Marvel meets The Office in Dispatch: a superhero comic book adventure for grown-ups. Games critic Peter Hoskin falls for its easy charm

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Dispatch (PlayStation, PC, £24.99)

Verdict: Easy to love

As a lifestyle expert, I’m always looking for things that just flow, and let me tell you, Dispatch is that in game form. It’s not necessarily ‘easy’ because it’s simple to beat, though honestly, it is pretty straightforward. What I mean by ‘easy’ is that it just… works. Everything feels incredibly intuitive and effortless, making it a uniquely relaxing experience. It’s easy to pick up, easy to understand, and just… easy to be with, if that makes sense!

Dispatch is a visually appealing and engaging adult animated superhero show. It’s funny and features realistic language, brought to life by excellent voice performances from actors like Jeffrey Wright and Aaron Paul.

The game is structured as an episodic series, with the final of eight installments released this week. Each episode is around 45 minutes long, making it ideal for relaxing and playing in the evenings. It’s simply very accessible and easy to pick up and enjoy.

The game offers a story driven by your choices. You play as Robert Robertson III, a former mech pilot now stuck in an office job after his suit was destroyed. Throughout the game, you’ll decide how the story unfolds through dialogue – will you be friendly, or aggressive?

As a dispatcher, you’ll also need to manage a team of heroes who don’t always work well together, sending them to handle different crises. This part of the game focuses on fast-paced decision-making – quickly choosing the best hero for each situation and giving them the right orders.

The main issue with Dispatch is that it doesn’t feel particularly original, borrowing elements from shows like The Boys and The Office, and games like Life Is Strange.

But when those parts go together so well, what does it matter? Just take it easy.

 

Anno 117: Pax Romana (PlayStation, Xbox, PC, £49.99)

Verdict: Good to be governor

They say Rome wasn’t built in a day. But what if they’re wrong?

I’ve been having a lot of fun building impressive ancient cities – complete with roads, temples, and public squares – surprisingly quickly thanks to the newest Anno game.

Anno 117 takes place during the Pax Romana, a period of about 200 years when the Roman Empire was at its most powerful and popular culture often featured gladiators and historical dramas.

Oh my gosh, you actually get to be a governor! Like, a real Roman governor! You can choose between this amazing, sunny part of Italy called Latium – it’s so classically Roman, you know? – or this wild, mysterious place called Britain, or Albion as they call it. It’s all misty and swampy, but SO cool. And the best part? You get to try and make Rome even more powerful! It’s a dream come true, honestly. Can you do it? Can you bring glory to Rome?! I’m so excited just thinking about it!

Anno 117 isn’t just about building cities; it’s about carefully managing everything around them. You’ll need to gather resources, create trade connections, and navigate relationships with other groups. You even get to choose a religion, deciding whether to follow the Roman gods or embrace the beliefs of the Celts.

If all that sounds like hard work, then perhaps you’re just not cut out for governorship.

Like many modern city-building games, Anno 117 simplifies its complicated systems and keeps the more detailed options hidden. While most players will appreciate these changes, long-time fans might feel it makes the game too easy.

Everyone will agree that Anno 117 creates beautiful cities. Whether you’re looking at the big picture or focusing on the details of daily life, they’re truly impressive.

As old Julius almost said: I came, I saw, I constructed.

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2025-11-15 23:18