It's another Wednesday and another batch of Dispatch episodes. Continuing directly from Episodes 3 and 4, this new pair comes in with a bang, marking the best point in its entire narrative.
Everything that's been set up in episodes preceding these is starting to pay off, with a good, if a little fast, buildup toward the final showdown that is to come next week. Characters finally "click" in the best possible way, the gameplay loop remains as fun as ever, and some new quirks and mechanics are introduced to break the monotony of a desk top.
On top of it all, the consequences of your actions are finally coming to full fruition.
But I'll get into that below. Here's our review-in-progress; the last one before we put out a complete, scored review after Episodes 7 and 8.
In Episode 5, we pick up where we were left off in Episode 4. The game puts us straight back into the dispatcher action and has us manage our team of turncoat villains that are trying their best, or so they say. The directing is palpably better this time around, with frame composition and the shots overall being kicked up a notch over previous episodes.
There is a much stronger cinematic feel, with these initial stages of Episode 5 playing out as a proper movie or TV show, one that even your Letterboxd-obsessed friend would praise.
The music that accompanies the scenes is equally good and adds a layer of atmosphere and emotion and heightens the total experience, which seamlessly transitions into gameplay that is simple, but nonetheless effective. Managing the Z-Team is more-or-less the same as the previous episodes, with some minor changes and continuations of the micro-narratives that you might have encountered before.
All members of the roster blend into a beautiful cast, each complementing each, with chemistry so good they might accidentally produce gold. Of course, some still bicker and fight, but that remains meaningful and not forced, and even the worst of the characters like a small Irish dude with huge muscles starting to shine and making their qualities known.
Our protagonist, Robert, remains a conflicted and confused man meandering through a world that feels alien and distant but which he still wishes to be a part of. Aaron Paul pulls no punches when it comes to providing Robert with every bit of emotion and depth, all while remaining detached from his previous roles and doing his best to shape Robert into a unique character.
Episode 5 is by far the best entry to the whole game, with heightened action, tension, and vibes unfolding through masterful directing and acting. Truly a cinematic masterpiece.
Episode 6 on the other hand sees the pace pick up speed, and violently so. It feels much shorter than the fifth, but is not worse, at least not in a general sense. It has a goal in mind and wishes to push the narrative a leap forward, making up for the prior episode's "lost" time. To a degree it does its job, and what's most important—it does not overstay its welcome.
It's markedly different than Episode 5 and ends poignantly (and on a cliffhanger) and overdoes it on some of the puzzles, but it still fits snugly into the overall story and is, for better or worse, an episode necessary to drive the plot forward.
Now I know I'm being a bit confusing with how I'm describing it, but I don't want to reveal any details of the story whatsoever and will reserve my comments on plot elements for the full review. After all, the episodes have just come out and players are yet to experience them, and I won't be the bearer of any news until you've had some time to try stuff yourself.
Overall, these two episodes are a high point for the game, which makes sense as we're entering the final act of this dramatic display of heroism. Stakes are higher than they ever were, stuff is happening fast, and I cannot wait to see how it all ties together when the final two episodes are out next Wednesday.
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