Despelote is lightning in a bottle.

Especially in an age where national pride is rearing its ugly head, Despelote tells a gripping and heartwarming tale of a child, and a country, inspired by national heroes and sports, particularly amid contemporaneous struggle. Not only are the conversations held between the characters so real, and the emotions so palpable through the dreamlike sequences, but the design of the conversations, particularly in how characters speak over one another, and make all of these small remarks and comments like real people do, add an unbelievable immersion that is rare in a game.

At certain moments I felt things didn't quite add up, like some of the justifications for where I was, and what people were talking about, and the flow of time (particularly, the match broadcast timer not lining up with the UI's time of the match) which sort of jolted me out of the immersion, but I can't deny that sometimes that's what being a kid really was like. Adults talked about things that went way over your head, your little sibling blabbered on about incomprehensible ideas floating around in their imagination. In some ways, this felt more real than a perfectly sensible game.

You won't find a satisfying narrative with beginning middle and end that completes a circle here, as much as snippets and fleeting feelings. While it starts nostalgic and immersive, it finishes reflective, meta, and analytical. Regardless, what's contained within is powerful and moving. I cried twice in the early part of the game. When you sit down to eat with your family and they start talking about nonsense over dinner as a family, and the first sort of "dream" sequence when you kick the ball and the city forms around you.

Some of the audio balancing is off. While I thought I had things set, and sounded fine in the early part of the game, occasionally the audio reached uncomfortable volumes that sort of bothered me, as well as the controls of the ball at times didn't feel right. I think if the ball was glued a little more to the players' foot, it wouldn't have been a bad thing.

I've really never played anything like this. While other games have told stories that have made me cry, have challenged my beliefs, and have given me new appreciation for life's simple pleasures, none have done it so immediately and distinctly like Despelote.

I think this is a potentially engaging and enjoyable experience for everyone. That said, I don't think many people I know will get as much out of it as I would, so if you're eyeing this game, I would trust your instinct after watching the SECOND trailer on this Steam store page, as I don't think the first trailer is as good a representation of the game's overall character.

As for the developers, thank you so much for opening up and making this very raw and passionate game. I really, really enjoyed this one, and I will carry these feelings with me for a long time. Thank you :lunar2019piginablanket:

9/10