PC Critic Reviews

Despelote'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 moving and masterfully rendered game about soccer, growing up, and so much more.

This is fascinating, formally daring stuff that, in its two-hour playtime, asks more questions about the nature of memory, simulation and identity than a dozen 100-hour epics.

Despelote is yet another juicy example of the ability of hyper specific stories to unlock universally human feelings, rather than the often misguided attempts to generalise settings and identities to reach more people. I want more games like this, and thankfully smart companies like Panic keep publishing them.

When those big swings connect, just as when we manage to knock several bottles off a wall with a single shot, Despelote offers an exhilarating reminder of the narrative ground games have yet to cover. [Issue#410, p.120]

Despolote 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't be for everyone, but if you're a player that loves to find greatness in independent games, you're going to feel like you've scored a hat-trick with this one.

A silent gem. A tribute to soccer, yes, but above all to childhood, community and memory. Of course, it is not a game for everyone, as it requires patience, sensitivity and a willingness to be carried away by nostalgia, but whoever connects with its proposal will find one of the most moving experiences of the year. For those of us who believe that videogames can be art, Despelote is a confirmation. And a celebration.

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 it a chance, you’ll find a snippet of pure sentiment to engage with as you put on the shoes of its developer. You see Ecuador for its authentic self as a child and witness a moment that you probably never batted an eye at before. But you leave with a fuzzy feeling, wanting to reminisce about your own memories you had as a child.

Despelote is an interactive documentary about a country, a sport, and a life. It tells the story of Ecuador as it strives for its first-ever qualification for the FIFA World Cup. Julian Cordero narrates the story of Quito, the city where he was born, and the summer of 2001, when everyone became part of a collective experience that carried the Ecuadorian national team to the world stage. It was a moment that transformed football from a quiet backdrop in children’s lives into the main character in the lives of adults. It’s a sincere, delicate work, one that’s hard not to be moved by, even (and especially) if you’re not a football fan.

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