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despelote Review

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An Ecuadorian Football Dreamscape

Football has always been in my blood. It’s something I hate at times, loving at others. It’s a game that has defined moments of my life, especially when growing up. It’s a powerful drug of a game in which the highs and lows will grab you, turning your life upside down if you let it. 

despelote is a game about football, about life and about a young child living in Ecuador in the early 2000s. But it’s also about memories and the creation of the game you are playing. I loved it and here’s why.

despelote review 1
Shoot, score.

Uniqueness Defined: A Hard-to-Explain Masterpiece

despelote is such an original game and, at times, a hard one to explain, which makes its uniqueness all the more impressive. 

It is set in Quito, Ecuador, in 2001. You play 8-year-old Julian, who at the start of the game is playing an equivalent of Sensible Soccer on his console; neatly, you get to play this old style of game of football as well. 

You find yourself looking through his eyes, taking in his family, his friends, and all the local residents of the park outside his building. From there, it moves through time, and we see Julian older, enjoying parties, and working as the narrator himself; the game maker talking about his life and the game itself. 

Weaving Through Time

At the same time, we have the World Cup qualifiers in 2001 – Ecuador’s first real chance of getting to the World Cup. You feel the nation talking about this possible achievement, and also at the same time, you get an understanding of the political and economic situation of Ecuador at that moment in time. The writing and how the story weaves in and out, is a masterclass in storytelling. It makes me feel emotional for so many reasons, drawing on feelings that I didn’t know existed. It’s a clever grown-up game, and for that it must be applauded.  

despelote review 3
It’s not just about football

First-Person Footy

The gameplay takes place in the first person, through the eyes of the child with a little pair of hands. You do a mixture of things, from playing football with friends on a console to exploring the wider world, keeping an eye on the time so as not to get in trouble with your mum.

There are a myriad of mini games to enjoy too, with things like Hide and Seek with your sister, drawing on a misty car window, and trying to burst a balloon at the family dinner. It’s subtle and fun to play throughout the world, even though at times you might feel a bit lost. You can talk to people and interact with objects you find along the way. 

Scanned Reality

The visuals see despelote use a mixture of animated hand-drawn characters and this strange effect where photos, and people at times, are scanned into the game engine in certain situations. There are a couple of sections when it becomes strangely dream-like, for example, a liminal space with endless dropping footballs or an actual scan of the park and surrounding areas. 

Then, on top of that, is footage of the football games shown on TV screens around the neighbourhood. There are other bits like a clip of a film, which was the first Ecuadorian movie to enter a film festival in 1999, and a segment of a race walker winning a gold medal.

The soundtrack is excellent; full of life and effects. Music from the country and of that time comes in and out, as does some brilliant voice work that feels like the most natural reading, perfectly capturing the realistic nature of friends chatting away. In a world, those parts of despelote are nothing but superb. 

despelote review 2
A unique tale

A Moving and Unique Tale of Football and Humanity

despelote is a short game, running just a few hours, but it’s a perfect length. It tells an amazing story full of biographical, personal, and larger historical worth. The gameplay is excellent too, complete with plenty of clever little tricks and mini-games. But mostly it’s a game that delivers a wonderfully moving story, and you won’t even have to like football to love it.  

despelote is a game about coming together, a love of your community, of family, and of being human. That can’t be a bad thing, can it?


More Than a Game: Slice-of-Life Soccer Adventure despelote Shoots and Scores – https://www.thexboxhub.com/more-than-a-game-slice-of-life-soccer-adventure-despelote-shoots-and-scores/

Rooted in Ecuadorian culture, despelote is a soccer game about people – https://www.thexboxhub.com/rooted-in-ecuadorian-culture-despelote-is-a-soccer-game-about-people/

15 NEW Xbox Games Due to Release in May 2025 That Will BLOW YOUR MIND! – https://www.thexboxhub.com/15-new-xbox-games-due-to-release-in-may-2025-that-will-blow-your-mind/

buy despelote on Xbox – https://www.xbox.com/en-gb/games/store/despelote/9pcs3q4jscvv?


SUMMARY

Pros:
  • Brilliant story
  • Wonderful voice work
  • Great visuals
  • Clever gameplay
Cons:
  • Non-linear narrative may confuse
Info:
  • Massive thanks for the free copy of the game, Panic
  • Formats - Xbox Series X|S (review), PS5, PS4, PC
  • Not Available on Game Pass Day One
  • Not Xbox Play Anywhere Enabled
  • Release date | Price - 1 May 2025 | £11.99
Gareth Brierley
Gareth Brierleyhttp://www.garethbrierley.co.uk
I am an actor and a writer. I act quite a bit on stage, a little bit on tv and never on tuesdays. I have had some of my writing published and have written for TV and stage. I have been playing games since they begun and don't seem to be getting any better.
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<b>Pros:</b> <ul> <li>Brilliant story</li> <li>Wonderful voice work</li> <li>Great visuals</li> <li>Clever gameplay</li> </ul> <b>Cons:</b> <ul> <li>Non-linear narrative may confuse</li> </ul> <b>Info:</b> <ul> <li>Massive thanks for the free copy of the game, Panic</li> <li>Formats - Xbox Series X|S (review), PS5, PS4, PC <li>Not Available on Game Pass Day One <li>Not Xbox Play Anywhere Enabled</li> <li>Release date | Price - 1 May 2025 | £11.99</li> </ul>despelote Review
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