Tropicoooo-oh-oh-oh OH
Hey people of the internet, so... I done played a game yo, and now I'm gonna tell you some stuff about playing that game.
The game in question, Tropico 5, and just to be clear, yes it is intentional to do number 5, and no I have no inclination of ever posting about the previous 4 games, (although... I did enjoy Tropico 4)
What is Tropico? a good question you ask, it's a city building game with a mild twist, you the player take the part of a benevolent/malevolent dictator/glorious leader and you build an island community with the resource at hand, fulfilling 'side quests' that pop up.
And occasionally ordering the assassination of public figures...
The game has a story mode, as well as a sandbox mode, but regardless they both play essentially the same, you start out with nothing but a handful of loyal subjects, perhaps a farm and a dock. The Docks are essential to the economy and the growth of your colony they transport goods that your subjects produce and in turn you get cash to do with as you please.
Generally it's a wise idea to reinvest the cash, or you're likely to be other-thrown by an angry mob. And that brings me to my first critique of T5...
Mobs.
Now I understand that there must be challenge in a game for there to be reward, but personally I found this game to be very unforgiving, often I'd be doing everything in my capability to placate the populous only to have riots spring up, decimate my army and destroy my palace (thus resulting in a game loss)
I think there is a little too much micro management required to ensure that people remain happy, keeping in mind that at times your role is a dictatorial one, and you are supposed to be the Kim Jong of the tropics, unforgiving, totalitarian ... and yet a group of sufficiently annoyed eco-activists have on multiple occasions destroyed entire armies ... to this end I stopped maintaining an army instead applying the resources to build structures which satisfy the god like hippies, and the religiously inclined populous is equally as quick to upset.
I think these few aspects are detrimental to the game often breaking the immersion of things for me as I begin to meta-game rather than enjoy the in-game procedure.
Options of variation.
Please don't think I'm being bitchy here but there was another point which made me sulk a little, firstly - some reference:
In Tropico 4 I recall building beautiful cities, deciding with great care how to place buildings, roads and taking pride in adding the beatification options to really make each of the cities filled with realistic and pleasing vistas... literally I'd take hours to finely craft tiny details and often I'd spend just as long watching the game passively play, admiring the things I'd created. It was utterly satisfying.
Now, Tropico 5 seems lacking, the buildings all are exactly the same, the beautification options are mundane and there is only a limited palette from which to choose I quickly realised I wasn't as personally invested in the creation of my colony, nor did I feel connected with it and it's micro inhabitants for me, this game took a step back ... and that's the wrong direction of travel in my mind.
Any good things?
As I'm typing this out I've realised all I've done so far is moan, and I'm not sure that's fair to the game. I've enjoyed playing it, and indeed, found myself 'drawn' to complete it and hunt for its amusing achievements, but sadly I think once I've wrapped up the packaging this one will gather virtual dust in my steam account, If I have to visit Tropico again... It would most likely be done with Tropico 4.
Gaming Review summary:
Graphics 3/5
Audio 2/5
Gameplay 4/5
Features 2/5
Audio 2/5
Gameplay 4/5
Features 2/5
Weighted Score: 57%
Ehy Presidenté I think you should invest in other theengs, thees game, she's not worth it eh?
Overall satisfying, but after a while underwhelming and riddled with things that I'd want 'improved' fun to play about with for a brief while.
