When it comes to experiences on the Switch that are obviously made to be story-driven first, or in this case even have some almost artistic qualities, tallying them up can be a challenge. Certainly the strength of a powerful message or in this case an encapsulation of a specific time, place, and feeling of the exuberance of youth can be compelling. But even with that in mind, when you’re not only putting that experience out on a dedicated gaming console, but also having people play through certain gameplay mechanics, there’s no avoiding the need to take everything into account. In the case of Despelote, that unfortunately has one side of the whole bringing the other down.

As an experience for the senses, and a vibrant feeling of childhood, the game does manage to shine. While people could take issue with the visual style, which lays animated black and white characters and objects onto hyper-stylized real-world photos, there’s no doubt that it helps the game to stand out regardless. With the backdrop being a town in Ecuador as they’re on the verge of qualifying for the World Cup, the emphasis is obviously on soccer, which has swept the town by storm. You and some friends will kick around, exploring the streets, getting into a little trouble, and simply being kids. Of course, between your parents and other adults there are more serious things going on as well, but once you get to kicking the ball around, the concerns of the day manage to melt away, giving the game a certain sense of nostalgia for us older folks.

Where the wheels start to risk falling off, is where the mechanics of playing with the soccer ball come into play. Being honest, the method of running, dribbling, and then trying to aim and kick the ball with any real precision is pretty dismal. Considering this is the literal focus of the game’s soul, it really lets the experience down a great deal. Sure, you can clunk your way through it, and the game can be pretty forgiving to a degree, but those problems detract from the feeling of joy and carefree fun the game is looking to impart. You could argue that since the game is story-driven first that this shouldn’t be a big deal, but the fact is that there are multiple titles out there with powerful stories to tell that manage to make sure what gameplay they feature isn’t only intuitive and well-executed, but some even ensure your mechanical experience playing will reinforce some aspect of the story as well. While in the past this may have been overlooked, in the last generation the bar really has been raised. When gameplay is on the table on top of story beats it really needs to be executed well.