By The magnificent sport
Version Reviewed: PS5 Pro / European
- review by Liam Croft
For countless fans globally, soccer represents much more than merely kicking a ball into the net. It’s a cultural cornerstone, a means to connect and forge relationships, a motive for travel — it’s a lifestyle.
Despelote aims to encapsulate that passionate obsession through the 2002 FIFA World Cup qualifying rounds, highlighting Ecuador’s historic entry into the tournament. As the nation brims with excitement, you relish the thrill as a young boy endlessly yearning to play with his friends.
The game unfolds around Ecuador’s last five qualifying games, featuring interactive scenes in a community where you can engage while following matches on televisions in the backdrop. It beautifully embodies that youthful enthusiasm for soccer, combined with the inability to focus on an entire 90-minute game. Thus, you’ll enjoy kicking a ball with buddies while playfully irritating the locals.
Despelote has no established goals; instead, you explore the surroundings until the narrative seamlessly shifts to the next scene. Each setting serves as a sandbox, presenting a few interactive features beyond just kicking the ball, managed by pushing and pulling the right thumbstick.
Completing the game takes approximately 90 minutes, and while the effort is commendable, Despelote often feels directionless. Many scenes arrive and depart without any meaningful interaction, and what’s available can mirror previous sequences. With minimal gameplay, the videos elucidating Ecuador’s qualification and concurrent political events do most of the speaking.
Despelote shines in these moments, enhanced by visuals that create a captivating graphic experience. Actual clips from Ecuador’s games are represented in a distinctive art style, and the characters you encounter stand out against the simplistic, blocky backgrounds with white, pencil-drawn figures.
Similar to the reflective drive home after an away defeat, one is left contemplating: what was the purpose? Despelote successfully captures the fervor surrounding Ecuador’s qualification for the 2002 FIFA World Cup, yet struggles to shape a fulfilling video game around it.
Liam has been immersed in gaming with a PlayStation controller since childhood, and holds a deep appreciation for Metal Gear Solid. Today, he enjoys playing the latest PS5 titles and cheering for Derby County. That last point is notably his misfortune.