If you’ve followed my reviews for Dispatch: Episodes 1 & 2/ Episodes 3 & 4 up to this point, you’ll know how impressed I’ve been with Adhoc Studio’s narrative chops. Episodes 5 & 6 don’t just continue that momentum, they amplify it. These are easily the most emotional, cinematic, and mechanically polished episodes so far, with new gameplay twists that keep it fresh.
Robert’s past, his lies, and the consequences of his choices finally come crashing down. These episodes are equal parts hilarious and heartbreaking, loaded with character-defining moments, their signature humor, and a cliffhanger that will absolutely wreck you.
Developer & Publisher // Adhoc Studio
Platforms // PC, PlayStation
MSRP & Release Date // $29.99 (For All 8 Episodes), November 5th, 2025
Reviewed On // PC
Presentation & Soundtrack — Someone Cooked Here
While Dispatch has consistently looked great, Episodes 5 & 6 are where its presentation hits its stride. The cinematography is some of Adhoc’s best work yet. From large-scale action scenes to awesome transitions during flashbacks, they absolutely cooked with the visuals of Episodes 5 & 6, even more so than they’ve done previously.
But the soundtrack? A complete standout this round. I felt the music had a lot more impact and was utilized greatly throughout both episodes. It elevated some of the best moments in the game so far, including a hilarious end credits song for Episode 5 that you must experience all the way through. From rad moments to sad moments, they really upped the ante in this regard.
Episode 5 Narrative Review — Into the Fire
Dispatch: Episode 5 kicks things off with Robert training to return as Mecha Man, cutting between his routine and a flashback of him fighting a “mysterious” flaming villain in a burning building. The editing is amazing with cuts weaving in and out from present to flashback seamlessly and it immediately sets the tone.
Things take a humorous turn when Flambae shows up just in time to save Robert from being crushed under a barbell, giving Flambae fuel to mock him for his lack of powers. You can either genuinely thank him (which throws him off) or fire back with some classic snark. It’s a great exchange that highlights the contrast of Robert who wants to do good, but is powerless without his suit and Flambae who has awesome power that he chose to use for illegal purposes.
The episode then transitions into dispatch duty which was surprisingly normal. During the lunch break, Robert finds out that the Z-Team are hilariously betting on which superhero he used to be. It’s a clever inversion of the classic secret identity trope, with Robert hiding his hero side instead of his normal one. Ultimately, Robert doesn’t reveal himself and Prism and Malevola don’t get any closer to winning the prize pool of $936.
The story takes a dramatic turn after getting into the second dispatch shift. A citywide blackout engulfs Torrance, causing chaos across the district. It’s seemingly orchestrated by Red Ring, the crime syndicate lead by Shroud. This is where both narrative and gameplay combine to keep things fresh. Robert must reroute power grid by grid while dispatching his team to handle the flood of emergency calls. It’s a tense and brilliantly executed sequence that also gives us small hints about Red Ring.
Episode 5 Narrative Review (Continued) — Bonding over Bar Brawls
Throughout the episode, Robert and Chase discuss the reemerging threat of Shroud and Red Ring, finally tying back to dormant story threads. The dialogue gives a sense of weight with Chase asking Robert tough questions to check where he is mentally. After the chaotic day, the Z-Team plans on blowing off steam by meeting up for drinks after work. They invite Robert along to The Sardine, a villain bar. Robert reluctantly joins. The scene drips with personality, following Robert through a sketchy bar full of menacing villains.
After buying the Z-Team some bottom-shelf whiskey, Robert can make progress with Invisigal. She suggests if Robert wants to feel closer to the team, he will need to reveal his identity. Yet, he hesitates to agree. That’s when they reveal that the “mysterious” flaming villain from Robert’s flashbacks was Flambae all along. The flashback details Robert’s run-in with Flambae mentioned in Episode 1, showing exactly why Flambae’s hatred still burns so fiercely.
Dispatch immediately shifts gears into one of its funniest and most chaotic sequences yet. I won’t spoil the details as it’s a scene you just have to see for yourself but it involves drunken karaoke, a huge bar brawl, dick punching, permanent blindness and broken noodle arms.
By the time the dust settles, the team’s sitting curbside at 3AM, scarfing down tacos. Robert now faces the decision he’s been dodging: whether to finally reveal who he really is. You decide to continue to conceal the truth or reveal it all. This scene closes out the episode in a heartwarming way no matter which option you choose. However, there are some big differences and consequences next episode.
Episode 5 stands out as an amazing opener to Chapter 3 of Dispatch. Delivering a great amount of pulse-pounding action, unique dispatch gameplay mechanics, and genuinely heartwarming team-building moments—it hits every mark with flying colors. Hands down, it’s the most hilarious episode yet.
Episode 6 Narrative Review — Make the Man Mecha
Dispatch: Episode 6 wastes no time hitting the ground running. Robert and Royd test another Proto Pulse, their attempt to recreate the original Astral Pulse that once powered Mecha Man—seemingly destroyed in the crash from Episode 1. Depending on your decisions in the previous episode, the Z-Team may be present to cheer you on.
