PUZ.GG

What is Dispatch?

Dispatch is a unique superhero workplace comedy and narrative strategy game developed by the creative minds behind renowned episodic adventure games like *Tales from the Borderlands* and *The Wolf Among Us*. It blends a compelling, choice-driven narrative with real-time tactical management elements.

The game puts you in the shoes of Robert Robertson, a superhero stripped of his powers (AKA Mecha Man), who must now work as a dispatcher. Your job involves managing a highly dysfunctional team of ex-supervillains, strategically deploying them to emergencies, all while navigating intense office politics and planning your own comeback. Every decision made influences the story's outcome and your relationships with the cast.

How to Play Dispatch?

Playing Dispatch involves balancing narrative choices, relationship management, and real-time strategic deployment on a city map.

Narrative Choices and Relationships

A significant part of the game is managing the interpersonal drama in the dispatch center. You must communicate with your team of ex-villains, build alliances, and navigate personal flaws and quirks. Dialogue choices made during breakroom banter and personal conversations directly impact the heroes' loyalty, allegiance, and effectiveness during missions.

Strategic Deployment

When an emergency call comes in, you pause the narrative and switch to the strategy map. You must review the situation, assess the risks, and decide which hero (or combination of heroes) to send to the scene. This phase requires balancing the heroes' individual skills against their current mood and relationship with you. Sending the wrong hero can lead to failure, but a tactical success is rewarded.

Progression and Revenge

Your personal goal is to rebuild your destroyed mech-suit to seek revenge on your nemesis. Throughout the episodes, you collect resources, upgrade your heroes' skills, and unlock new abilities to boost their effectiveness. Your ability to manage the team and the city crises determines whether you succeed in your own quest for justice.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) of Dispatch

What is the genre of Dispatch?

It is a blend of narrative adventure, strategy, comedy, and choice-matters gameplay.

Is Dispatch a standalone game or episodic?

Dispatch is released episodically, meaning the story unfolds over several chapters released over time, similar to previous titles from the development team.

Do my choices actually matter in the game?

Yes, the developers emphasize that every choice, from minor dialogue options to major tactical decisions, influences relationships, character allegiances, and the overall unfolding of the main plot.

Who is the main protagonist?

The player controls Robert Robertson, who previously operated as the hero "Mecha Man."

How is the strategy map used during gameplay?

The strategy map is used to manage incoming emergencies across the city, allowing you to deploy your available heroes tactically based on their skills and the nature of the crisis.

Are the heroes I manage former villains?

Yes, the team Robert Robertson is tasked with managing is composed of ex-supervillains currently undergoing rehabilitation.

How do I unlock new skills for my heroes?

You can upgrade their skills and unlock new abilities by managing resources and achieving successful outcomes during missions.

Is there any voice acting in the game?

Yes, the game features a large, acclaimed voice cast, contributing to the cinematic and episodic feel of the game.

Can I customize the heroes' appearance?

While cosmetic customization may be limited, you do manage and upgrade their abilities and effectiveness in the field.

Is the game intended for mature audiences?

Yes, the game contains mature themes, language, and humor, often leaning into 'Rated R' comedy content.

How does office politics affect the missions?

Office politics affect the heroes' moods and their relationship with you. A hero with a negative relationship or bad mood may perform poorly or even refuse to follow key instructions during deployment.

Is Dispatch available on consoles?

Availability varies, but the game is often released across major platforms including PC (Steam) and consoles like PlayStation and Xbox.

How long are the individual episodes?

The length of episodes can vary, but generally, episodic narrative games offer 1.5 to 3 hours of gameplay per episode.

Is there a lot of action or is it mostly talking?

The game balances both: there are cinematic action sequences (often shown during deployments) combined with extensive dialogue and choice-making sequences.

Do I need to play the episodes in order?

Yes, as a choice-driven narrative game, playing the episodes in the correct sequence is essential for understanding the plot and seeing the true consequences of your previous choices.