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Dispatch: Episodes 3 & 4 Review – All’s Fair in Love and Layoffs

What to Expect in Dispatch: Episodes 3 & 4

Dispatch from Adhoc Studio picks up right where Episodes 1 & 2 left off, delivering even more of that irresistible blend of choice-driven narrative and strategic superhero management. You’re still Robert Robertson, the sarcastic ex-Mecha Man turned dispatcher for the SDN, herding the dysfunctional Z-Team of reformed villains through high-stakes emergencies.

This duo of episodes dives deeper into team dynamics with a sabotage-fueled layoff, budding romances, breakups, nip slips, and wet dreams amid the chaos. Where I griped about light gameplay in the opener, Episodes 3 & 4 fully satisfy with constant dispatching and hacking, clever upgrades, and new mechanics that keep every shift engaging. The writing stays raunchy yet relatable, characters bloom with chemistry, and those tough choices promise major ripples ahead. No life-threatening stakes yet, but Robert’s dispatcher journey has me utterly hooked, and the quality is holding strong.

Developer & Publisher // Adhoc Studio
Platforms // PC, PlayStation
MSRP & Release Date // $29.99 (For All 8 Episodes), October 29th, 2025
Reviewed On // PC

Dispatch Episode 3 Review — Crabs in a Bucket

Dispatch: Episode 3 kicks off with Robert teaming up with Royd to tinker on the new prototype Mecha Man suit, and it turns out the hulking Hawaiian has just as much brains as he has brawn. He’s in charge of designing the new suit and engineering a new power source. The chemistry between them is fantastic. Royd’s laid-back, positive energy bounces off Robert’s broody, sarcastic edge in a way that’s just plain fun to watch. Royd continues to be a highlight whenever he’s on screen, bringing that warm, chummy vibe that lightens up the scene.

From there, we catch up with Blonde Blazer, who’s now officially single after her breakup with Phenomaman—a relationship I purposely left out of the Episodes 1 & 2 review, but it now becomes a key point later. The episode doesn’t waste much time before diving into the first dispatch, and this time, the stakes are high. By the end of the day, the Z-Team member at the bottom of the SDN leaderboard is getting the boot. This lights a fire under the team, leading to some hilarious sabotage as they trip each other up and pull every dirty trick to rack up points and avoid the axe.

As the dispatcher, Robert’s stuck playing referee, giving orders to keep them from getting hurt in their own stunts and sometimes having to hack to bail them out of a situation. Even if you save the sabotaged hero, they still miss the call, so the prankster gets all the glory—or eats the failure. This led to a couple of botched dispatches on my playthrough, totally ruining my perfect record from the first two episodes, but it was chaotic in a fun way, adding real tension and laughs.

Episode 3 Review (Continued) — Rise from the Ashes

Eventually, Robert’s had enough and calls everyone in for their first face-to-face meeting as a team. These guys have zero respect for Robert (or each other for that matter) and it’s a powder keg of egos clashing. It’s up to you to craft Robert’s speech: go inspirational to rally them toward being better heroes, or lay down some hard truths to earn respect through authority. Either way, it shifts the dynamic, putting an end to the sabotage and starting to build some actual team bonds that feel earned.

The story then zeros in on Invisigal, who’s hitting a rough patch. She’s rejecting calls and basically quits mid-shift because she feels like she’s not cut out to be a hero. We get a great sense of the vulnerability hiding behind her tough facade and it gives her instant likability points. You get a chance to give her a pep talk, boosting her confidence for one last push, and whether she nails it or not, it leads into the leaderboard reveal.

Now comes the tough part, you have to pick who gets fired (light spoiler: it’s not Invisigal), and no matter your choice, it sows some bad blood that will probably haunt Robert in the future. By the end, Invisigal’s showing real progress, even showing gratitude to Robert, setting up what feels like a budding friendship… at least until Episode 4 throws a curveball.

Episode 4 Review — A Steamy Opener

Dispatch: Episode 4 starts off with a bang (or more like a splash) with a very explicit wet dream. I’ll spare the details, but it fits the game’s vibe perfectly and sets the tone for this episode right out the gate. We jump back into the Mecha Man prototype tests with Royd, where the new power source fizzles out, but seeing Robert back in the suit, grinning ear-to-ear, is a genuine feel-good moment that reminds you of his passion for hero work.

Building on Episode 3’s pep talk, Invisigal’s feelings toward Robert evolve right past friendship. Her masculine and straightforward way of flirting fits her character to a tee. If you choose to reciprocate her bold advances, the back-and-forth is electric, full of immature, raunchy banter that’s just a blast and captures that awkward spark of attraction.

