Telling A Tale Of Quality
Ever wondered what it would be like to work in an emergency dispatch center? Well, if you have then you’re in luck. AdHoc Studio’s new game, Dispatch, has you covered with a twist. Instead of dispatching police to emergencies, this choose-your-own-adventure Telltale-style game has you sending superheroes in to save the day.
Before I get into the core review, it’s worth mentioning that AdHoc Studio is a team of developers made up of former Telltale and Ubisoft employees. This is shown both in the quality of the game but also in the superb writing. And, given that talent, you likely have an idea of what to expect from a particular perspective.
Now, in Dispatch, you play as Robert Robertson, played by Aaron Paul (Breaking Bad, Westworld), a normal guy with a big secret. He is the hero Mecha Man, just like his father and grandfather before him. After a mission leaves his suit damaged beyond his capability, both mechanically and financially, to repair, Robert is recruited to the Superhero Dispatch Network (or SDN for short) by famous superhero Blonde Blazer, played by Erin Yvette (Tales From The Borderlands, The Wolf Among Us), after she saves him from a group of thugs.
He was recommended for the job as a dispatcher by his former babysitter, also a hero who now goes by the name of Chase, played by Jeffrey Wright (The Last Of Us: Part II, The Batman). However, the approach as to how Robert is poached is quite a fun scene, one that you really wouldn’t expect when it comes to the superhero story that is woven underneath this journey.
Robert reluctantly agrees to join the SDN in return for their help with his suit repairs. What he doesn’t know is that he’ll be the new dispatcher for the Z-Team, a crew of former criminals given a chance to turn their lives around as heroes. With Blonde Blazer hoping that Robert’s experience as a hero makes him the perfect choice for this bunch of misfits.
Speaking of choice, just like any good choose your own adventure game, Dispatch is full of choice since that is the main gameplay mechanic. Thankfully, unlike some choice-driven games, making a decision in Dispatch feels hugely impactful across its eight-episode story.
For example, early on, you have a decision to cut one of the Z-Team members, and who you choose to let go can have a huge impact on your story. Not only does it affect the morale of your team and the way in which the remaining members respond to Robert, but it also impacts the other core mechanic of Dispatch. That being said, the dispatching mini-game itself.
In each episode of Dispatch, you work a couple of shifts; at its heart, this is a workplace comedy after all. During these shifts, you see a map of the city as it pops up with crimes and other emergency situations. Your job, based on the information you get, is to select the right members of your team to send. Each hero has ranks for the following stats: intelligence, charisma, combat, vigor, and mobility. With the maximum rank being ten, the higher a hero’s stats in an attribute needed to complete a mission, the greater the chance they have of success.
After each mission, heroes need to rest for a specific period of time, meaning it’s important to choose wisely about who to dispatch out on a call. Heroes will also level up as they complete these calls successfully, allowing you to increase their stats, making success even more likely in the future. In certain circumstances, you’ll need to send multiple heroes to a call. Sending the same heroes together enough will result in them building a synergy, meaning that they will improve each other’s capabilities whenever they are teamed together in response to a call.
Personally, I really enjoyed this mini game as it added a layer of interaction that I didn’t expect, and while these systems weren’t deep, they were interesting enough to keep me engaged.
While you’re engaging with this mini game, there is also constant dialogue between the team members about the events in the story, making fun of Robert, and more. It really helps to build on their already mesmerizing characters.
From Invisigal, played by Laura Bailey (The Last Of Us: Part II, Uncharted: The Lost Legacy) and her stubborn lone wolf nature, to Punch Up, played by Seán McLoughlin (aka JackSepticEye) and his Irish charm. Hell, even Flambae played by Lance Cantstopolis (in what I believe is his first role) has the funniest moments despite being suitably annoying as intended initially.
I haven’t even mentioned Sonar, Malevola, Golem, Prism, or Coupe yet, who are all brilliant characters that round out the team very nicely. I particularly enjoyed Charles White (aka MoistCritical) and Alanah Pearce as Sonar and Malevola, respectively. They don’t get as much screen time as some of the others, depending on your choices, but anytime they say something, they absolutely nail the performance.
In truth, the whole cast is outstanding, even those who only appear more frequently in later episodes, Phenomaman played by Travis Willingham (Spider-Man (2018), Marvel Rivals) and Shroud played by Matthew Mercer (Yakuza or LAD Franchise, Xenoblade Chronicles X).
I could spend all day talking about how this entire cast knocks every moment, from emotional to funny and everything in between, completely out of the park. Then I’d be here till AdHoc Studio’s next game release. So, I’ll just say it like this: I was gripped by every moment, and several characters I initially didn’t like, I ended up falling in love with. They feel more human than any cast of characters I can remember in a video game; they are a team that becomes a family, and by the end, I felt like I was part of it.
Of course, the cast couldn’t achieve this without the exceptional writing by the developers at AdHoc Studio. They had me laughing out loud, groaning in frustration, and even brought a tear to my eye. The world and characters they have built here are so outstanding that I’d play any type of game set in this universe, with any of these characters in the leading role.
At the core, Dispatch tells a tale of humanity, togetherness, and teamwork. It does so with immense quality across the board. From beginning to end, right down to a satisfying conclusion that both leaves space for expansion of these characters and the universe, but also works fantastically as a one-off narrative adventure. I enjoyed every single moment of my eight-hour playthrough, and it left me feeling exactly what I feel now. If you like Telltale style choose your own adventure games, Dispatch is a must-play and for my money the best ever in the genre.
Developer - AdHoc Studio
Publisher - AdHoc Studio
Released - October 22nd, 2025.
Available On - PS5, PC
Rated - (Mature 17+) - Blood, Crude Humor, Intense Violence, Nudity, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Use of Drugs and Alcohol
Platform Reviewed - PC
Review Access - Dispatch was purchased by the reviewer for the purpose of this review.
I’m Jordan I have a background in game design and am deeply passionate about accessibility in gaming. My favourite games/franchises include Shenmue, Red Dead Redemption 2, Plague Tale: Requiem, Metal Gear Solid 3, Yakuza, Splinter Cell, and Assassin’s Creed.