I've been interested in Dispatch since it was originally announced, and I do see a lot of conversation revolving around Invisigal, aka: Invisibitch, aka: Courtney. Spoilers ahead for everything, haven't done her bad route yet but I'm gonna do it to see how it goes.
She's honestly my favorite character of the game. I want to talk a bit about my perspective on her character. Because I think there's something deeply interesting about her being the anti-hero of the game and also the one explicitly neurodivergent character.
I haven't read the comics, but what I can gather about Courtney's backstory is that she wasn't born into a happy situation, likely had a lot of people diminish her few accomplishments, wasn't able to keep any close friends. And given the fact she was born with powers that she says are "villain powers," it's likely that the people around her that wanted her around were people that only wanted her for selfish reasons.
And everything put together, her being so callous, disobedient, extremely emotionally volatile, overtly sexual even, those are things that I as someone with ADHD can see and identify myself with. I may be younger than Invisigal and I've had learning experiences to control my worst behaviors but, fuck, I just can so vividly imagine the kind of life Invisigal must've had and how easily I could become her if I was in her place, that is to say: a 27 year old crook that has a hard time trusting people and has been antagonized for as long as memory goes.
Not a lot of stories I've seen that revolve around what neurodivergency and having ADHD is like talk about how antagonizing having ADHD can be, because in my experience it hasn't been just procrastinating and hyperfixating, it's also deep and bubbling frustration. Frustration that things go wrong, frustration with people, frustration with the system, the way things are, and it builds up until you lash out. Invisigal does this in many ways, she punches Robert and has a fight with him when her mood is ruined because she begins to realize her perceived success is a failure and when she tries to lash out, she's met with aggression and insult. Invisigal tries to convince people based on what she knows that the Astral Pulse will be in the dock and they need to go now, and when she's rejected she feels the need to double down which ultimately leads her to a catastrophical point.
Those are things that a neurotypical person looks at and decides to cope with it in "normal" ways, I have a very hard time when I am stumped and often go in with my first instinct which tends to be to be angry. And when someone acts like an angry person, people seem to not spare you sympathy, because clearly you're the one that started acting irratilationally so they don't owe you to be rational either, and frankly I still don't know how right that is. I do know that the anger doesn't go away, ever, I just learned to make other feelings be louder.
This makes it so having ADHD is an uphill battle, and Courtney is someone who wasn't given the tools to fight it, in fact, she wasn't given anything to clutch onto to make it easier, she has it way tougher than me, she's asthmatic and on top of that her powers made her prey for the criminal variety wanting to exploit her. I'm just a messy and awkward college student.
That's why her hero route matters to me, because when I am given the capacity to back up someone like me I took her, it reminded me of all the times I had no idea backing me up after I made a very bad mistake, and no one ever sought to understand why I acted that way. Ultimately SDN is a contractor, not a therapy agency, which is why before the start of the game she's their worst hero, because she keeps making mistakes and not getting the time to correct them, so they just keep piling up. But Robert Robertson as a leader, a good one, knows to look at the people they lead eye to eye, and this is why he needs to be the one who is able to look at Courtney and go "Hey, I know you can be better than this."
This isn't all to say that Courtney is justified in her villainy, but it does make me think about how when it comes to a vulnerable person, often times they just need connection to help them out of it. And I won't be mad at people if they decide that they can't trust Invisigal because of what she did, it is ultimately a game that strives for narrative agency and it'd be silly if I genuinely was angry at people deciding that's how their Robert would act, but as a reminder when you do decide to trust her, she's willing to take a bullet for you.
So that's my pseudoanalysis, pseudo-projecting myself onto this fictional woman rant. Just wanted to say all this stuff because I genuinely feel kinship with Invisigal, and who said that your fave has to be unproblematic, she's so flawed, love her regardless. Hope this all made sense.
Robert and Coop friendship is something that can be SO personal. Mind you:
Coop has BEEN rocking with Robert since the START. She’s his day one.
