DISPATCH is a video game from AdHoc studios made in conjunction with Critical Role. Adhoc for those unaware is basically the remnants of Telltale Studios and the people involved worked on a bunch of popular titles including the noir THE WOLF AMONG US that was arguably much better than the FABLES series it spun off of (who argues it? I argue it). Critical Role is, of course, the group of voice actors that created a very successful live-play and media company that include Amazon Prime’s VOX MACHINA. The two have combined efforts to create a superhero comedy and if you know anything about THE SUPERVILLAINY SAGA, you know that’s my jam.
The premise is you are Robert Robertson III (Aaron Paul), the latest in a long line of superheroes that have sported the armor of Mecha Man. Robert is closer to Peter Parker than Tony Stark, though, and lives in a crappy apartment with all of his inheritance having gone to pay off the upkeep on his suit. His father was killed by the evil Scourge (Matt Mercer) and Robert attempts to take out the supervillain by himself. It does not end well with him getting put into a two month coma and the suit being damaged beyond all repair.
All is not lost for Robert, however. Blonde Blazer (Erin Yvette), a Supergirl-esque superheroine, offers him a job with the Super Dispatch Network or SDR. If Robert can help their Phoenix program, designed to reform supervillains, then they will help him become Mecha Man again. There’s also a lot of sexual tension between him and Blazer as well. Soon, Robert finds a lovable band of misfits with only a couple who are genuinely bad people. Particularly of note is Invisigal (Laura Bailey), who is the other romance option in the game. Invisigal is a spunky Catwoman-esque thief with the power to become…invisible.
Despite the option of romancing these two characters being a major part of the story, they are not the focus. Instead, the primary gameplay is the role of dispatching heroes in a simple but fun minigame. Basically, you receive a variety of funny calls from SDN subscribers asking for help with disasters or moving furniture (not all dispatches are created equal) and you will suceed or fail based on the unique abilities of each hero. Each of Z-Team is well-developed and all of them entertaining as they snark on Robert and each other.
There are a few other options among the gameplay with quick time events and hacking to spread among the scenes. Robert also must decide what sort of hero he wants to be with options of being a paragon and being more of an antihero. I chose to play Robert as Peter Parker and a man who can snark with the best of them but having a heart of solid gold.
The game was released in two episode bundles at a time but is now available for everyone who wants to pick up a copy. I recommend the game a great deal, even if it’s a bit on the short side. Thankfully, it’s $30 dollar price tag is appropriate for the fact it is mostly animation and the minigame. It’s got some replay value and I’m doing my second run where I chose to make different decisions than the ones I originally chose to do. So it definitely has my recommendation.
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