Despelote

"This is Despelote&s;s most glaring weakness and its highest strength. It&s;s ability to ferry you to another place and time, if only to experience what it was like living during the Ecuadoran hype of the World Cup. To help you …"

"Despelote is far from being a title that draws attention for its gameplay or challenge. It comes with a very different proposal for a very specific audience, but that does not diminish the credit of its experience. For those who …"

"Despelote beautifully captures the mundane but rich childhood experience of play and sport through its gentle slice-of-life narrative. Via its stellar first-person soccer mechanics, intimate scope, and outstanding hand-made visual stylings, it succeeds at capturing a personal autobiographical sense of …"

"Despelote&s;s creators tell a remarkable, pseudo-autobiographical tale about football, Ecuador, and community - but also one about the act of remembering, and the creative act itself."

"despelote is a chill experience, and chill can mean a lot of things. It can be good, it can be bad, and it can be boring. There’ll be plenty of times in life you’ll be chilling with people you don’t …"

"Despelote is a title with a sure aesthetic feel but which, in other areas, is too uncertain, imprecise, and directionless. The lack of an incisive narrative and a central mechanic that is scarcely enjoyable even in the short term are …"

"Despelote is a very unique narrative that appropriates the language of the video game world to write a poem to childhood. Personally, I believe that those of us who grew up playing video games are gradually connecting much more with …"

"It is a story full of love and poetry, which brings into play the point of view of an inanimate object, that ball which is the true protagonist of the story , to which we constantly return throughout the story. …"

"Despelote is, above all, the struggle of a people. Of people who, even in the face of adversity, carry on with pride in their country. Who found refuge in football, and who over the years embraced not only the British …"

"Despelote is one of the year’s most fascinating indie games, one I can recommend without much hesitation."

"Warning: despelote may cause unexpected feelings… from a soccer game. Yes, seriously. It’s like Field of Dreams had a baby with a soccer ball and a warm empanada."

"Despelote is a game that offers a piece of life to the player. And as a player we become aware that the only game in Despelote is the “Fifa” that we sometimes play on the family TV (and the only …"

"Despelote is a nostalgic first-person exploration of childhood, time, and play. This short story is emotionally gripping while the playstyle of kicking soccer balls and listening to conversations is relaxed and contemplative. Despelote will capture the hearts of many, in …"

"A touching tribute to soccer, as well as childhood and some adversity, that is let down by poor mechanics"

"Apropos its soccer-themed subject matter, Despelote pulls off an impressive hat trick: successfully fusing unique aesthetic, narrative, &a; mechanical decisions with an assured vision."

"despelote is more than just a simple game, it&s;s a beautiful and interactive presentation of a people who have been incorporating football into their culture. With a great pace and extremely well done dialogues, the game keeps your attention and …"

"Despelote is not awful… it’s just very confusing. I appreciate the interesting premise and presentation, but it’s just somewhat devoid of elements that make it a proper “game”. Even the football-related gameplay (or what little of it is present) feels …"

"Like the drive back home from an away day loss, you’re left wondering: what was the point? Despelote laudably captures the emotion surrounding Ecuador’s qualification for the 2002 FIFA World Cup, but it struggles to craft a satisfying video game …"

"despelote is a work with a strong cultural identity, which aims to tell a personal and meaningful story through video games. However, by prioritizing its documentary aesthetic, the title compromises the gameplay and doesn&s;t deliver a satisfactory interactive experience."

"Despelote might not make a great first impression, as its gameplay and aesthetics aren&s;t the most eye-catching. However, its premise of being almost a historical archive of Ecuador and a love letter to football and the sport&s;s influence on a …"

"A beautiful portrait of a 2001 neighborhood in Quito, Ecuador, taking advantage of the deep personal connections the gaming medium is best for, despelote seamlessly imprints itself on the player&s;s mind."

"Despelote is a moving and masterfully rendered game about soccer, growing up, and so much more."

"Despelote is a fascinating experience. It plays like an interactive documentary, and it feels like a true depiction of a place and time I&s;ve never experienced but feel like I can somewhat understand now. As I look back on that …"

"Despelote was a bit of a personal one for me, and I can see why some players may not love it due to it being a walking simulator where you kick a ball around. But for anyone willing to give …"

"“Despelote” is a wonderful game that can convey in just a couple of hours what triple-A titles with mammoth developments are incapable of offering. Ultimately, “Despelote” is like the soccer in this story it tells so well: an island of …"

"despelote is a short game that might only take two or three hours but it’s worth every second. It’s a very charming game that only costs $14.99, so it’s worth a buy."

"Despelote tells a familiar story that is the reality for a lot of South American countries: economic unrest, unstable governments, political coups and violent grabs for power. But you still keep going. You still go to school, go to work, …"

"Despelote is a unique documentary around Ecuador and the country’s newfound obsession with soccer in the early 2000s, but it sometimes misses the goal of being an entertaining game. Definitely worth playing, but more so as education than entertainment."

"A very simple and short game that features a highly nostalgic and creative visual style, along with a storyline that, while rooted in its country of origin, captures the essence of childhood and the magic of football in an almost …"

"With its distinctive presentation and light-touch mechanics, Despelote builds a mesmerising feeling of a community brought together by a fleeting football obsession. The historic moment of Ecuador&s;s journey towards World Cup qualification grounds the story in time and place, perfectly …"

"Despelote is a reminder that video games are so important to the medium of storytelling. Through gorgeous visuals and a story is elation and excitement, this unique experiences manages to keep you engaged and uplifted throughout. It won&s;t be for …"

"Despelote is a great autobiographical narrative that will likely strike a chord with you if you grew up watching events such as the World Cup. While the repetitive gameplay and strange controls are frustrating, the presentation, story premise, and charming …"

"Despelote is a short narrative adventure told through the eyes of an eight-year-old boy, as he goes through life while the nation around comes to grips with finally seeing a major sports dream become reality for the first-time in Ecuador&s;s …"

"In the core, it&s;s a short sketch of happy childhood memories, a slice-of-life video game, but somehow it manages to take a place in the heart - and make heart warmer."