I have finished Dispatch and now I'm at a loss so I'm going to play it again

Last night I finished my first run in the new episodic superhero adventure Dispatch from AdHoc Studio, and now I don't know what to do with myself.

So I think I'll treat myself to playing through it again, because there's a good amount of choices that really clearly affect big parts of the overall story, and I can think of numerous times where I would like to do something differently. I even managed to hook in the partner to play it through, and it sounds like they're going to be doing the same with an additional play-through.

It's easily one of the absolute best game of the year by far, and I'm pleased to see it has been a huge success for AdHoc Studio! Speaking to GI.Biz, the developer noted how they expected to hit a specific target within three years that they're now on track to do in only three months.

The game is split into two parts — there's anime-styled cut scenes that allow you to pick between watching like a mini-movie or with quick-time events, and then there's the hero management. The management side of it was great fun too, surprisingly challenging as well with you needing to match up the right hero from your team of reformed villains to each call.

Making it an episodic format like a TV show was a clever move too, with excitement building up for each new episode as they came out in blocks of two. That could have just as easily worked against them, but thankfully it has paid off. Seeing everyone talk about it as the episodes rolled in, seeing the hype — it's an experience that's nice not to miss. And thanks to Valve, no one on Linux / SteamOS has to miss out with Proton running Windows games so nicely.

I'll admit the brief bit of nudity was a surprise in one episode, especially where it opens with a rather spicy scene. Caught me out good that did. Good job I wasn't playing it around anyone else - hah. Definitely not a game to play around younger people.

Dispatch made me really feel something too. You'll know the scenes if you've played it. When a certain speedy character says "keep up" and runs off and bad stuff happens. Then the next episode, in a past memory they say "keep up" again and then it jumps back to now and someone is in hospital. The entire mood of the episode is completely different to everything else. The rain on the map in the management section too, the carefully muted audio - gosh, I felt the sadness in me too. The writing and the voice acting is just, fantastic. It all made me really truly care about the characters that I just had to write something more on the game because it's so good.

That's why I feel like I'm at such a loss. It really truly sucked me in, and I feel a sense of nothing without it right now because it's done and finished.

If you've been sitting on the fence about it just jump off already, it's brilliant. I need more. I really hope for a second season, or just more games that mix things together so nicely like this did. Just more please. I'm starving for it. It's safe to say I'll be jumping right into whatever AdHoc Studio make next if it's anything near this quality level.

The game works perfectly on Desktop Linux and Steam Deck with Proton. Not a single issue encountered. It is one of the most perfect for Steam Deck games I've played.

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