She sounds impressed when telling the team Mecha Man kicked Flambae’s ass. Calls Robert considerate when he sends her to a mission she likes. Is the only one on the team who doesn’t rib him!
Also? She HAS to know he’s Mecha Man.
You’re telling me someone who spent YEARS in espionage, infiltration, assassinations, stalking, and found a whole ass illegal fighting tournament under 5 minutes can’t recognise a voice? Okay.
1) She absolutely knows he’s Mecha Man.
2) Robert absolutely doesn’t know she knows he’s Mecha Man.
Their dynamic could be so fun because Coop’s affection looks like this:
“You haven’t tried to murder me, torture me, blackmail me, or sell my DNA for cloning purposes. I consider you a fond acquaintance.”
Robert blinks. “That’s…A concerningly low standard. But thank you?”
“In any case, I’ve compiled a detailed list of your enemies, as well as anyone who might potentially betray you in the future. I prepared a bullet point for ways we can prevent that.”
Robert looks at the graceful handwriting with wary eyes. “Coop, this just says ‘murder’ in pink highlighter. Also. Your name is at the top?”
“It’s your favorite highlighter. Also; I brought ice cream for movie night.”
Shroud is such a sick villain and a funny one, in my opinion.
I saw some people saying that its gameplay is boring and that the puzzle part is the worst part of the game but being a puzzle nerd myself, I would like to tell these people to get out of the mentality of "if there's not crazy shit happening on my screen after five seconds, it's a bad game", because obviously action won't happen all the time, it's a choice based game with puzzle elements.
The development of the characters is so good, it didn't feel rushed in any way and I really hope more games like this come out in the future, at least others than Telltale (which I love).
Brb about to replay episodes 7 and 8 and probably the whole game 10 more times
But
Holy shit I am so happy I was wrong about Royd.
Yes, I fully admit I was giving Invisigal all the passes (No, I did not romance her. But I don't regret supporting her either, because I do love how my view on her contributed to her choosing to be a hero in the end. And despite everything if I HAD to pick a romance option, I'd personally go for BB. I find her corporateness offputting, but corporateness is offputting in general. Otherwise she's really cute)
Also Visi planting the bomb on Robert. I dunno. That seemed so obvious to me I sort of blended that out. But it makes sense. Kudos to everyone who called that one.
Also big Kudos to my friend who immediately called Chase is alive after episode 6.
I really need to see how it looks like when Robert and BB are dating and she saves him.
Cat mascot. I need to know your name. Cat mascot the secret MVP
Also Galen. Galen is still one of my faves and my heart broke when he didn't get a fist bump (the one thing I will not do is replaying the game without fist bumping Royd. My heart could not take it. Please. Somebody. Confess your sins to me and tell me the consequences of your choices. I won't judge. Only a little. But i need to know)
By the way! Here's an important question:
Did BB join the final dispatch shift for you?
She did for me and I think it's because I asked her to come back. Replayed with my friend and he told her to go and she didn't return.
I will need to check that. But oh my... She is sooo fucking OP! No regrets. Missed out on reading her info file tho. Aw shucks, I guess I'll have to somehow get her back on the team :)
Regarding the big ep 3 choice... Okay now I'm not sure who to cut when replaying all of the game.
See. I stuck with Coupé. So what if she is a bit stabby? Gosh, women can't even have hobbies anymore. Let her be autistic and offputting ffs (no seriously. I do actually like her barely subdued weirdness). I was also very much expecting Sonar to join Shroud. By the way: I never doubted Mal and Punch Up, but gosh they sounded so disappointed.
But I'm gonna level here. I went for the rule of cool. I kinda figurwd that facing off against Sonar may end up looking cooler. And it did look cool af. Fighting the bat boy undertground half in darkness.
My issue here is that FIGHTING COUPÉ ALSO LOOKED AMAZING! With the red glowing wings? Gosh... And Blazer eushing to save her in the end?
