Scheduling review underway – IGN
Blog Andrew Joseph 22 Oct , 2025 0
Only the first two of Dispatch's final eight episodes have been released so far, but it's safe to say that I'm already pretty invested in this unique narrative adventure game that feels like a spiritual successor to 2010s Telltale Games. Part TV show, part puzzle game, this supercharged workplace comedy quickly captured my attention with its quirky characters, engaging mini-games, and giggle-inducing dialogue. It's too early to say where this story will go over the next three weeks of the episode release schedule (we'll have a final ratings review at the end), but the clues AdHoc Studio are pushing are immediately compelling and I'm cautiously optimistic.
The story of “Dispatch” takes place in an alternative scene of modern Los Angeles, where superpowers, aliens, demons and various super-powered humanoids live together with ordinary people. Of course, some of these gifted individuals use their powers for good, while others choose clearly evil ways. With so many super-regulators roaming the streets, a group called the SDC stepped in, launching an insurance-style scam that allowed citizens to pay for the privilege of powerful regulators. One of those aforementioned good guys is the show's protagonist, Robert Robertson (aka Mecha), whose heroic ambitions are quickly thwarted when a rogue explosive disables his suit and leaves him working as a call center worker in a small branch of the SDC. We've only experienced his first day on the job so far, but I'm already haunted by his dilemma and curious about how this desk job will affect his quiet dreams of helping people.
Dispatch is divided into two distinct parts: most of the time, you'll be chatting in beautifully animated scenes, choosing interesting dialogue options, and performing quick events, such as The wolf among us or life is strange series. Certain decisions trigger a heart-pounding “X person remembers this” notification at the top of the screen, which feels like a refreshing dose of 2025 nostalgia. But crucially, I often don’t feel the weight of my decisions until I’ve already made them. So far, my choices don't seem fake or pointless – I'm often surprised at how even the most casual comments can have an impact on a story, and only time will tell how serious those ripple effects might become.
The rest of your time in Dispatch is spent playing the role of the titular dispatcher, assigning superheroes to various jobs. Unlike animated sequences, these sections take place on a computer screen, similar to point-and-click puzzles. Using your mouse and your wits, you'll monitor the city map, where orange exclamation marks and timers will pop up periodically to remind you of the various jobs the SDC needs to handle efficiently. Each hero under your command has a stat matrix, similar to Pokémonwhen a task appears, you will receive a verbal description of the problem, with aligned icons representing the statistics required to successfully solve the problem.
From here, it's your job to match up your best heroes based on stats and personality, or in some cases match heroes, and then send them on their way. You'll be informed immediately if you passed or failed, and upon success you'll receive a stat boost that you can apply to your hero for future shifts. This is a more complete feedback loop that adapts well to the tonal complexity of the surrounding environment. Dispatch carefully balances the team's tongue-in-cheekness with the pressure to save citizens on time, and it's fantastic.
But that's not all, as your workday also includes a secondary hacking mini-game. Here, you'll roll a 3D object through a cybernetic maze as time passes, using arrow key input to carve a path toward the final goal. Given that these scenes are often mixed with intense events taking place in town, the stakes are high and it's easy to slip into fantasy. So far, Dispatch's “enhanced plot” approach has been compelling – it helps that the script is so witty and sarcastic, and the cast is so well-acted.
In addition to the puzzles in the game, your team is another complicating factor in your success. Robert Robertson was new to the job, so naturally, he wasn't running the Venus business. The group you're trying to control is made up entirely of former villains who are trying to reintegrate into society after a life of crime. As you might imagine, it didn't go well. The concept of a morally murky Superman has been explored in film and television before, but “Dispatch” frequently deflects expectations with a series of dirty jokes and heartfelt interactions that keep you on your toes.
For example, in a meeting after my first shift, my boss, Blonde Blazer, asked me why my nose was bleeding. Not long ago, one of my “heroes” immediately slapped me in the face for making some probably unwise decisions during a conversation. I had a choice here: I could turn her in, or pretend everything was fine. In order not to be hit again, I chose not to confess, which resulted in a heated interaction between me and another SDC member. “The Suicide Squad” could have used one more joke here to get some cheap laughs, but that's not the case. This measured restraint imbues the world with a sense of reality that makes it easy to become emotionally invested.
It helps that some of the characters I've met so far have grown into me, even if they have terrible attitudes. No one is one-dimensional, and while it's unclear what's hidden within their layers, it already feels like there's a lot to unpack. Laura Bailey voices Invisigal (original name Invisibitch), a mischievous, playful menace who has escaped a questionable past; Erin Yvette plays SDC leader Blonde Blazer, whose noble appearance hides an unsafe world; and Jeffrey Wright plays Chase. is a retired hero and a veteran in the gaming industry, to name a few. I'd be remiss if I didn't also mention Robert here, who comes across as deeply flawed yet lovable humanity thanks to Aaron Paul's emotionally rich and nuanced performance.
We're only a quarter of the way through the story, and it's too early to tell how Dispatch will end. It's clear there's still a lot to do, from leveling up my hero in the scheduling mini-game to fulfilling Robert's post-accident savior fantasies. I'll be back with a rated review shortly after the final episodes are released on November 12th – but, as of now, I'm completely captivated by this world, and I'm eager to get involved in Robert's fractured personal life.