Pros: reasonably addictive - relaxing and entertaining, upgrades available
Cons: like with all games you'll get tired of it eventually, not enough violence for some
The Bottom Line: Great alternative to strategic games that just don't seem to have enough details. Rather involving gaming experience. Pop Top has done a great job with variety in this game!
This game is often described as "Fun in the Sun". I have had this game for 1 year now, played it in and out, and would definitely agree with this description. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and must admit that even now, writing this review, I feel inclined to go and play it. It would make a great purchase or gift for anyone who is interested in the peaceful strategical games, than can release (NOT induce) stress and tension ... and for those who have a lot of free time on their hands - because this colorful little world is rather addictive!! And if you ever get tired of it, expansions are always available. But trust me - you won't get bored quickly. Because this colorful world just keeps entertaining.
Tropico is a game oriented on strategy and building, similar to SimCity. Its main feature is that you do not get to create people or order them around (well, almost) - and as far as i know there is no population limit. Your people are born in families and turn adults at the age of 14. They can immigrate from or to the island. They were basically built to have free will, and will do as they please. Your function as a ruler is to build a Prosperous island and a Paradise for them at the same time. In the following paragraphs I will list in more detail some of the things you can do playing a game of Tropico:
1) For starters - Tutorial. But the game is seemingly easy to figure out - so you won't be stuck here long.
2) Before each game choose your island size and composition. Choose your own background as a ruler - you may select options as Harvard graduate, alcoholic, green thumb, etc. Each will give you bonuses and disadvantages in relations with the population of the island and its various Political Parties. You may also choose special options for your game, such as "Immigrants out" or "Free elections".
3) Political parties - everyone on the island belongs to at least one. Most popular one - The Communist Party! They all have various demands that are usually not conflicting with one another. But they do come in conflict with the budget, rate of construction, and economical concerns. As a ruler is it your duty to take care of their needs - and as people they want the "good life" now and will complain if you put things off.
4) The game starts with few persons, couple buildings, and your own Presidential Palace. A couple of buildings you may choose to build are: farms, mines, ports, houses, churches, clinics, power plants, radio and TV stations, cathedrals, guard stations, immigrant offices, embassy, universities, banks, airports, etc. The game tries quite hard to simulate real life in the aspect of its variety.
5) For food/mineral producing buildings you may look up a colorful representation of land to choose the best spot. Farms can grow variety of crops - and land value for each crop varies. Crops also vary in price/load with corn being the cheepest one. Your people visit farms to obtain food - some farms, such as pineapple and corn, can provide it. Others, like coffee, do not. You'll have to make sure your people do not starve and build enough of food-producing farms. The food islanders consume brings no income, however.
4) Every 5 years or so citizen will call Elections. As time draws near you can choose to tilt the results or have free elections. Fraudulent elections will bring people's wrath upon you as a ruler. You may get rebels and open protests.
5) You may also get deserters (soldiers who will run around shooting at your palace until you lose the game). In this case, it is hard to do anything about it. Foreign hired soldiers become traitors in 50% of the time. Just try not to take things to this point.
6) Passing acts may be beneficial. Some of the special events and laws you can declare are "Food for people", "Papal visit", "Contraception ban", "Mardi Gras", etc. The "Anti-littering" act is also great.
7) Bribe, arrest, and eliminate those who do are not to your liking - but beware - your citizens notice everything. Pleasing all the factions of the island is very important in this game. Each has a leader. You can look up their grievances in the annual report book.
8) Your Annual Report Book - perhaps your most important tool. It shows various demographic and economical data. It shows profits from various activities such as farming, logging, and industry. It also shows US and Russia monetary aid sums, populations growth, number of marriages, death, meals, and births, people sorted by education level, gender, and profession. You can click on any person to find more personal info. You can find party statements and leaders listed there. Also the island's Happiness level - the most important factor for your people - and what factors might be dragging it down.
9) Set Wages and rent for every single building on this island. Wages generally depend on education level of workers, and how badly you need someone to work there. If it is the expensive-load producing coffee farm - you'd definitely want workers there.
9) Zoom in out out. You can see the whole island or each individual person walking around on it. You can also control how fast or slow the game proceeds.
10) The game also features a number of Caribbean music to get you into the mood of the Island.
11) The BEST PART is that each person is "clickable" - you can look up their name, age, education level, nearest family, hunger/rest needs, party affiliations, and even their thoughts!! You can see them die and look up their cause of death. This game tries very hard to approach the reality of governing people - and at the same time it was aimed to be entertaining. You will still get the hype of being the all-powerful ruler - but this game tries to emulate free will - your people may choose not to obey you. Some will even openly disrespect you!
12) Tutorials - there are about 5-7 tutorials included with this game. More are included with the expansions sets. Also visit Cafe Tropico website (listed below) for description of scenarios and downloads. They have a list of about 20 various scenarios!
A word on expansions:
1. Paradise Island - released Feb 2002. Features 12 new buildings, 23 new scenarios, natural diseases, more edicts, and other ehancements.
2. Tropico 2: The Pirate Cove - released Apr 2003. In this new edition you can assume the role of Pirate Captain and rule the island, establishing economy based on plunder and conquest rather than production.
3. Tropico Mucho Macho Editions - The name of this game speaks for itself!
More details:
Rated - Teen
http://www.poptop.com/Tropico.htm -- Pop Top Software site
http://www.cafetropico.com/ -- Online hangout for Tropico players
And if you feel in the mood to purchase this game, visit eBay for great priced games and expansions for PCs and MACs!
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