Once again I am on the ground. And I can't get up.
Yeah... I forgave them... What can I say. I'm a softie.
Finally, Shroud. Just to to be clear. He's a good villain. Honestly, the perfect villain for this game. His powers? Chefs kiss. I mean it. It's like, a distorted version of the game mechanics during the dispatch.
But the guy himself? What a clown! Pathetic guy. Inagine getting this lost in the sauce. Phah!
Once again some final thoughts before Dispatch Episodes 7 and 8 release
While I am keeping expectations in check (not being pessimistic by any means. Honestly just being along for the ride), here's some things I wouldn't be surprised about in the Dispatch finale:
Shroud somehow turning out to be Robert's father Robbie. I can see that reasonably happening. It could be narratively poignant
Chase possibly being alive but in critical condition?
Visi being a member of the Red Ring in the past (still don't see her as a traitor. Even if she was a mole she cut ties. But the Red Ring folks are way too familiar with her, and the fight in the Sardine started because of her, not Robert. Like the guy who's name I didn't pay attention to said "there's some people who want to talk to you".)
Once again I can still see Royd turning out to be a traitor, but seriously. I will not be upset if he isn't. I would actually be more upset about being right about this.
The Z-teamer who got cut somehow returning, possibly with the Red Ring. I still very much struggle seeing Malevola and Punch Up as traitors in any way (by informing whoever got kicked from the team). But the blackout dispatch is still not leaving me any peace, and the way whoever wasn't cut seems to get soecifically targeted the day before, even in a relatively minor way? I got my eye on that.
Oh and of course Beef still being the best character and a joy to have on screen and nothing bad ever happening to him otherwise I will not be able to force a friend to play this game (they're very sensitive about that stuff and honestly who can blame them?)
Also for now I can't say which character is my favourite. Okay that's a lie; beef is my favourite and everyone else is ranking a respectable 2nd spot. Genuinely like the whole z team. I am currently very on board with more seasons of this game.
Anyway I'm gonna go take a quick nap now. Have fun playing soon everyone
You know. After finishing playing the 2nd round with my different choices.
First, this was the Blazer date save file. So far it seems if you go out with Mandy you get locked into that romance. With all the hugs and all the cheek kisses (and Galen acknowledgements)
Phenomaman is chill about it. During the housewarming party he gives both Blazer and Robert a big hug and oh my gosh he is adorable.
Now, I will admit I struggled soooo fucking hard with not tellibg the team the truth about Mecha Man.
So here's the consequences for that:
1) Flambae doesn't try to kill Robert. They instead shake hands. He's also available for dispatching in episode 6.
2) during the prototype test it's only Chase, Visi and Royd
3) the Z team still gives Robert a bottle of good whiskey and wishes him well. But during the shift they don't know what exactly was up (not having been there for the explosion and all that) and joke about getting the whiskey back. Visi comes up with the excuse that Robert hat taco diarrea.
4) and this is where I was actually a little surprised: Vidi convinced the whole Z team to help Robert find the Astral Pulse. It's actually sweet. It's one thing for them to want to help him if he's Mecha Man and they saw him explode. It's a whole different thing if they wantwd to help him because he's their dispatch guy they were in a barfight in. And Mal arrives first again (because the area where they've tracked the Pulse to has villain groups she's most familiar with)
5) the rest plays out mostly the same UNTIL Chase yells about Robert being Mecha Man. And everyone in the room knows it and goes Oh Shit. Sooo... That didn't stay secret for long.
6) Flambae does arrive after that though, just like in the other playthrough, but instead of punching Robert just enters into a thick uncomfortable atmosphere. I wonder if he'll find out in episodes 7 and 8... Ohhh boi...
Once again, both Coupé and Sonar are on their phone on the balkony when the Pulse location is discovered, but I still think they're unlikely to be traitors. I still don't see much of a motive. And their presence is optional.
