After my short break, here's some thoughts on
Dispatch episodes 3 and 4
before the next two episodes are released.
Once again, this is going to be less organised and mostly focussing on the big choices but I'll also throw in some more general shit. so without much further ado:
let me start by mentioning that I think it was a fun idea to cut someone from the team narrative wise.
I chose to keep Coupé in the team. Not necessarily because I dislike Sonar (ftr, I think he's a creep of a character). Not even because I think either of them would be less of an issue when not employed by the SDN - Sonar got high during the possibly-last shift and Coupé would work for anyone who pays her and has a gambling addiction according to Punch Up. Honestly, I just think it could be potentially more interesting having Sonar as an enemy. Nothing against MoistCr1TiKaL (I do have another save file where I kept Sonar on the team). Staying on good terms with Malevola is probably more useful too. But we'll see. For now I stick by what I did.
As per my previous Phenomaman post - I have fully come around. Well, to be more precise, I do believe that either, Phenomaman and Waterboy, are for now good people. I am also currently convinced that how either of their arc will proceed depends on Roberts guidance in the following episodes and our choices.
Phenomaman is a powerful superhero in his own right, but is depressed and confused. He is in episode 3 and 4 very depressed. I also think he has a chance to learn from Robert how to understand humans better. From that understanding he may become the best of humanity or the worst.
Waterboy (he lives with his grandma for anyone who missed looking into his personal file during the dispatch shift) is very nervous and as Robert points out lacks confidence. Let me mention here that as much as I enjoy Phenomaman (my heart hurts. they ignored him when he praised their shift I am on the floor since last Thursday and have not gotten up ouch my heart) I picked Waterboy for my main playthrough. If we're looking at potential, he has so much of it. I believe he has the potential to become one of the most powerful superheroes. Buuuut. That's the thing with confidence. It can be healthy, and it can be toxic. Again, I think which way the coin lands is in our hands as the players.
And I to quickly point out my "Waterboy may be/turn evil" agenda: don't think I didn't notice him hanging around places. Boy, you're not the janitor anymore, why are you cleaning the windows after the work day is over? It's so unlikely that I can't help but be ever so slightly suspicious heh (this is still mostly a joke btw).
Did you expect me to get into the Visi/BB choice? Hah, nope. This is my blog and this is where I explain that I threw the noodles instead of the protein shake. Protein shake has a fun outcome too for now, but throwing the noodles is just better, especially because of Blazer's reaction.
4 Is it a date (probably not)
Coming right out here - I chose to see a movie with Invisigal. Mostly because it seems like the least romantic choice to me. Having played both options, I do feel bad about leaving Blonde Blazer hanging (she clearly prepared the thing, and was really nervous about revealing her identity, which btw ma'am you talked it up like you were about to turn into an ogre ffs). But that choice feels a lot more obviously romantic and I am really trying to avoid that from my main playthrough tbh. Also dating your boss? Right after she ended a previous relationship? Eehhh... I don't think so...
Now Invisigal. Generally not into all the sexual harassment (Royd is so right about that. Man's got work to do and it's very inappropriate). I will still say that no matter the replies you can choose for Robert (and I think everything he can respond with is in character) he can handle it well enough I guess? I prefer to pick choices where he pushes back against it. And I do still think the two can be good friends.
I am also convinced that no matter what you choose, Visi wanted Robert to hang out with her (going to the cinema while on the clock, when the day prior she went off and Robert noticed. Just saying, it's a less than subtle way of asking to be acknowledged. Like how she looks visibly disappointed when Robert chooses to instead have dinner with BB? Okay there, stray cat type character who was "raised around shitty villains" and most likely doesn't know how to have healthy relationships with people.)
In addition to that here's a few more thoughts about Blonde Blazer and Invisigal in general.
As mentioned in my previous post on BB, I do think she is very privileged. I also think it's that privilege that makes her incomparable to Invisigal, with whom you don't even have to read that far between the lines to understand that she probably didn't have the best start in life.
