Dispatch’s Best Surprise Is In Its Name

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Quick-time events, despite everyone’s best efforts to spice them up, remain pretty meh.

At the start of Dispatch, AdHoc Studio’s new superhero adventure game, you’ll be asked if you want to use quick-time events. Interestingly, these prompts mostly show up in the first and final episodes of the eight-episode series. While it might seem like the game is just about pressing buttons at the right moment or making story choices, Dispatch has a more engaging core gameplay mechanic – and it’s hinted at in the game’s title. This mechanic is just as important as the game’s captivating story.

Dispatch takes place in a made-up Los Angeles where superheroes exist. The story follows Robert Robertson III, a former superhero who now works as a dispatcher for SDN – a company that sends heroes to help people with all kinds of problems, from minor issues to major emergencies. This dispatching system is the main gameplay mechanic of the game, and it’s engaging enough to stand on its own as a separate game.

From rescuing cats to handling emergencies like a dam collapse, Service Delivery Network (SDN) assists with any situation – as long as you’re a client. While the heroes on the ground get the recognition, the real work happens behind the scenes with the dedicated dispatchers who connect the right hero to each crisis, or do their best to.

Sending out heroes involves a dedicated minigame played during each episode. When Robert starts his workday, players see things from his point of view, using a special program that displays a map of South LA. This program shows crimes happening in real time and lists the available heroes who can be sent to investigate.

Success hinges on sending the right hero for each mission. Think about it: a flying hero is perfect for rescuing a cat from a tree, but wouldn’t be very helpful in a fistfight. On the other hand, strong heroes are best for dealing with bank robbers. Each mission gives you hints about the skills needed, and every hero has their own strengths and weaknesses. Matching the right hero to the task is crucial – if their skills don’t fit the problem, they’re less likely to succeed. But when you send the perfect hero, they’ll not only solve the problem, they’ll also gain experience and level up!

Dispatch isn’t just about logistics – it’s emotionally challenging too. You’ll often face the possibility of failure, especially when heroes get tired during busy times. This creates intense pressure to save everyone you can, and the game realistically portrays the disappointment of not being able to reach everyone, with immediate feedback from your superhero team. Even success isn’t always satisfying; if the team doesn’t offer criticism, the player character, Robert, will still feel frustrated when a mission doesn’t go well.

It’s surprisingly satisfying how this dispatching game fits into the growing trend of ‘labor simulators’ – games focused on everyday, manual jobs. Think of PowerWash Simulator, where you clean surfaces – it’s hugely popular! This dispatching game feels similar, and smart design puts you right in the middle of the action as Robert.

You play the dispatching game from a first-person perspective, using a virtual version of Robert’s old computer – it really feels like you’re sitting at a desk at SDN headquarters. If you become skilled at dispatching, you can get completely absorbed in the task, quickly figuring out crimes and knowing exactly which hero to send. It even made me think I might be good at being a real dispatcher, though, to be honest, being unemployed makes me question if I could handle almost any job right now.

If you enjoy narrative games where your choices matter, but often wish they offered more in-depth gameplay beyond simple actions, then one of this year’s biggest hits delivers exactly that – a complete and engaging simulation that’s worth playing on its own merits.

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2026-01-04 20:09