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What Despelote's developers have to say about their memories specifically - and the creative sacrifices they might have made, and the new frontiers that took them to - is worth waiting to discover yourself, but the end result is utterly unique. A kind of hybrid crossing of autobiographical documentary with fantasy retelling. A world where Cordero's ideal childhood - and ideal family, neighbourhood, and nation - are layered over the real ones (even down to the telling omniscience of its characters; how do these people know Ecuador is on the edge of a shock World Cup qualification, after all, when it still has five points left to win from matches against the likes of Argentina and Columbia?).

Ecuador did not win the 2002 World Cup. They didn’t even make it out of the group stage. But for a short time, football was all that mattered. And in the brief time that it will take you to complete Despelote, it’s all that will matter to you too.

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

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 this type of narrative that puts us in a contemplative place. A place that invites us to rediscover ourselves and be amazed by the encounter with those things that we had long since given up for lost.

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 similar ways to how soccer did for the people and communities of Quito in the early 2000s. An artful experience that made me feel sad, hopeful, and achingly human.

Una historia contada con la sencillez e insignificancia con la que contaríamos una anécdota de niñez y plasmada en el control con la misma maestría. Correr por las calles y patear “lo que sea” es fiel reflejo de la sencillez con la que la nostalgia nos recuerda lo “fácil” que era todo de niños. Y esa misma simpleza esta plasmada en nuestro game pad con tan solo dos botones y el stick de control. Una nostalgia que también se plasma en un apartado gráfico haciendo que todo se vea distinto, difuminado por la niebla del recuerdo y en donde todo es más irreal de lo que seguro era entonces.  Elementos simples con los que recorrer todos lo rincones de nuestro barrio, jugar con los amigos, ir a clase, hacer pellas o simplemente pasear mientras hacemos tiempo para que nos recojan del parque. Una vida sencilla rodeada de una realidad que nos era tan ajena como complicada.

Despelote es un videojuego muy potente que nos permite revivir los recuerdos de una infancia ajena. Lo consigue desde su apartado artístico, mezclando recuerdos abstractos representados a través de la estética 1-bit con destellos blancos con los que podemos interactuar. También con su ritmo, permitiéndonos viajar a través de fotografías interactivas que reflejan momentos salpicados de la niñez del protagonista. Todo esto lo hace además enmarcándose en un contexto histórico cercano, pero con mucho peso, mirado desde un costumbrismo y una cotidianidad que se ven reforzadas por una interpretación de voz impecablemente natural. Es un juego atrevido y original, con una honestidad autobiográfica que lamentablemente vemos poco en proyectos de mayor escala y con unas ideas artísticas a la vanguardia del videojuego.

Jugar como el pequeño Julián lleno de ganas de jugar al fútbol me ha hecho pensar que, quizá, jugar es volver a ser un niño y preguntarse «¿Qué pasa si le doy con el balón a esto? ¿se romperá?» o «¿Habrán planeado qué pasará si me escapo de aquí?». Por suerte, como la vida, Despelote siempre trae una respuesta.

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.

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.

In the core, it'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.

Despelote  es un juego que ofrece un trozo de vida al jugador. Y como jugador tomamos conciencia de que el único juego que hay en Despelote es el “Fifa” que a veces jugamos en la tele de la familia(y lo único que tiene logros). Es un Walking simulator de un niño pero no es infantil. En dos horas ofrece clase de narrativa impresionante que no es para todos, porque se aleja de lo tradicional que se considera un videojuego. Pero no puede haber un mejor medio para expresar lo que pretende.

Tal vez describir despelote como 'jugar dentro de nuestros recuerdos infantiles' no sea realmente acertado ni seguramente apropiado. Aunque sí hay algo de eso, y realmente de muchas más cosas. El director del juego se traslada al joven muchacho que vivirá durante varios meses uno de los fenómenos sociales de la historia de Ecuador, sin pretender calcar momentos personales sino saber usarlos y proyectar alrededor de ellos. Seas de donde seas, despelote muestra capas y facetas que te permitirán entrar en él, añadiendo que los hispanohablantes deberíamos tener un puntito adicional con los lazos que nos unen a través de continentes.