Episode 4 Review (Continued) — A Lovely Evening Awaits

Things pivot to Blonde Blazer, who’s bouncing back from her Phenomaman breakup faster than expected. Her dynamic with Robert is a wholesome flip side to Invisigal: a slow-burn romance with sweet conversations and a less lustful connection, though not without a comical nip slip to keep things spicy. She requests Robert to help Phenomaman, who’s not handling the split well at all, causing random trouble around the city and slacking on his hero duties.

Phenomaman is basically Dispatch‘s Superman, but as an alien who didn’t grow up on Earth, he doesn’t quite get human nuances. He comes off like a curious kid who blurts out obvious stuff, misses jokes entirely, asks rude questions without realizing, and makes blunt observations with no tact. He’s genuinely lost without Blazer, struggling to process the breakup. If you’ve been flirting with Blazer pre-breakup, this can be a tense conversation where you may try to steer him away from thoughts of her breaking up with him for another man. You could also help him find something else that he can invest himself in.

As the shift wraps, Robert notices Invisigal’s still on the clock. Using the SDN to track her down and get visuals, he spots her at the movies. He hops on the comms for some playful banter while she’s watching previews, admitting he’s been wanting to see the flick too. Then Blazer’s text comes in, inviting him to dinner. It’s a killer choice: join Invisigal for a spontaneous movie date or go for the intimate dinner with Blazer? Both options deliver fantastic scenes with different vibes but equal chemistry that advances the romance arcs in meaningful ways.

Episode 4 feels like the shortest one yet, but it’s packed with impact and gameplay, leaving you pumped for where these relationships head next.

Episodes 3 & 4 Gameplay — Level Up

Dispatch: Episodes 3 & 4 totally flip the script on my gripes from the opener. The game is packing in way more dispatching gameplay and hacking action that makes every shift feel like a high-wire act of strategy and quick thinking. Now, it’s been dialed up in volume and difficulty, turning those early teases into full-on addictive gameplay sections that had me totally engaged.

Right from Episode 3‘s sabotage frenzy, the difficulty spikes in the best way: calls flood in amid the team’s dirty tricks, forcing you to snap out orders on the fly to dodge injuries, which lower a member’s stats by 1. If they receive another injury, they’re out for the shift. It tested my tactics like never before. Once the team meeting calms the chaos, the challenges keep coming with denser call waves that demand clever setups, and that’s where the new tricks shine.

Synergy pairings are a game-changer: team up duos like Sonar and Malevola or Coupé and Punch Up, and their chemistry adds in stat boosts for easier clears. Digging into the extras section also reveals comics with backstories, unlocking hidden lore that shows why they sync well. Then there are hero training pop-ups with Blonde Blazer, where you send spare members her way and pick from two ability upgrades to customize your squad. Another pop-up option was getting a Z-Team member a flyer’s license for quicker arrivals

Episodes 3 & 4 Gameplay (Continued) — You Can’t Hide

Hacking steals the show this round, evolving into a more engaging mini-game. Antivirus spheres now hunt you down Pac-Man style through the the grid. You’ve got just three lives to find your mark and it became challenging enough for me to lose 2 of them. They also bring area grid scanning in order to track down a notorious hacker. It opens up a whole map grid, where you move around the map trying to track the signal of the hacker by syncing 2 sine waves.

Episode 4 cranks it further with the post-layoff staff crunch. Calls overwhelm the Z-Team completely until you get the chance to recruit a replacement. Either a down-and-out Phenomaman or Waterboy, the socially awkward janitor who barfs water. The team’s instant dislike for the new member adds fun friction and banter. A bitter team member also starts to reject your orders and leaves mid-shift due to their close companion being laid off. This shows how Dispatch effortlessly weaves those narrative choices right into the gameplay, making the blend between them even more satisfying. Finally, Dispatch hits its stride as a slick mix of strategy and narrative.

Dispatch: Episode 3 & 4 Final Thoughts — 4 for 4

Dispatch: Episodes 3 & 4 escalates masterfully, piling even more Z-Team drama, steamy romances, and gameplay upgrades atop its already solid intro. Raunchy writing, blooming characters, and choice weight make these episodes satisfying and more gameplay moments fix my gripes with the previous episode. The added mechanics like synergies and upgraded hacks inject fresh strategy, turning dispatches into tense puzzles that reward clever team management.

Character arcs deepen authentically, from Invisigal’s vulnerability to Phenomaman’s endearing (but kind of scary) obliviousness, building emotional investment. It’s a little light on spectacle compared to the first episode’s intense opener, but there was more than enough impact to make up for it. This weekly rollercoaster has me glued—and I’ll be ready for more when Dispatch: Episodes 5 & 6 release on November 5.

Final Score: 9/10

Pros:

  • Dispatching and hacking gameplay explodes with new mechanics and abundant playtime
  • More Z-Team screen time and great interactions
  • Romances are building strong and tough choices hit hard
  • Writing and presentation is consistently good

Cons:

  • Light on big action setpieces
  • Episodes fly by too fast
  • Low stakes with no movement towards the big bad

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