DeVuego LATAM

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 journey towards World Cup qualification grounds the story in time and place, perfectly capturing the author's salad days. Whether you play, watch, or avoid football, this is a beautifully-told story you can enjoy.

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 history. The autobiographical tale gives players the freedom to tailor Julian's memories of this momentous time. Encouraging exploration through the joy of kicking a ball. Although the story itself may not resonate with everyone, the way you experience those two hours is in of itself special.

Despelote might not make a great first impression, as its gameplay and aesthetics aren'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 influence on a people's struggle might end up surprising many people. Even though the title refers to a specific country on a continent as large as South America, this experience should resonate with any Latin American, as I myself felt nostalgic with the scenarios and situations of this world. Even if it's not a perfect narrative, it's still one of those games worth trying.

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.

This is Despelote's most glaring weakness and its highest strength. It'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 understand why Soccer and sports in general, really traverse cultural barriers and bring people together. United in a search for representation.

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 moments are more than enough to immerse you in a specific and unique era in history. Plus, with the short runtime and small price, if you like short and sweet games and have a passion for football/soccer, then this is a must-buy.