Let's discuss what makes this precious indie game highlight so great!
Dispatch was one of my highlights this year. As a fan of story-focused games, I didn’t have to think long about whether I wanted to play it. And when it also came out that it was created in collaboration with Critical Role and would feature some of their voice actors, Dispatch immediately landed on my Steam wishlist.
Now that the game has been fully released, the story is complete, and I’ve devoured every bit of it, it’s time for a conclusion.
Why The Weekly Episode Format Worked So Well
The big unique feature of Dispatch was the fact that you couldn’t just play through the whole game in one evening. The eight episodes were released over four weeks, bit by bit – basically like a TV series. I happily played the first episodes, not knowing what was coming. When the second credits rolled and I went looking for the third episode, I first felt despair, then frustration, and finally a gnawing impatience.
It was exactly this restlessness and anticipation that had me sprinting to my PC every Wednesday evening. I could hardly wait to find out what would happen next. This forced waiting was one of the reasons why the game gripped me so tightly, among other things – the characters, for example.
A Protagonist You Can Truly Relate To
Robert Robertson is not your typical protagonist, which becomes clear within the first minutes of the game. He has rough edges; he just isn’t the classic superhero you’d expect from a super-hero game.
His goals, fears, wishes, and feelings are relatable, which made him one of the most likeable main characters I’ve encountered in a long time. He doesn’t act heroic, he acts like a normal person. His sarcasm lightens the mood in such clever ways that you can’t help but burst out laughing.
How A Video Game Managed To Evoke So Many Different Emotions In Me
There have been few games that triggered such a wide range of emotions in me. Whether it was anger about what Robert had to endure or a frustrated sigh when the team once again decided to do things their own way and not the way I intended it for them.
I don’t know how often I caught myself quietly giggling because someone made another joke or sexual innuendo (Yes, there are definitely reasons why the game is rated 18+.).
Most of the characters made me love them more and more over time. Each of them has their unique kind of madness that makes them so lovable. Discovering what drives them was oddly satisfying to experience.
All of this is rounded off by the unbelievably talented voice cast. Legends like Matthew Mercer, Laura Bailey, and Travis Willingham all play important supporting roles. Aaron Paul voices Robert, and even several well-known YouTubers appear as characters like Jacksepticeye and Moistcr1tikal, for example.
A Regular Workday Becomes A Story Highlight
The gameplay concept is fairly simple. You work two shifts per day as a dispatcher. The plot twist: You’re responsible for a team of former super-villains. Half of each episode is spent sending your team to different missions. One thing that became really clear to me: It’s extremely difficult to lead a team that sabotages itself every possible moment.
In Dispatch, I caught on quickly about the true meaning of the story. Aside from the constant hunt for a super-villain called Shroud, the underlying story is about getting a team to work together while said team resists teamwork with all they have.
I could watch how the team grew closer together through even the smallest decisions. Every dialogue option, even the choice of which team member to send on a mission, influences how the story unfolds.
I also remember how much fun I had with the hacking mini-games the game occasionally throws at you. Even though you only witness the action from the outside as a dispatcher, each episode pulls you completely into the story through cameras, phone calls or cutscenes.
The Indie All-Rounder You Should Play
My conclusion after playing Dispatch is clear: Anyone who likes RPGs with a deep narrative where decisions truly matter should give this game a try.
Even if it sounds rather unspectacular at first, this interesting game idea hides around seven hours of fun, packed with humour, sarcasm, sadness, anger, and tension. It’s a story that sticks with you and leaves you wanting a new episode the moment you finish.
I’ll definitely go for another play through, just because I’m curious to see what a different decision here and there would mean for one of the four endings.
Have you played Dispatch already? What did you think of the game? Feel free to share your opinion in the comments!