The test ends in disaster when the suit overloads. Royd desperately tries to eject Robert from the suit, but he can’t make it before the suit explodes with Robert still trapped inside. And that’s how Robert Robertson meets his end… Just kidding, of course. Robert wakes up battered in an SDN clinic, with Royd and Chase waiting. Royd is devastated—not only did he get Robert hurt, but he also feels incapable of recreating the Astral Pulse, so he calls it quits on the project. Robert doesn’t put up a fight; he just thanks Royd for trying.
After another dispatch session filled with Red Ring activity, Robert heads home to contemplate a future without Mecha Man. As he’s lying on the floor drinking alone, Malevola, Invisigal and Royd burst through for a housewarming party Robert knew nothing about. Although he wasn’t in the mood, Invisigal gives him a reason to be by announcing that the Astral Pulse is still intact and they’ve invited the Z-Team along with Blazer and Chase to help locate it.
This kicks off Dispatch‘s most satisfying scene—a beautifully directed montage that skips through the night as the Z-Team members arrive, each gifting Robert an increasingly absurd lamp. It flows from the crew scoping out a map of Torrance, hunting the Pulse, to everyone cutting loose and dancing under a catchy pop track. It’s ethereal, heartwarming, and it deepens your love for every character.
Episode 6 (Continued) — Keep Up
Finally, Invisigal uncovers a solid lead on the Astral Pulse, a shipyard, and she insists it’s now or never. Blazer pushes back, citing protocol is to route through SDN downtown, meaning they’ll wait until tomorrow. Invisigal keeps pressing until a drunken Chase explodes, brutally tearing into her for arguing against Blazer’s orders. He doesn’t stop there. Chase unleashes all his pent-up disdain for Invisigal, not holding back at all. The confrontation escalates until Invisigal storms out, not before hitting the old man with an uppercut. The blowup ends the party on a sour note.
Robert spots Chase lingering after the fallout and they chat about what happened. Chase admits he doesn’t trust Invisigal (or really any Z-Team member) but Robert’s growing fondness of her has him worried. To reassure him, Robert shares Invisigal’s worries: her fear that her villain-suited powers dictated who she was. Robert could relate and felt that if it wasn’t for his dad and Chase, he would have never been Mecha Man. This insight softens Chase’s stance, helping him see her in a new light.
Robert continues his banter with Chase until he notices a distress signal from Invisigal. Turns out she went rogue to the Pulse’s location, and her hunch was dead-on. Multiple supervillains were somehow clued in too, turning the massive shipyard into a free-for-all for the Pulse. Robert hacks in to remotely guide her through the chaos. It’s easily one of the most intense sequences in the series.
I won’t go into the rest, but that climax is pure gold, blending cinematic action set pieces, challenging gameplay sections, and an intense, tear-jerking payoff that hit me hard and still lingers days after the credits rolled. Episode 6 is absolute cinema, setting Dispatch up flawlessly for the final act.
Episodes 5 & 6 Gameplay Review — It’s Electric!
Gameplay in Dispatch: Episodes 5 & 6 evolves in clever, unexpected ways, proving Adhoc won’t let Dispatch coast on story alone. Episode 5’s blackout weaves electricity into hacking for added puzzle depth—rerouting power through switches—while charged lines double as devastating countermeasures, zapping Antiviruses that get too close. These sequences ramp up the intensity, pitting you against ticking clocks as viruses rapidly chew through your lives.
Meanwhile, the reworked stat system forces players to think differently about team balance. Some missions now impose stat caps, meaning brute strength can actually backfire. It’s a clever twist that makes you reconsider your strategy and question your team-building choices from earlier episodes. Stat bonuses for exceeding specific thresholds reward careful planning, and together these tweaks make Dispatch’s mechanics feel more rewarding and layered than ever.
The pacing between missions and narrative scenes has reached a perfect harmony, maintaining that sweet spot where you never feel bogged down by dialogue or overrun by gameplay. Adhoc has managed to blend Telltale-style storytelling with deep, satisfying gameplay, and the result is easily the best in the genre.
Final Thoughts
Dispatch: Episodes 5 & 6 fires on all cylinders while delivering on almost everything this series has been building toward: tight storytelling, emotional stakes, strategic gameplay, and a soundtrack that powers up every big moment. It’s both hilarious and heartbreaking, larger than life yet deeply intimate. With these episodes, Adhoc Studio hasn’t just maintained the quality of their episodic adventure; they’ve damn near perfected it.
I can say the biggest nitpick I had this chapter is that Invisigal’s romance feels underdeveloped. Blazer’s path delivers real relationship vibes with extra scenes for fanservice and growth; Invisigal is lacking the extra screen time and stays flirty, lacking progression beyond the dance scene that still feels distant. It’s weird that they’re undercutting the most popular choice. It’s a small nitpick in the grand scheme, however. If Episodes 1–4 laid the groundwork, then Episodes 5 & 6 are a near-perfect payoff. From explosive action to hilarious dialogue to satisfying fan service and a tearful cliffhanger that will have you counting down the days to the finale, Dispatch continues to deliver a must-play experience.
Final Score: 9.5 / 10
Pros:
- Emotional highs and lows hit harder with team warmth and jaw-dropping cliffhanger
- Standout soundtrack punctuates every scene
- New gameplay mechanics brilliantly test team balance and puzzling
- Shroud plot line is revived bringing danger back into the narrative
- Heartwarming Z-Team scenes make you fall in love with the characters even more
Cons:
- Invisigal romance path feels underdeveloped compared to Blonde Blazer’s
