I am about an hour in, and have just passed my recruitment test for a job at the Superhero Dispatch Network, which does exactly what it says. As a Dispatcher I will be assigning superheros to respond to the requests from the public for a vast array of assistance.

You play Robert Robertson, excellently voiced by Aaron Paul (Breaking Bad), and how he ended up here is something you can find out over the course of the hour. Suffice to saythe superhero business is in Robert's family.

First impressions are all extremely positive. Every element - voice acting, animation, writing, music etc., - is top-notch. It all comes together to produce what feels like a high-quality episode of TV animation (think Invincible, which I was reminded of in more ways than one).

Indeed, it could be described on the basis of what I have played so far as an interactive piece of television.

How interactive will depend a bit upon you. You can choose to turn-off quicktime events, which to date have been present in the various battles I have found myself in. Clicking at the appropriate time, mimicking some actions with the mouse; they enable you to participate in what is on-screen, but near as I can tell won't determine the outcome in terms of whether you succeed or fail. So turn them off if you prefer, and just let the animated mayhem play out in front of you.

There is also a hacking mini-game, of which I have encountered one to date so my impressions are based on a very small sample size. It wasn't hard, and you can also give yourself unlimited attempts in the menu. I assume this means that e.g., time limits and errors don't apply, and that the challenge will ramp up. Whether there are negative consequences possibly arising remains to be seen.

Then there is the dispatch, where you assign heroes based on their personal characteristics best suited to the job at hand. It plays out in real time - the phone is constantly ringing, the competing public demands ebb and flow, and the various HR requirments of shuffling and managing a roster (rest is a key one) are ever present. I envisage this will be the heart of things, and I can apparently upgrade skills and unlock abilities as I go. I have some work to do though in order to best master the interface.

Finally, you choose dialogue and make action choices as you go. As the Steam page says, "Every decision you make influences the unfolding narrative. From banter in the breakroom to life-or-death situations in the field, your choices affect your relationships with the heroes, their allegiances, and the path your own story takes."

It plays with a combination of mouse and keyboard and exclusively autosaves to a single save point.

So far so very good.

Thanks for your thoughts on the game, flotsam!

Thank you Drac!

Ana

Thank you very much for the first look, flotsam! My son played this game and enjoyed it.

And thank you for your help, Drac.

Thanks flotsam (and Drac)!

Thanks for your "first look" flotsam !! 👍

[And thank you, too, Draclvr.]