AdHoc Studio, the team that includes a number former Telltale Games developers, isn’t making your typical superhero game. Their upcoming project Dispatch doesn’t have you suiting up to punch bad guys in the face. Instead, you’re sitting at a desk.
You play as Robert Robertson, a hero known as Mecha Man who’s been forced into a desk job with the Superhero Dispatch Network (SDN). His new assignment? Oversee the “Z-Team,” a collection of former villains trying to rehab their image and prove themselves as heroes. If Robertson does his job well, SDN promises to repair his broken Mecha Man suit so he can get back out in the field.
During a hands-off preview event for the game, AdHoc gave a look at some of the mechanics and the story that will unfold during your time with Dispatch.
More Dispatch: AdHoc Studio Talks Release Date, Episodic Format, and Game’s Vision
Story First, Gameplay Second
Like Telltale’s best-known games, Dispatch is built around narrative choice. AdHoc COO Nick Herman said that the team figured out the story first and slotted the gameplay in after, which makes the whole thing feel more like a TV show than a traditional video game. And it literally is episodic—two episodes a week for four weeks, starting October 22 with each episode being roughly an hour in length.
Herman says that while the team is “fully aware” of concerns surrounding episode games, they feel by announcing the release schedule for the episodes and having them out at a known time can help change the narrative.
“We’ve always really loved the episode model for games, the conversations and speculation it generates” Herman said. “Having these discrete, bit-sized pieces of content make it easier to consume. And if you’re getting into it late, it allows you to have some time to catch up with everyone, and not feel like you’re being completely left behind.”
At its core, Dispatch has you fielding calls and deciding which hero from the Z-Team to send. Every hero has a unique set of stats across five categories—Combat, Vigor, Mobility, Charisma, and Intellect—so picking the right person for the right job matters. Send the wrong one and things can go sideways quickly.
The calls and missions play out differently depending on who you choose, and sometimes you’ll even have to make quick, mid-mission decisions that change how the situation unfolds. It’s not just as simple as picking the right name off a list, either. Heroes can get hurt in, which lowers their stats, and if they take too much damage they’re out for the rest of your shift.
As they complete missions and progress, your roster they’ll gain experience and new abilities over time, but you’ll always be juggling risks and rewards.
More Than Just Phone Duty
AdHoc is also mixing in gameplay moments to keep things fresh. One example is a hacking mini-game that has you guiding a node along a path while solving puzzles, sometimes under a time limit and sometimes while an antivirus chases you down. It’s a small touch, but it helps break up the dispatch calls.
An area of concern, before getting hands-on time with the full game, is just how unique these minigames and puzzles will play out. Will there be enough variety that helps differentiate them or will they become tedious and repetitive after a few attempts? Also, how will the gameplay keep you engaged enough to want to continue the story.
Speaking of the story, what really stood out in the preview was how much it felt like watching a show play out, only you’re the one pulling the strings. Robertson’s first day on the job sets the tone, and the choices you make start shaping the story immediately. It’s very much in the spirit of the old Telltale games, but with a superhero management twist that feels new.
On that old spirit, Herman said that it was about taking various things they learned during their time with Telltale and figuring out what worked and what didn’t to make sure that Dispatch is everyone’s best foot forward. One area, Herman says, was with how the game looked.
“We don’t like it when people are going, man, the stories are great. I love the dialogue, the writing, the acting is fantastic. But it’s not for me,” Herman said. “And what we found, a lot of times the barrier was just how it looked, like it looked like a video game.”
Dispatch isn’t about being the guy in the cape, it’s about deciding who to send out there and dealing with the fallout. If AdHoc can deliver on the promise of its story-driven structure with gameplay that matches the quality of said story, this could be one of the more interesting superhero games in a long time.
Dispatch launches October 22 on PS5 and PC.
For even more Dispatch, check out our exclusive interview with the team leading the game’s development. And don’t forget to sign up for our weekly newsletter.
Mike has been covering the gaming industry since 2012, and has reported on some of the largest events in the industry while also working as an investigative reporter. Outside of…
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