Really, my opinion on who might be the traitor hasn't changed. I also don't think it's Visi. I just don't. Something is going on with her, but it's not betrayal. At least not betrayal towards the Z team, SDN or Robert.
(I got my eye on you, Royd. Both of em. You better fucking watch out, you big, smart, fictional character. Waiting for confirmation in a week)
I'll do my bets to do more posts until episodes 7 and 8 release, but honestly I've decided to update the character profiles after the game has concluded.
[Post about me loosing my mind after dispatch episode 5 and 6]
Like I expected, there's a traitor in or around Z team and after 1 night of sleeping it over, two playthroughs, and 40 solid minutes of talking to myself I have my own theory of who it probably is.
(insanity under cut)
First the evidence: nobody knew where the astral pulse was for months. Mostly small fry villains had it and 'sploded shit. Z team finds it. Suddenly the location they JUST tracked it to is a Red Ring warzone (love that we have a name for Shrouds organisation btw. I'd have noticed it sooner if I had looked at my own damn 17k+ screenshots. The name is stated in the little file thing you pull up on Lightningstruck when you zoom and enhance on him in the first shift during episode 3. You can also see his real name in that file which is Sebastian Kellen).
But that means someone on Z team likely told the Red Ring. Someone who was there. In the room. Where they discovered the location of the Astral Pulse.
At this point an important note: I chose to reveal Robert's identity to the team. It's a matter of trust. Consequently Flambae got pissed and left the team for a day. I may make a follow up post using information I have from choosing differently. But.
First, let's dismiss characters that I'm convinced are not the traitor.
1) Beef. He is the goodest boy.
2) Flambae. In my playthrough he literally arrived after the party was over. Like I said in my early assessment on him: he's not that type of character. He (well tried to kill Robert first), but then he'd rather punch him (every month). Quick temper, massive ego, and he does lie to make himself look better, but overall his actions are honest. Unreasonable to expect from a character like that any level of longcon betrayal type of shit. Motive, sure. Means, eh not really. Alibi, yes.
3) I'm trying to keep this list complete so. Chase. And may I just say - i was expecting it. Both from his introduction, and from the way episode 6 went? No credits music for this one. There may or may not have been tears. And Robert list a second father figure. And if that isn't the reason to not see him as a suspect.
4) Visi, similar to Chase. Like. Why would she go into a warzone she caused and almost die several times, only to face off against Shroud in the end where she almost suffocates. We can all agree hopefully, that not knowing her backstory makes her seems quite shady. And she does seem to be connected to the Red Ring in some way where they know her. But she is too central of a character to be the traitor, who would benefit from being a lot less obvious. To be surprising. In other words I do believe her character arc of wanting to become a hero and not knowing how/not feeling enough until Robert helps her is genuine.
5) I did not do the Blazer playthrough yet, but I expect a similar outcome tbh. Sure if I really wanted to I could claim she had ulterior motives when hiring Robert (other than dating him I guess). But the reason she wanted Robert on the team in the first place is because of Chase's recommendation. I don't really buy it.
6) Coupé and Sonar. Since the two have an optional presence I think it's unlikely for either of them to be the traitor. They also sort of swore loyalty to Robert in episode 5. When Visi marks the location on the wall, either of them are outside on the balkony. Sonar (who I now think didn't know Robert's identity until you tell them. I'll let yall know when that changes) was on the phone and has superhearing. But. Uhm. Again. He may not even be at the party. I am prepared to eat my words on that. I just don't think I'm wrong here.
7) similarly. I don't believe it's either Waterboy or Phenomaman. Waterboy being evil has until now been a joke. And while I can still see things go wrong, I don't think so. Once again their presence is optional and depends on your choices and the traitor has to be a fixed character. Also they have neither motive nor means.
This leads me to characters I think are unlikely to be the culprit
Malevola, Punch Up, Prism, Golem.
