The job of a delivery worker is simple, you take the gift and deliver it through the deadly tombs, the lethal caves and the malignant crypts, all in an effort to complete your next Dungeon Dispatch.
Most of us have played games where we’re a plucky little guy who spends an incredible amount of the time delivering items from point A to B, all while apparently saving the world. Well, Dungeon Dispatch takes that formula and mixes it up a bit; Putting you in the shoes of a delivery worker who is attempting to build a delivery tycoon — it’s just that they might just end up saving the world on the way.
That’s not to say that the entire twist is a reversal of priorities. Namson Digital‘s little title actually does quite a few clever things, which were already working quite well in the vertical slice that I played while at Devcom (now Gamescom Dev) earlier in the year.
For a start, backpack management — that survival horror staple — is in, and it’s something that ties intrinsically to the crafting system that runs throughout. Dungeon Dispatch almost takes joy in its awkward shaped parcels and loot. The layout puzzle element doesn’t end there though, it’s also knotted up with dungeon progress in an incredibly cool way.
The slotting system is integral to passing doors and unlocking pathways. Some might require you to fill an exact shape with items, others might require you to match quantities or item types, others might give you a riddle where the item (in a shape) is the key. It’s actually absolutely ridiculous to me that this is the first time I’ve seen this mechanic in a game, and it feels so natural to adventure games, especially ones with tight inventories like this. It was instantly refreshing and kept me playing the demo long after I would have normally stepped away to find the next game to play.
Another thing that’s novel, albeit maybe less innovative, is the modern-day setting. Much like games like Earthbound, the weapons that you’ll be using are real-world ones, which juxtapose with the odd enemies that you are fighting against. Similarly, Dungeon Dispatch doesn’t concern itself with being serious, with goofy puns and joke names throughout — and your mobile phone working as a storage place for your recipes.
As Dungeon Dispatch is incredibly early in development, I can’t point you in the direction of a storefront or anything, however if you’re interested in following the development, it can’t hurt to check out the developer’s site.
