feeds back into the narrative, influencing how characters see you and each other. It’s a clever evolution of the Telltale formula, one that keeps you more involved without sacrificing the narrative pacing that makes these kinds of games so engaging. Of course, the writing is the real star here. The humor is sharp, often laugh-out-loud funny, but never loses sight of the emotional core underneath. “Dispatch” plays with the absurdities of office politics and superhero melodrama in equal measure, finding comedy in everything from passive-aggressive meeting notes to world-ending disasters handled like customer service complaints. I found myself genuinely laughing more than once, not something I say often when playing alone, hunched over my keyboard like a gremlin. The first two episodes fly by, but they leave a strong impression thanks to their snappy dialogue and stellar performances.
Speaking of performances, AdHoc didn’t hold back with the cast. Aaron Paul delivers a fantastic performance as Robert, perfectly capturing that mix of sarcasm, frustration, and buried idealism. Laura Bailey and Travis Willingham, always reliable, bring warmth and bite to their roles, while Erin Yvette continues to prove why she’s one of the best voice actors in narrative gaming today. Even guest appearances, like MoistCr1TiKaL, whom I am a fan of, manage to feel natural, which is not an easy feat when blending internet personalities with professional actors. The voice direction here is impeccable across the board. I need to give a special shout-out to Jeffrey Wright’s performance as Chase, who may end up being my favorite character in the game so far. Visually, “Dispatch” looks incredible. Its art direction carries a cinematic flair that feels closer to a premium animated show than a traditional game. If you looked at footage of this game and didn’t know it was a game, you’re not alone. The expressive animations and subtle motion-captured details lend a grounded energy to even the most over-the-top scenes. From a technical perspective, it’s mostly smooth, though I did run into some distracting screen tearing during busier moments on PC, which undercuts the polish a bit. Hopefully, AdHoc can patch that up in future updates.
The biggest issue I have so far isn’t with the quality; it’s with the format. As much as I enjoy the anticipation of episodic storytelling, I can’t help but wonder if this approach still works in today’s crowded gaming landscape. With so many releases dropping every week, the idea of waiting weeks to see the full picture feels risky. Personally, I’m already debating whether to keep up with each weekly release or just binge the rest once all eight episodes are available. The first two episodes end on strong notes, but they’re short enough that I wanted more immediately. That said, it’s hard to fault “Dispatch” for sticking to the structure that made Telltale’s best games so memorable. What’s important is that these opening chapters set a strong foundation, and they absolutely do. The pacing, humor, and heart are all here, along with some meaningful player agency that promises intriguing consequences down the line.
By the time the credits rolled on “Onboard,” I realized I was completely hooked. The characters felt alive, the world had me invested, and the choices left me second-guessing my instincts in the best way. The strategic layer adds just enough texture to keep gameplay from feeling passive, and the combination of witty writing and emotional sincerity hits exactly the right tone. If AdHoc Studio can maintain this level of quality throughout the remaining episodes, “Dispatch” could easily stand as one of the best narrative games of its kind in years. For now, these first two episodes offer a funny, heartfelt, and surprisingly thoughtful start, one that feels like a natural evolution of what made the old Telltale formula so special. Whether you’re here for the comedy, the story, or the cast, “Dispatch” delivers something refreshingly human behind all its superhero chaos.
8/10 (First 2 Episodes)
Dispatch is available for PC via Steam.
Related: Nick Navarro Reviews
Gaming since I was given an original Nintendo as a kid. I love great storytelling and unique ingenuity. When both collide in a single game, I'm a happy gamer. Twitter/IG @NickNavarro87
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