However, Blonde Blazer's privilege is, as can be seen at the end of episode 4, also sort of a prison. I don't think being two inches shorter and having brown hair is a big deal (and admittedly I did also watch She-Ra), but it is evidently a source of insecurity for Mandy. Just goes to show that even someone who is technically practically perfect in the eyes of society can still be kept down in one way or another. I hope yall can understand what I mean with that, because people only see the superhero, not the woman she is beyond that.
Invisigal talks about her insecurities in episode 3 more as well. Her insecurities stem from feeling worse than others. She has, as she claims, villain powers. And that is, honestly, a sad admission.
Anyway, I would like to learn more about both of their backstories. Actually I would like to learn about everyone's backstories.
okay so part of the team knows Robert is Mecha Man (Visi, Waterboy, maybe Sonar? potentially?) and the rest definitely know that Robert used to be a hero at the very least. Good. Fantastic. Can't wait for that to become obvious
I love Royd so much. Not my official fave, but he is very high up that list
Unlike my first impression, the Phoenix Program was established a long time before, since Royd joined SDN through the Phoneix Program, which was at least 15 years ago when Robert's father was still alive and Mecha Man.
Chase and Beef are my favourite team. Holding the Beef wouldn't just help, it would fix me and all my life problems I am sure. But the Beef is the most powerful character in the universe, don't even think about arguing against that
you can tell the exact moment Invisigal sneaks into the meeting with the Z team (the Beef is allsmelling)
I kicked Golem out once. Never again. I felt very bad. Robert even closes the blinds. I wanted to see what would happen. Just offer him the chair. It's the better option.
So Flambae is on the top of the Z team ranking huh? Either he is secretly just that competent (and look, I'm not saying it's that unlikely), but Sonar does point ouot that Flambae is very good at containing fires. Almost like he's psychically predicting where they'll happen... which is i n t e r e s t i n g. Oh and do I sense some claustrophobia?
Baby Kiaju. That's all I'm saying
The sabotage game they all play (which I do believe got started by Coupé and was encouraged with her little comment after the second sabotage during that shift) is soooo annoying. No, I'm not just saying that because I have no way of getting Malevola out of that thing safely when she gets swarmed by cultists.
I still have no idea how according to the stats only 1% of players helped Invisigal against Lightningstruck, and warned Blonded Blazer about the dress. I hope it's a bug
People are being way weird about the intro to episode 4. It's an 18+ game and not because of excessive gore. We should all be adults. Can we collectively chill please?
While we're at it, the censorship option makes things a lot worse imo. The black bar is so out of place and very much calls attention to itself. Probably an option for streamers and shit, just like the music replacement, but uhm... yeah... it's a bit counterproductive in my honest opinion.
what exactly was Lightningstruck even doing? He's just running around robbing random places then? He is still Shroud affiliated and wears Shroud's enhancements. But I do wonder now what exactly his deal was
The general timeline is getting clearer for me. So Robert wasn't in a coma for 4 months. He was still in a coma, but for a much shorter time. Then he collected the pieces of the Mecha Man suit and brought them into his apartment over 4 days when he noticed the Astral Pulse was missing and began looking for it for several weeks. Like I suspected the Astral Pulse was not built by Robbie, so after some time when Robert tried fixing the suit again, he gave up. Then the press conference happened and then he got hired by SDN
While we're talking Astral Pulse, a friend I replayed the game with pointed out that the energy cell in Lightningstruck's backpack reminded him of the Astral Pulse, just a lot less stable looking.
Golem technically calls Lightningstruck Thundercuck first if you send him on the mission during the second shift. He also calls him Thundercuck in the background after Visi brings him in. (and personally I like my description of his weapon as mittens better than bangles)
Oh and before I forget. I have trouble seeing Phenomaman as autistic. He is an alien. And he is autistic coded, sure. But being autistic it rubs me the wrong way to call the alien character neurodivergent. For all we know he behaves typical for his species. If I had to headcanon any character as autistic it'd be Coupé (but she cheered for Invisigal!).
Now if yall will excuse me. I need to restart my Steam in a minute so I can play the next two episodes.
I hope yall will have as much fun as me 🌻
