Bad connection

I recently went through my pile of shame again and was shocked to discover that I already have 63 games on my list that I want to play sometime, somewhere, somehow. Unfortunately, it's more likely that the number will reach triple digits than that I'll be able to make a dent in the mountain – boo hoo. One of the games on this list that I'm determined to play, however, is Dispatch.

In this case, dispatch is meant in its contemporary form, as it deals with one of the best genres: superheroes! In this adventure game from AdHoc Studios, founded in 2018, we play Robert Robertson III, aka Mecha Man. However, his days as an active world savior are a thing of the past after the destruction of his exosuit, and Robert becomes a desktop warrior at headquarters, from where he coordinates his colleagues in the fight against the city's horrors and villains.

That sounds super exciting in itself, but it doesn't stop there. In addition to the high-caliber voice cast, consisting of members of the Critical Role pen-and-paper gang, the lineup also includes celebrities such as Aaron Paul (Breaking Bad) and Jeffrey Wright, as well as Irish YouTuber jacksepticeye and Canadian Joel Haver. I know the latter primarily for his video game parodies in 80s VHS style, and I never would have thought I'd see his name in any game credits in a hundred years.

As unconventional as Dispatch may be at this point, the premise of the story is less unusual nowadays. For example, I can imagine that we will also get to know the dark side of being a hero in the game and discover that the shining men (and women) do not necessarily all live up to the ideals they embody. Although the development studio consists of former employees of Ubisoft, Night School Studio (Oxenfree), and, above all, Telltale Games, I don't expect any revelations here after series like The Boys and Invincible.

In general, the game seems to have taken inspiration from the Amazon series about the eponymous hero Dispatch , as the art style is quite similar. That's not necessarily a bad thing, though, as Dispatch looks really good based on the trailer footage. I'm so excited to get started on this adventure. I've been waiting far too long for a good Telltale game, and The Wolf Among Us 2 (also from AdHoc Studios) is still a long way off.

The score

After so much euphoria for the actual game, the soundtrack is quite a contrast. First, a few facts: The 77 tracks of the original soundtrack are spread across four CDs and can be purchased on Steam until January 5, 2026, for $8.77 instead of $9.75. The product is advertised there as follows:

From synthy cinematic score, crunchy retro tracks to dispatch to, and songs you'll only hear based on the choices you make, the Dispatch Original Soundtrack is packed with music exclusively made for this interactive narrative adventure.

Dispatch-soundtrack product page on Steam

The composer is Andrew Arcadi, who delivers what appears to be his first “own” official score in Dispatch . According to his Homepage he has also worked on other Telltale projects such as Minecraft Story Mode, The Walking Dead, [The] Wolf Among Us, and Stranger Things . With a name like “Arcadi,” it's hard to verify this with a search engine, but I'll just take his word for it. Why? Because the score is well done. It's coherent, it's relaxing, and it's... boring.

Yes, I said it: the soundtrack of Dispatch bores me. Second reason? Because music-wise, a lot was copied from Invincible . I don't know if this style is a must-have for a contemporary anti-hero portrait, but this synth background noise doesn't really work without the visual component. Wafting tones, pulsating electronic sounds that rarely get the pulse racing. In fact, for long stretches, the whole thing sounds like a study playlist. Highlights? None. Exciting and recurring motifs? Nah, we're good.

It's probably just me and my expectation that a soundtrack should somehow connect with me outside of the game. And maybe it would if I had already played the game. On its own, Dispatch is just too tame for me. Yet a genre like adventure games lends itself perfectly to gripping music. Even the visual novel Murder by Numbers has pieces that are more entertaining than mere synth beats.

And Dispatch actually has a strong overture with the dramatic opening track Mecha ManAndrew Arcadi4 and the hectic A Soothing VoiceAndrew Arcadi, Skyler Barto4 ! However, the initial anticipation is quickly torpedoed by the monotony of the score. Even the pieces by musician Skyler Barto don't change that. Perhaps 1 hour instead of 3.5 hours would have been better for the listening experience, or perhaps I should be less eager for action in a narrative gaming experience. And maybe I'll change my mind once I've enjoyed the game and the music in harmony. For now, I can only caution those who haven't played the game that this score is really only for fans of the genre or the game.