Tropico

"Welcome to Tropico!"

Tropico Review by Chipmunkman
How many times have you heard about some crazy dictator who threatens the world and resides on a Carrabian Island? Somebody who hires assassins to kill their enemies, then plays dumb when accused? Who tries to smuggle drugs in the United States for a profit? Or somebody who is constantly being invaded by druglords or the United States?
In Tropico, that person is you!

Introduction
Tropico from PopTop Software will let you put your freshly laundered money where your tyrannical despot mouth is. In this SimCity-style game, you get to do just that. You are now the leader, or rather, the dictator of a poor Caribbean island faced with civil unrest and a whole host of other problems. Do you have the political savvy necessary to bring peace and prosperity to your beloved homeland, or will you make things so bad that you'll be calling the French to seek political asylum?

Gameplay/Fun Factor 9/10
In Tropico you'll have to bring all you're planning and building skills to the table in order to bring about the economic prosperity needed to keep your people happy and supportive of your regime--oh, and don't forget to put some rainy-day money aside for yourself (preferably in a tyrant-friendly nation). You'll have to keep your political wits about you while you're building your banana republic into a tourism, agricultural, mining, or industrial powerhouse as there will be those who wish to export your Baby-Doc behind off the island. The added political element makes Tropico a surprisingly challenging strategy game; far more involving and appealing than if it were just a ''SimCity: Beach Edition''.

Sound 8/10
Graphics 9/10
The graphics in Tropico are excellent in that they bring your island to life with vibrant colors and accompanying animations--it makes you want take a holiday there... as long as there isn't a coup taking place. The soundtrack is a wonderful, upbeat mix that complements the visuals nicely, creating a Caribbean atmosphere right there at your computer, even though it may take some time to load because of everything...

Overall 8/10
Whether your leadership style is to rule with an iron fist or a velvet glove, Tropico offers you lots of fun (and plenty of challenge) with its delightful take on the sim-theme. Put on your loudest Hawaiian shirt, beach sandals, straw hat, and put a paper umbrella in your kool-aid, it's time to get to work!

Farwell
If you want one of those really cool simulators, but don't want a war game like Starcraft or Age of Empires, this is one of those must-buy games for your PC. Nobody shouldn't have it.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 10/27/03