Who is Robert Robertson? Dispatch’s Mecha Man, explained

It’s common for superhero video games to star a character who is a power fantasy come to life. These range from godlike supermen who can crush steel with their bare hands to vigilantes who represent the peak of human potential, stalking evildoers at night. Dispatch is not one of those games, as it stars an office worker who has to direct other superheroes around. 

In Dispatch, Robert Robertson, formerly known as Mecha Man, is an SDN (Superhero Dispatch Network) agent who must mentor and guide the Z-Team as they try to help civilians in danger. While his current position might not be glamorous, it’s just the latest in his life, as he has a past full of intrigue and mystery. 

The Escapist recaps

• Robert Robertson is the protagonist of Dispatch, a game where you play as the dispatch agent for a superhero agency.
• Robertson is voiced by Aaron Paul, who is best known for portraying Jesse Pinkman in Breaking Bad. 
• Before the events of Dispatch, Robertson was a hero called Mecha Man, who fought crime in a giant robot suit. This is destroyed at the start of Episode 1. 
• He is currently keeping his identity as Mecha Man a secret from his team, though a few have already discovered his superhero identity. 

Robert Robertson before Dispatch

Dispatch’s Robert Robertson is a legacy superhero, which means he inherited the title from family members. The first Mecha Man (known as Mecha Man Prime) was also called Robert Robertson, and it’s hinted that he created the Astral Pulse, which is the device that powers the Mecha Man armor. 

The second Mecha Man was Robert’s father, and we know a bit more about him. Referred to as Mecha Man Astral, he was a member of the Brave Brigade. However, he was betrayed and killed by Shroud, a member of the Brave Brigade who became a villain. 

Following his father’s death, the current Mecha Man took up the mantle and became a superhero. It’s mentioned in the story that he had a run-in with Flambae, the fire-wielding former villain who is now part of the Z-Team, but the details of their fight are still unclear. However, Mecha Man was likely the one who caught him in the past.

At the start of Dispatch, Mecha Man finally tracks down Shroud, seeking revenge for his father’s death. However, he’s led into a trap, and the Mecha Man suit is nearly destroyed. He’s forced to flee, losing the Astral Pulse in the process, and putting him out of commission for months. Once he has healed, Robertson retires from active superhero duty, as the Mecha Man suit is destroyed beyond repair.  

Robert Robertson’s current situation in DIspatch

It’s unclear what Robertson would have done next, as he’s quickly drafted into the SDN. He’s hired by Blonde Blazer, a fellow superhero with whom he has an instant attraction. In exchange for becoming a dispatch agent, the SDN will attempt to fix the Mecha Man suit, something that’s currently beyond Robertson’s capabilities. 

However, Robertson isn’t given just any run-of-the-mill superhero team to manage, as he’s put in charge of The Phoenix Project, known informally as the Z-Team. These are former supervillains who have been offered a chance at redemption by becoming superheroes and helping those in need. Unfortunately, none of them are happy with the situation, which has led to infighting and bickering. 

In Dispatch, Robert Robertson quickly clashes with Invisigal, an abrasive superheroine with invisibility powers. This quickly evolves into a weird office romance, with Invisigal softening over time, and the two potentially becoming romantic partners. 

With his identity as Mecha Man kept a secret from the team, Robertson has to become a mentor to the Z-Team, helping them to reach their full potential. Unfortunately, he can’t save them all, and Episode 3 ends with the player needing to cut a team member.

Blonde Blazer is also still part of Robertson’s life. While she’s initially dating a hero named Phenomaman at the start of the game, she breaks up with him in Episode 3 and becomes a potential romantic option in Episode 4. 

What’s next for Robert Robertson in Dispatch?

There are still lingering questions about Robert Robertson in Dispatch that will hopefully be answered in future episodes. His main goal is still dealing with Shroud, who hasn’t been seen since Episode 1, and a rematch with the two will likely be the culmination of the story, possibly with more details about the Brave Brigade and the previous Mecha Man.

There’s also the question of the Astral Pulse, which went missing in Episode 1. Shroud was after this power source for reasons that have yet to be explained. Was Robertson telling the truth when he said it went missing, or did he hide it away, using the destruction of the Mecha Man suit to keep it out of Shroud’s hands? 

There’s also the love triangle with Robertson, Blonde Blazer, and Invisigal. Episode 4 lets Robertson date Blonde Blazer or Invisigal, and it’s unclear how these romances will play out. Will Mecha Man be able to find true love with one of the best girls, or is it all destined to go up in smoke? 

Then there’s the Z-Team itself, as Robertson still has a ton of work trying to forge them into a superhero team. There’s also the member he cut in Episode 3, who may return for revenge? Flambae might also seek vengeance for whatever happened during his previous run-in with Mecha Man. 

Robert Robertson might not be a genius or a Kryptonian, but he has the heart of a hero, as seen in Episode 1, when he tackles a gang of thugs on his own, despite being grievously injured. Dispatch is a story about superheroes shown from the perspective of an office worker from behind the scenes, and it’s his down-to-earth take that’s needed to make the audience care. Whether that’s enough to help him survive the rest of the story remains to be seen. 

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