despelote

A must play. A short but insightful representation of youth and the experience of cultural events as a young child. Capturing wonder, distraction, memory and loss. The gameplay and story feel very personal, as well as the art style and soundtrack being top tier. 10/10

The vibe/atmosphere is good but I felt bored and confused pretty quickly. I didn't feel a desire to finish the game because I wasn't engaged by it. Also the controls are trash and I felt motion sick (which never usually happens). Shame because the setting could be great.

Muy emocionante, una narrativa cuidadísima y embaucante. El arte que tiene es de ser un genio. 10/10

Short and intriguing, Despelote feels like one of the purest forms of storytelling, capturing the feeling of childhood. It has so much warmth to it — far more than I expected — and immerses you in South American culture and everyday life without ever feeling like it's trying too hard. Set in Quito, Ecuador, you play through the upbringing of Julián, wandering through neighborhoods that feel effortlessly alive. Every street is filled with overlapping conversations, kids skipping school to play football, vendors chatting, music spilling out of homes, and strangers going about their day. It all blends into a dense, lived-in soundscape that makes the world feel real. I've never played a game with dialogue that feels as natural as Despelote. People ramble, interrupt each other, and drift between conversations in a way that sounds genuinely human. The narrative, however, is built around the seemingly random yet familiar memories of Julián's childhood. Small moments that capture what it was like growing up amidst the world cup, and how football, in particular, shaped his upbringing. His memories feel like actual childhood memories: hazy, emotional, and more about how things felt than what actually happened. You don't remember every family gathering — you remember being bored. You don't remember getting yelled at — you remember playing football with your friends until sunset. It's a deeply personal and singular experience that portrays childhood and cultural change with a level of intimacy only the gaming medium can achieve. Julián Cordero (game director & game designer) transforms his memories into something that draws countless parallels to our own lives and the way nostalgia lingers in the memories that define us. Beyond its standout visual style and immersive soundscape, Despelote is a beautiful slice-of-life story that lets you relive certain moments of nostalgia and appreciate the ordinary memories that often leave the deepest impressions.

+ Documentaire cozy et nostalgique + Découverte d'une culture peu exposée dans la culture populaire + Maniement du ballon bien faite - Manque d'options d'accessibilités 7/10 Gooooooooal!

very lovely personal narrative game. not too much happens but that's okay :)

absolute cinema