User Reviews (1 - 11 of 103)

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avoid this

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 1 / 5
Date: January 29, 2005
Author: Amazon User

I feel I should post how much I hated this piece of junk here, since the other reviews seem to give the impression that it's a fantastic game and everybody will love it. I couldn't stand it and took it back a couple of days later. All the positive reviews below positively puzzle me, since engaged in a conversation about this game in the local EB, everybody else declared they had hated it too. So who's writing those reviews?

The thing is too slow! It takes about 50 years to build a school. And the economics of the game don't make sense either -- you charge nothing for rent and pay everybody beaucoup bucks, and still everybody moves off your island and the birth rate decreases.

Also, this game is not as funny as the programmers obviously believe. I agree with the reviewer below who said that the manual is much funnier than the actual game.

Lastly, the graphics of the game are overcomplex, meaning that the game will be extremely fussy on most setups. This wouldn't be such a problem, but Tropico either has no tech support line, or they don't answer what they say is the support line, or they've done a fantastic job with hiding the contact information of the real tech support line. In other words, after a couple of days of trying, I couldn't get any help.

Telemundo buys SimCity3000 engine, but renders sims better

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: February 01, 2004
Author: Amazon User

Not listed above, it does run on winXP. People pointing rifles at your capital building is kinda wrong. Hot keys do a virus like take over of the machine after you are done, forcing a reboot (i.e., 'r' brings up the run menu). Otherwise this spanish sim is more fun that the first SimCity. Earth grid and weather look exactly like SimCity3000. When you start there are no easly levels, but there is one Moderate so it is kind'a a pain to figure out who needs what. And eventually you grow to hate your people, so I'm giving it a 3 for that. But it is a good step forward in Sim graphics and humor.

Just Like Home...

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: November 21, 2003
Author: Amazon User

I love it. As a native of Puerto Rico, I saw many places and Individuals from my childhood in this game. The man who did the graphics most be a Hispanic or spends most of the time in the tropics. The male farmer looks like my grandfather! Even the Denim shirt that he always used! There are papaya and banana trees on my mother's house that are just like the ones in the game. So I play it all the time. It's is worth the money.

ALL I HAVE TO SAY ABOUT TROPICO

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 10 / 13
Date: October 28, 2003
Author: Amazon User

All I have to say about Tropico is:

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

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: October 22, 2003
Author: Amazon User

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!

Fantastic game

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: July 09, 2003
Author: Amazon User

Tropico is a ton of fun, and unlike many other games, you don't get bored of it after a while. The gameplay is great, very open-ended, and very entertaining. I find it to be a much more realistic sim than some other games...buildings take time to create, workers take time to come to your island from other countries, and there are endless ways to run a country...same is true with Tropico.

There are many different "paths to greatness": you can make money from industry(rum, jewelry, etc.), farming and mining, tourism, fishing, or all of them. You can keep your island heavily guarded by military (be careful...lack of liberty is not tolerated by citizens) or you can let your people do whatever the heck they want (again, be careful. don't let them start a rebellion).

This game has few downsides.
-The interface isn't well designed. It takes up a lot of space, and doesn't provide easy access to info.
-Buildings cannot always be rotated as you want them, which is quite annoying if you want a Tenement to overlook the water, for example.

Overall, a great game, definitely worth buying.

Hours of fun

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: March 09, 2003
Author: Amazon User

This is just plain addictive! The best part is the character selection...so many dictators, so little time. As El Presidente you have absolute control over all the people on your little island and if anyone causes trouble just have them shot or jailed! The gameplay is pretty addictive, but I think it loses a star because it can get pretty repetitive. Nonetheless, this is an excellent game.

cheap fun...

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 1 / 2
Date: February 23, 2003
Author: Amazon User

For cheap thrills, Tropico is a good game. By now, it can be bought in most stores for around $10. While the premise of being the dictator of your own island is an intruiging one, there are a couple of quirks that keep the game from really living up to its promises.

Asassinate a rival political candidate to ensure your victory in the upcoming election and another person instantly steps up to run against you. Kill the new candidate and another volunteers! Don't they get the hint?!

The game is too short. You can only rule for a maximum of 70 years. (Isn't Castro going on year 115?) On the more difficult settings, it is almost impossible to make any cool progress in this amount of time. Freighters arrive to buy exports only a few times a year and large buildings take forever to build (especially if they are built away from the center of your town, like airports and hotels)

For the price of a cheap dinner out or a few video rentals, Tropico delivers some enjoyable and silly gameplay.

Boring

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 1 / 5
Date: January 18, 2003
Author: Amazon User

This game is really boring. Nothing really happens. You build housing, businesses and roads. Then nothing! Oh wait, you have to do a budget. I'll pass

Can't get enough of it...

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: December 06, 2002
Author: Amazon User

I'm a big fan of Sim-type games where you control a city or group of sim "people". Among my favorites are Rollar Coaster Tycoon, SimGolf, The Sims, and SimCity 3000.

PLEASE add Tropico to the list...

I just can't get enough of this game. The idea of ruling an island and figuring out how to be a successful leader is great.
There are all types of people, events, buildings, and problems that need your attention in this game. You can adjust the difficutly to suit your needs.

I tried over and over again to keep winning the island elections in hopes of successfully building my first airport and the many tourist attractions. Phew! Hard work...but I finally did it. This game is fun, challenging, and hilarious!

It's easy to pick up this game cheap these days! I definitely recommend it for the $10 price tag! You should also spend a couple extra bucks for the Paradise Island add-on. I can't WAIT for Tropico 2[.]

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