Dispatch

“The modern superhero genre, featuring heroes in the real world with corporate dynamics, is very complicated to manage, even for those who work with superheroes every day. Getting the nuances so right, offering an original point of view, and doing it so well through a narrative adventure, another genre that is not easy to manage, is a success that we really did not see coming. Dispatch is surprising, if only for the way it manages and ties together such diverse dynamics within an experience that keeps you glued to the screen.”

“Dispatch is more of a TV show than a video game, and while some of its parts feel disjointed and forced, an endearing cast of characters and an uncommon comedy tone manage to glue everything together.”

“Regardless, I firmly believe that the developers at AdHoc are pretty much only competing with their past work at Telltale, as bigger studios like Quantic Dream still fail to match their writing quality despite having ten times the budget. I’m quite excited to see what a season 2 for the game will look like, alongside any other titles AdHoc creates in the future, hopefully suffering from fewer growing pains and with a much higher budget considering how well Dispatch has been received.”

“Dispatch is one of the games of the year, sorry, there's no discussion here. I can't say more without spoiling, and this is a game where spoilers ruin the experience.”

“Dispatch isn't a freeform RPG – it's telling a specific story that it allows you to a degree of authorship over.”

“If you want a new superhero episodic series with great dramatic moments and laughs, Dispatch is fantastic. However, if you want a game that plays as whimsically and enjoyably as it presents itself, then you may be disappointed. Give Dispatch a shot though because it's definitely an enjoyable ride you'll want to play repeatedly.”

“The spirit of Telltale Games lives on, in this interactive superhero animation, with cynical humour, excellent voice acting, and decisions that give at least the illusion of consequence.”

“Dispatch is a sharp-witted workplace comedy that charms with its smart dialogue choices, great writing, and lovably aggravating cast.”

“And with a writing direction that strongly emphasizes character relationships and banter with one another, it is one of the most cathartic video game experiences that I had this year, making me grateful for every minute I spent with Robert and his crew, as well as making me want to support AdHoc in any way possible in a plea for making another season on these whimsy goofballs.”

“On top of that, it's a hilarious superhero romp with satisfying storylines and characters that I am practically begging to see again. If this is the standard of quality that we can expect from AdHoc Studio, the interactive narrative genre is in good hands.”

“The spirit of Telltale Games' excellent episodic storytelling feels alive and well in Dispatch, a superhero adventure by developer AdHoc Studio.”

“Dispatch isn’t a triumph of mechanical innovation. It doesn’t reinvent the narrative adventure game, but it doesn’t pretend to. On the other hand, it delivers one of the most compelling interactive dramas in years, an adult animated superhero story with the emotional punch of prestige television and a script that truly shines. I didn’t want to stop playing just because I needed to know what happened next; I kept playing because I cared who it was happening to.”

“Dispatch is full of heart and jokes, and it's one of the best superhero TV shows around.”

“Dispatch is possibly the greatest narrative game ever made, if only they could smooth out the actual dispatching. I absolutely love this world, this story, and these characters. I just don't like the parts where I am scripted to fail, and I further don't like that those parts ultimately don't matter. Whatever, ignore my whining. This is a great game.”

“Dispatch could be something quite special, but it all depends on how much your choices actually matter in the long run. These first two episodes are packed with personality, wit, and flair. The script can be a bit too cute, and the style of comedy won't appeal to everyone - but we find ourselves eagerly awaiting what's to come.”