 |
  |
 |
  
   |
|
RATING: (weak) 1 2 3 4 5 (awesome)
|
IN BRIEF
Pros: A complex game that provides exceptional variety in people and managing strategies. Cons: Though the game is set in paradise, you never hear or see ocean waves -- not my kind of paradise. In a nutshell: From instating martial law to being a rich and loved leader, you really feel what it's like to be El Presidente of a Caribbean island. Multiplayer: No *ESRB rating: T (Teen) |
FACTS
Game Title: Tropico Platform: PC Developer: Pop Top Software Publisher: Gathering of Developers Accessories supported: Mouse, keyboard Release Date: April 24, 2001 Price: $39.99 |
THE REVIEW by Thomas Oberheide for Gamers Today
Maybe you don't have enough money to buy your own tropical island. It couldn't hurt to have a little practice ruling one though, in case you find a truck full of money and have nothing better to do. In Tropico, you can be the dictator you always wanted to be.
As El Presidente of Tropico island, you rule a slice of paradise. Be Mr. Nice Guy and give your citizens everything they want. Cozy up with the U.S.A. and rip off Yanqui tourists. So, you just want to look out for Numero Uno and fatten your Swiss bank account. No problemo. Regardless of your ambitions, do whatever it takes to stay in power.
The main force you contend with is the happiness of your own people. While your dictatorial style may be expressed through applications of tough love, free will still reigns on the island of Tropico. Clicking on any individual displays a wealth of information, so you know that person as well as you might any of your good friends. The scoop on their job, family, concerns and desires is more available than even the best informants could produce. You're a dictator forced to consider the people. If you don't give them what they want, a rebellion could send you packing -- or worse.
The interface keeps this complex fantasy simple and delightful to play. The main screen provides a map of the island with an effective zoom feature. An Almanac icon provides all available information on the natives, economy, and the strength of each political faction (in terms of its members). As dictator, there is no dearth in informative resources to delay your efforts.
Three buttons provide separate menus for building, issuing edicts and information. The building menu provides over sixty various structures, including housing, factories, hotels, casinos, schools, and churches. The edict menu allows you to have someone arrested, murdered, or bribed --essential means for any dictator worth his rum. You can make alliances with either Russia or the U.S.A. (meaning more money), launch tourism ad campaigns, and throw parties to maintain favor.
The information menu is extremely useful. A color-coded map reveals the most appropriate and profitable sites on your island to place different industries, mine for minerals, or grow individual crops -- the list goes on...
Bright blues and greens give the game a festive Caribbean feel, adding to the dazzling variety of vegetation and buildings. Each person is uniquely clad in island wear, making the graphics thoroughly interesting and impressive.
The sounds add dramatically to the realism with dogs barking, the constant chatter of a booming town, and a seemingly endless array of birdcalls. Then there is the dismaying sound of the rebels' gunfire directed at your palace.
A great source of study for the Poli-Sci student or the young and feckless communist dissident, Tropico lends itself to those lazy afternoons when managing your very own paradise can simultaneously be the least of your worries and the stuff of dreams.
*For a complete explanation of ESRB ratings, check out the official ESRB Web site.
