Is Dispatch the most accessible video game ever created? This isn't just about its straightforward difficulty level, though it certainly isn't punishingly hard, but about how effortlessly it draws players into its world.
A Feast for the Senses
From the moment you start playing, Dispatch proves incredibly easy on both the eyes and ears. The game presents itself as a beautifully animated superhero cartoon specifically designed for adult audiences. Its characters are genuinely funny, liberally sweary, and brought to life by terrific voice acting from Hollywood talents including Jeffrey Wright and Aaron Paul.
The structure of the game also contributes to its pick-up-and-play nature. Dispatch has been released in episodic format, with its eighth and final instalment arriving this week. Each of these story segments, lasting around 45 minutes, provides the perfect chunk of narrative and gameplay for a relaxed evening on the sofa. They are simply very easy to get into.
Dual Gameplay Mechanics
Players step into the shoes of Robert Robertson III, the latest in a lineage of Mecha Men who has been forced to take an office job after his powerful robotic suit was destroyed. The gameplay itself manifests in two distinct forms.
As Robert, you face narrative choices that determine how the story unfolds. Will you choose to be pleasant in your next conversation? Or will you behave like a total super-phallus? These decisions shape your personal journey through the corporate world.
Simultaneously, in your role as a 'dispatcher', you must coordinate a team of discordant heroes responding to various emergencies. This aspect provides the game's more urgent gameplay, requiring you to quickly identify the best-suited weirdo for each job and issue commands effectively. It's a test of your strategic thinking under pressure.
Familiar Parts, Fresh Experience
If there is a minor criticism to be levelled at Dispatch, it's that many of its components feel recognisable from other media. The influence of television shows like The Boys and The Office, alongside games such as Life Is Strange, is apparent throughout the experience.
However, when these familiar elements combine so seamlessly and effectively, the question becomes: does it truly matter? The overall package is so well-executed that players are advised to simply relax and enjoy the ride. Dispatch stands as a testament to how polished execution can elevate familiar concepts into something thoroughly engaging.
Anno 117: Pax Romana - Building an Empire
In a completely different gaming sphere, Anno 117: Pax Romana offers players the chance to govern their own corner of the Roman Empire. The game is set during the Pax Romana, a period of approximately 200 years when the empire was at its peak and swords and sandals dominated fashion.
Players can establish their cities in either the classically Mediterranean province of Latium or the misty, boggy lands of Britain, referred to in-game as Albion. Your role as governor extends far beyond simple city planning.
While placing buildings across the landscape forms the foundation of gameplay, Anno 117 demands much more. You must manage resources carefully, establish profitable trade routes, maintain delicate diplomatic relationships, and even make the significant decision of which religion to follow—whether honouring the traditional Roman gods or submitting to the strange Celtic deities.
For those concerned that this sounds like demanding work, the game incorporates several streamlining measures inspired by recent city-building titles. These changes help simplify complex mechanics and hide some of the more intricate options, making the game more accessible to newcomers while potentially drawing some criticism from series veterans who may view them as oversimplification.
Regardless of these design choices, the results speak for themselves. The cities you create in Anno 117 are visually stunning achievements. Whether you're admiring your settlement's grand columns from a distant zoomed-out perspective or watching your citizens navigate their daily lives up close, the empire you build becomes a living, breathing testament to your governance skills. As the game beautifully demonstrates, sometimes you can indeed build Rome in a day—or at least a very impressive facsimile.
