Do you necessarily need superpowers to be a hero? Or is it not the powers a person possesses, but the decisions they make and the responsibility they carry that make them a hero? The game approaches this question from within the superhero genre itself.
In the game, Robert Robertson, also known as Mecha Man, finds himself in a completely different situation after losing his robotic armor. He can no longer operate on the battlefield as he once did and tries to continue his heroism through decision-making and managing others, via dispatching. However, this change calls his identity into question: if the main trait that makes someone a hero is taken away, are they still considered a hero?
Following this incident, Robert is assigned by Blonde Blazer as a dispatcher to the “Superhero Dispatch Network” to reintegrate the Z-Team, made up of former criminals, into society and manage them. One important aspect of Robert’s story is that he does not possess superpowers. It is his mechanical armor that gives him his Mecha Man identity. Nevertheless, he is recognized as a hero. This detail allows us to view the concept of heroism from another perspective. If Robert protects others through technology, engineering, and his own skills, what difference does it make that he does not have superpowers? In real life, not everyone who saves people possesses extraordinary abilities. Sometimes making the right decision in the face of danger is more important than physical strength.
The thing is, Robert is not only dealing with the loss of his armor, but also struggling with his past, his failure, and his father’s desire for revenge. He was also working toward taking revenge on the villain named Shroud, who killed his father. One of the main problems facing him is not appearing powerful again, but finding himself again after the defeat he experienced. From this perspective, weakness is not the opposite of heroism. A person may be afraid, make mistakes, and lose confidence. The important thing is not to let any of these define their identity. Robert’s story shows that a person’s worth should not be measured only by the moments when they win.
As I mentioned above, the Z-Team led by Robert consists of former criminals. Each of them differs from conventional superheroes through their flaws, problems, and wrong choices. Robert’s job is not only to manage them, but also to give them the opportunity to change. Here, the game raises another important question: do the mistakes a person made in the past determine who they can become in the future? Giving someone the opportunity to change may be naive, but judging everyone by their past is not fair either. Heroism sometimes means seeing the goodness within someone else and giving them the chance to prove it.
Being powerful gives a person various opportunities, but how they use those opportunities is their responsibility. What matters in Robert’s story is not only whether he puts the Mecha Man suit back on, but also how he chooses to be a person in difficult situations.
Ultimately, can someone without superpowers be considered a hero? Yes. Because heroism is not determined by how powerful a person is, but by what they do even when they lack the strength, feel afraid, or have been defeated. Dispatch reminds us that you do not always have to be the most powerful person in the world to save it. Sometimes, taking responsibility, helping others, and choosing what is right despite difficulties is enough.
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