Despelote è un documentario interattivo su un Paese, su uno sport, su una vita. È la storia dell'Ecuador alle prese con la sua prima qualificazione a un mondiale di calcio. Julian Cordero racconta Quito, la città in cui è nato, e l'estate del 2001, quando tutti erano parte di un evento collettivo che ha portato la nazionale ecuadoriana tra i campioni, e ha trasformato lo sport non più in una presenza sussurrata nella vita dei bambini, ma nel protagonista assoluto delle giornate dei grandi. È un'opera sincera, delicata, con cui è difficile non emozionarsi. Anche e soprattutto se non si ama il calcio.

Despelote is far more than a football video game. It is a profound and human narrative experience-a heartfelt portrait of a childhood that feels both distant and universally familiar, an ode to the strength of community and to the power of sport to forge bonds, meaning, and hope. It invites us to see the world anew-or rather, through the eyes of a child-and to recognize, in the simplest of gestures, the enduring possibility of telling stories that belong to all of us.

Whether or not you're a football fan, Despelote has a lot to say about the sport, its fans, and the impact it has on them, and much of it is worth listening to.

Despelote is an emotional leap into childhood, among soccer balls, dreams and nostalgia. As little Julián, we relive the excitement of 2001 in Quito as Ecuador, in the midst of an economic crisis, dreams of World Cup qualification. The game blends deliberately retro digital photography, hand drawings, and ambient sound design to render a touching and well-directed autobiographical tale. Part of the gameplay includes Tino Tini's Soccer 99, a purposefully crude demake of Kick Off that perfectly reflects the nostalgic and messy tone of childhood. It lasts a bare couple of hours, but will stay with you much longer.

Despelote se convierte en un retrato de la cultura de un país que se alegró por un mundial, pero que tuvo que convivir con otras realidades fuera de eso. No es un título que divierta por su jugabilidad, sino que busca jugar con ese bichito nostálgico y la experiencia tan realista que muchos hemos vivido de pequeños (y adolescentes).

En definitiva, Despelote es una muy bella aventura gráfica con una duración menor a dos horas por lo que es una gran recomendación para todos aquellos que quieran experimentar una historia muy emotiva y contada de una manera muy creativa.

À mi-chemin entre le jeu et le récit autobiographique interactif, Despelote est une expérience aussi courte que captivante sur l'insousciance de l'enfance. Mais c'est aussi un solide exposé de la place vitale que le football occupe pour toute une société et dans toutes ses formes. Des discussions de comptoir, aux personnes regardant les matchs sur les télés dans les vitrines des magasins en passant par les mariés forcés de mettre une télé dans la salle des fêtes, le foot est partout.

You’re presumably capable of kicking the ball and hitting a bottle perched on a fence post, but it feels apt that you miss time and time again, until one of the other, better kids steps in to take the shot and does what you can’t. At which point, you keep at it, because the world goes on.

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 sport, but many other passions. Even though it took place in Ecuador, the game brought me nostalgia. Latin American experiences are shared – after all, who has never heard an old man complain that you are playing football in the street? Although it is not a perfect experience, Despelote was certainly one of the most memorable I have had in recent times, leaving me slightly emotional at the end. Long live football!

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 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 Ecuador and the quietly affecting experiences of youth.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

Despelote es, sin exagerar, una de las experiencias interactivas más sinceras, auténticas y artísticamente valiosas que he tenido el placer de jugar recientemente. No es un videojuego en el sentido clásico de desafío mecánico o narrativa lineal compleja, sino una experiencia sensorial y emocional condensada que utiliza el medio para evocar la poderosa sensación de la infancia y explorar la naturaleza de la memoria.

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't deliver a satisfactory interactive experience.

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 clunky and shallow. I also think the story could have been more focused on the innocence and lack of urgency in the life of a child – it would have made it a lot more relatable. Maybe turning this autobiographical tale into a game wasn’t the best idea, as an experimental animation featuring the exact same art style would have made it stand out even more.

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 about it.