AdHoc Studio’s unique weekly released episodic game Dispatch returned with episodes 3 and 4. The episodes were filled with steamy scenes, hilarious moments, and some really pivotal choices.
While these episodes have noticeably fewer QuickTime events and action and focus more on dispatch sessions and character development than the first two, you get a strong sense that the story is really starting to ramp up.
Dispatch continues to deliver on all fronts, from story to characters to gameplay, and this alluring new superhero world is for us nerds. Here’s what we at PlayRatedGames think of Dispatch episodes 3 and 4.
The Story
The story really heats up over the course of these two episodes. From having to drop a member of the Z team to picking their replacement, that steamy scene at the start of episode 4, and the final decision at the end, episodes 3 and 4 do not miss a single beat and jump straight into the rich story that we’ve already come to expect from this brilliant game.
During these episodes, you really get to know the members of the Z team as well as some of the other characters in the game. Episodes 3 and 4 offer a glimpse into Robert’s childhood, Royd’s origins, and how the Blonde Blazer’s powers work (if you go down that path). Most of all, we get to know more about Invisgal, who is a romance option for Robert.
Robert’s interaction with each character deepens both our affection for them and our appreciation of the world of Dispatch.
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Major Decisions
Episodes 3 and 4 have more than a few major decisions for you to make. You must decide who to cut from the Phoenix program, who to bring on as their replacement, and finally, the decision to either move your relationship with Blonde Blazer to the next level or deepen your relationship with Invisigal as a potential future romance option.
The first major decision you encounter comes at the end of episode 3, where you must choose to cut either Coupe or Sonar from the Phoenix Program. This decision is pretty tough because the game does a good job of making you fall in love with your ragtag group of reformed or reforming superheroes. Despite only spending 3 episodes with both of them, it’s quite difficult to just pick one.
For me, it was pretty tough, as I love Coupe and everything she offers the team; however, Sonar is absolutely hilarious, and MoistCritical does a brilliant job of delivering his unintentionally funny and incriminating lines. From there, the choices only get harder.
After you get rid of a member of your team, you must pick someone to replace them. On the one hand, you have Waterboy, who may be awkward and weird, but he has a way of growing on you, and on the other hand, you have the Mighty Phenomeman; however, recent events have made this a closer comparison than you might think.
Let’s start with Waterboy; he’s awkward and weird, and his powers are a bit gross, but he clearly means well, and I strongly believe that, given the opportunity, we can learn some pretty interesting things about him. On the other hand, you could pick Phenomeman; you don’t get the larger-than-life Omni-Man-esque character, but rather a broken shell of a man, struggling to recover from the end of his relationship with Blonde Blazer. Phenomeman in this state is on the same tier as Waterboy, despite his incredible powers.
What I love most about this situation is that they found a way to involve Phenomeman in Z Team without making the game too easy. Essentially, they found a brilliant and hilarious way to nerf one of the most powerful characters in the Dispatch universe without going through any of the annoying cliches, like a powerful character seeming weaker after you’ve defeated and unlocked them.
Finally, at the end of episode 4, you get what is arguably the biggest decision in the game so far. At the end of your shift, you have the opportunity to either go to a dinner date with Blonde Blazer or see a movie with Invisigal. It’s a tough choice, with the tallied player decision being split 50/50 as of when I played.
On the one hand, you have the stunning and powerful Blonde Blazer, with whom you’ve shared serious chemistry from the moment she is introduced. On the other hand, there is Invisigal; she is brash, mouthy, and a troublemaker. However, there’s an undeniable spark between Visi and RR, and the opening scene of episode 4 definitely did some heavy lifting in swaying a lot of players’ final decision.
Ultimately, there’s no wrong choice. I’m sure the story unfolds beautifully regardless of who you choose to go with. That said, it’s still a pretty big decision at this point in the story. Personally, I went with Invisigal.
Gameplay
As I mentioned earlier, there aren’t a lot of quick-time events or hands-on gameplay elements in these episodes, other than a few hacking events, which have grown on me. Most of the action you get is from the actual dispatch system.
There are a few added twists, from the Z Team trying to sabotage you and each other to the loss of an old teammate and the addition of a not-so-great new one. Dispatch does a great job of making sure the game doesn’t feel repetitive by adding twists and surprises that keep you on your toes.
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Final Thoughts
Dispatch continues its hot streak with episodes 3 and 4, and as we enter the second half of the game, I can’t see this stopping or slowing down. I am loving every moment I spend with these characters, the story, and the world, and I am super excited to see what next week’s episodes have in store for us.