I just can't see a motive. For any of them. And for some of them I can't picture the means either.
Prism was filming the fight between Visi and Chase, but that's about it. She doesn't show any behaviour that makes her suspicious to me (loved the her in the bar fight btw. And yes, I've decided I like her outfit the best.)
Golem? He does prevent Robert from being killed by Flambae, which doesn't mean he couldn't have done that to not ruin his chances of geting the Pulse, but... Come on. I mean come on. Besides asspulling some bullshit by getting into golem lore there's nothing there.
Same with Punch Up. Like what's the motive exactly. And once again he's not smart enough to be that deceptive.
Malevola is smarter, but same as the others. Lack of motive. Sure she was among the first to arrive for the housewarming party (i live for the lamp joke).
Which leads me to
Most likely culprit. No joke.
Royd.
Okay there, Mr "Everyone knows about the Pulse"
Mr "I knew your father"
Mr "knows details about the Astral Pulse"
Mr "came in through the Phoenix Program" (like. His dialogue implies the Phoenix Program has been a thing for over 15 years, but overall it seems rather new. What do you mean they've been reforming villains successfully for well over a decade and they're fucking it up just now and are just now about to fuck it up?)
So the alibi: he's standing right behind Visi ans Robert when they draw on the wall. He did go over to the computer to look up that warehouses security. He may have send a message to Shroud/the Red Ring at any time. Which also covers the means.
Motive: Robbie put him in jail. For how long? Who knows. Royd is smart (gearhead and science nerd). Who's to say he didn't meet Shroud in prison?
He's also way interested in the astral pulse. Just like Shroud.
The Pulse wasn't created by Robbie alone (no blue prints.) and it wasn't created by Shroud (otherwise he'd make one himself and not bother looking for the old one)
Royd may have been tasked with rebuilding Mecha Man by SDN, but have yall noticed that Blonde Blazer is nowhere near Royd until the housewarming party? She also isn't the one to introduce the two. Royd introduces himself to Robert.
So here's what I think.
Royd was sent to jail by Robbie. There he met Shroud and learned about the Astral Pulse. He may have joined SDN through the Phoenix Peogram or he may have lied to Robert about that (no way to verify yet. No reliable cross-reference as far as I can tell), but he did join SDN as a mole. The pulse was presumed destroyed, Mecha Man retired publicly, Blonde Blazer hired him at SDN - perfect timing for Royd to find the Astral Pulse. But it's not there. They need to build a new one. Okay minor setback. They rebuild Mecha Man and at the same time Royd can test the Pulse out on functionality.
But he can't recreate it. Until the Z team comes up with a plan. The show is back on. They find it, Royd informes the Red Ring.
Badabing badaboom.
Mystery solved
-ish
Some of my math is missing factors here admittedly. But this is my call for the day.
Besides Royd is there and around, but not too obvious. I already pointed out that his distinct introduction is at least of note (to me). I can see a motive. He's smart enough to pull off a double cross so he has the means. And he was right fucking there. RIGHT THERE. Right behind Invisigal when she marked the location on the wall.
And he knew about the Astral Pulse. Even details Robert didn't know. How the fuck was I not more suspicious of that earlier. Like, I noticed. But come on, me.
I will replay with my other save file. I will replay several times. And I will reblog here if I see more evidence against or for Royd being the traitor. But this is my call for now.
While I do think it's Royd I don't want to forget to point out that it's convenient timing.
Robert reveals his identity to the Z Team, next shift it's all Red Ring shit (unless I've mixed up my timeline. In that case sorry. I have yet to replay)
It can also be seen as suspicious that Z Team was present during the Pulse Prototype test (which, since I didn't replay yet, I can only imagine none of them except Visi and Royd would be present for if Robert keeps his secret identity secret)
I feel the need to mention both of these things for completion sake, not because it makes me suspect Royd any less. Both points just seem like a choice based red herring right now.
