Tropico

Tropico differs from most "sim" games in the level of long-term planning it demands. Money is relatively easy to come by, but can be spent in a staggering number of ways. The fact that structures are not placed on the map immediately after buying them makes planning even more important. Construction workers only put up one or two buildings at a time, and they have to flatten the ground beneath the structure before they can even get started. Once something is built it must be staffed--usually with educated workers--and the process takes time. After all that, it takes even more time for the building to become productive. Farmers must plant, raise, and harvest their crops. Industrial buildings like the cigar factory must get raw materials from the farms, then spend time processing them. Finished products must be hauled to a dock, where dockworkers slowly load the goods into freighters, and you finally get paid. Years can pass between the time something is built and the time it becomes profitable.

Fun and challenging as Tropico is, there is a little trouble in paradise. The game's manual has practically no hard information, and it's left mostly up to the player to figure how everything in the game interrelates. The interface is another problem, as it takes up a lot of space on the screen and what little information it provides is scattered all over the place. Experience with the game will let players overcome most of its shortcomings, and Tropico is definitely a game worth playing. --T. Byrl Baker

Pros:

• Lush graphics designed to look great at multiple resolutions
• An absolutely perfect soundtrack
• Open-ended gameplay

• It's difficult to tell how to appease all the political factions
• Interface could be better

Tropico takes the addictive building-oriented gameplay of such hits as SimCity 3000 and Railroad Tycoon II, combines it with a healthy dose of Latin American political intrigue, and bundles it up in an easy-to-learn, hard-to-master, utterly addictive package.

Tropico is first and foremost a builder. Tropico provides more than 100 structures to build, from hotels and spas for tourists; to banana groves, sugar plantations, and copper mines for food and basic exports; to rum distilleries and cigar factories for basic industry. Industry, mining, agriculture, or tourism--you choose to shape the economy to your vision. And don't let your lust for yanqui dollars overcome your concern for the plight of your people (or they'll overcome your palace guards and teach you a lesson in mob justice). As a precaution against such unpleasantness, may we suggest building the secret police headquarters to ferret out and reeducate your misinformed dissidents?

Your island's inhabitants are fleshed-out individuals, most of whom support you as their leader (at least initially). They go about their daily business striving for happiness under your enlightened rule. They have homes, jobs, and identities, and they like being safe, well-fed, employed, and spiritually enriched. Plan your growth well and you'll have plenty of money with which to buy your people's favor.

Plan your growth poorly, and, well, there's always martial law.

What a fun game! What fallen human being hasn't wanted to be a tin-pot dictator? If W can get himself appointed President of the United States, then surely each of us should get at least one tiny Caribbean Island.

This game features wonderful replay value, an awesome sound track and the best narrator around. Presidente...this is truly a fun game! From poor rural beginnings to your hopeful retirement with a massive Swiss bank account, Tropico is a blast.

I highly recommend Tropico. There is almost no learning curve involved. Instead there are hours and hours of guaranteed fun.


The Tropico Demo   October 22, 2003
I have not seen much of tropico, only played the demo, but it seems that the demo does not exclude much. There are only a few things you can't build (i.e cattle ranches, cathedrals, sports complexes and airports(therefore disabling some of the more interesting edicts)).
The demo is set at 100% normal level, so it's not hard but not easy. One thing I find really exciting about Tropico is the high effect of your actions on the the political views of America, Russia, tourists and the islands inhabitants. The threat I faced was not high (that may have something to do with giving the people what they want) although the aspect of keeping competion down was very enthralling.
The international factor of the game needs some polishing. For example, if you make an alliance with Russia, but you find American prospects better, you cannot expel the Russians, or get the Americans to come and help.
One of my favourite things about the games I can't play, i.e. random maps, is that you can choose your own character. So you can choose Fidel Castro (current dictator of Cuba) and reflect your personal views of him or make him the absolute opposite of what he is. So Fidel Castro can become a religious zealot(which he isn't because he doesn't let anyone preach on cuba and other outlying island under control of Cuba) or a womanizer. This personallization makes the game easier or harder i.e. more interesting.

So how can I summarize? You are the Governor of Tropico during the Cold war and are in the middle of the Carribean, too close to Russian forward bases and the American back line. The only people you have to satisfy are foreingers and the people. No pesky advisors. As soon as one group of foreigners is dissatisfied, they will attack, unless the other group is protecting you, and if the people are discontent, they'll run of and do battle with your soldiers (unless your soldiers are revolting!) 9 and 1/2 out of ten! That's good for a first release!