The first and most obvious comparison this game will draw is with the series of games released by Maxis. Who can forget them. They were a cornerstone in simulated micromanagement and an all around enjoyment waste of time. You took the role of the Mayor responsible for keeping your city profitable and your people generally happy. Keep the power on, your people employed, taxes low, your industry happy and etc, etc, etc.

Tropico shares many similar properties. You play the mayor... err... excuse me, dictator, who starts his rule over a small lightly populated Caribbean island. If the town and it's people prosper or suffer under your rule is all up to you. While SimCity was half learning lesson and lighthearted fun, it's doubtful you'll see children playing Tropico in school. It's a darker spin on the city building sim as seen through the eye of a Caribbean island ruler.

Wherein the SimCity titles one never had to worry about being kicked from office -- it's quite the harsh reality in Tropico. Say hello to martial law, government funded bribes and assassinations. Yes you heard correctly. This is what precisely sets Tropico apart. That and the Caribbean flavor that makes itself felt at every level of the game. Gone are the two lane streets, automobiles and everything we associate with life in America. Heck even electrical power doesn't play a huge role in Tropico. Get use to the dirt roads, the constantly beating sun, the brown dirt beneath your feet and commuting by foot.

The managing of economy and industry is much different too. It's much more hands on here and again, third world country slash Caribbean flavored. In SimCity you'd just zone for industry and things would go from there. You didn't own the properties that eventually built there and you had no control over them. You collected taxes from them and that was about it. In Tropico, you decide what will be your countries driving force of the economy. Will your country make it's money off a tourist trade? Will it be in the fields shipping raw goods or producing them into a final product worth more. Its under your control.

Not just industry too. As the person in power, you get to decide on a number of social factors and how they play a part in your country. What level will religion play in your country? How dominate the military will be? Most importantly making sure to keep yourself in power. Will your government be Communist based? Will you develop relations with Russia? Or do you favor Capitalism and the American way? Will you rule with an iron fist? Will you pay your people well? Is education important on the island or will you try to keep people of intelligence at a minimum as they could be a problem for El Presidente. Then again what kind of person are you? The game allows you to make up your own bio. Are you an Alcoholic? Oops, that means the Religious factions respect you 15% less and Productivity takes a hit of 5%... but then again, your relations with Russia are +10%. Ah, the decisions one must make.

That's the truly fun part of Tropico and what sets it apart. Things aren't all diamonds and pearls. Sometimes hard decisions have to be made. Sometimes certain dirty things have to be done. Is someone in your way? Remove them. Are you people becoming dissatisfied with your rule? Kill free elections and beef up your military and keep them happy. These are the things that makes Tropico unique. You rule how you want to. It could be darker, it could be deeper, but it works pretty good as-is. Kudos to the musical score too. It's great if you want to build a hospital for your people, but if you can pocket 10% of the bloated construction cost even better. Tropico is a nice change of pace on the formula perfected by the SimCity titles.

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Ruling an island paradise during the cold war. Social engineering, political circuses, international intrigue, tourism and industrial growth all rolled together like a fine Havana cigar, Tropico style.

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