Tropico 3

Video Games | Tropico 3 | GC 09: Trailer

XBox 360 | Playstation 3 | Nintendo Wii

Tropico 3 is almost out now (it says Sep 2009 on Steam) and I recalled playing the first game of this series. Tropico is a sim city game with a hint of settlers. You get to place buildings like farms, mines and factories to develop your economy. The people is actually a limited resource since if you have too few of them, your country will be severely be understaffed. You create an in game persona with specific traits and certain weaknesses. There isn't really a goal in the game though you could try and stay in power as long as possible or try and suck as much funds to your Swiss bank account.

I remember trying to be a generalissimo who ruled by sheer force. I'd give so much money to the military and so little to the rest of the people to maintain control. Through the passing of the years, my grip on the country grew harder and harder as more political rivals emerged. In a last ditch effort, I declared martial law to make my citizens bow before me. Martial law gave me more time however I knew my time was almost up. I had to use the remaining years to slush as much fund to my bank account. I built a bank and started training bankers. The adverse effect of that is that banks need a university. University makes people think thus creating my deadliest political rival - a university professor.

My greed blinded me. I didn't notice that my own military men, though paid at the maximum amount, started to have doubts on my rule. After a failed attempt to take out my political rival, a bunch of my own soldiers deserted and joined the rebels. A bomb blew up in my palace and there I laid dead, one day before I decided to hop on a plane and head to the Swiss alps for my money.

I never played Tropico 2 though I head that it was worse. It forgoes the Banana Republic theme for a pirate theme. Tropico 3 looks like it is going back to it's roots. Check the video trailer (from gametrailers.com) above for an idea on the game.