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Tropico 3

EMAIL PRINT pc

8.0 User Score:

Generally favorable reviews

Based on 33 critic reviews
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Based on 26 votes
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Game Info

Publisher: Kalypso Media

Developer: Haemimont Games

Genre(s): Real-Time Strategy, City-Building, Simulation

Players: 1

ESRB Rating: T (Teen)

Release Date: October 20, 2009

Summary

As in the original Tropico, the player again is able to play the role of "El Presidente" taking over the control of a tropical island. You decide whether you want to use your army to secure your power base in the best traditions of corrupt, unscrupulous tyrants everywhere, or alternatively to lead your people to prosperity in your role as generous elder statesman. Danger lurks on every corner. There are militant rebels planning a Coup d'Etat for a communistic Junta, while in the background there are two lurking superpowers, the USA and the Soviet Union, who would perhaps prefer a more pliable president in the strategically important island of Tropico! [Kalypso]

Also On Metacritic

GAMES: Tropico Tropico 2: Pirate Cove Tropico: Paradise Island

Also On The Web: Official Website

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

GameShark

Beyond that, Tropico 3 is a fantastically addictive single player game that will have you up until the wee hours of the morning — who knew a Castro sim could be so much fun?

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AtomicGamer

With a reasonable $40 price tag and some solid visuals to go along, this one crosses genres nicely to appeal to both RTS fans and city management-types alike.

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Game Informer

The expected sandbox mode complements Tropico's excellent campaign, and it's exactly what you'd expect. [Nov 2009, p.112]

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GamingTrend

With the game available from retailers now for $10-$15 less than most newer releases, it’s definitely a great way to unleash your inner dictator.

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Play Magazine

Tropico 3 is a well-designed sim with just the right balance of complexity and micromanagement. It looks good, it sounds good and playing it just might teach you something. How many games can you say that about?

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GamingXP

Tropico 3 is what the second part of the series wanted to be: a great game! Good graphics and the nice music plus the trade and political system make it to an amazing experience!

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Gamer Limit

Whether you have played the prior Tropico titles or not, the blend of politics, construction and economy make this a fantastic game if you can stick with the learning curve.

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Vandal Online

Good looking and well played, fun and very hilarious, Tropic 3 has almost every ingredient to be considered a classic within its genre.

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GameZone

Tropico 3 has all the depth you could want, but presents itself in a fresh light that emphasizes fun without coddling the player. If you have any interest in playing out a dictatorship fantasy, this is as good as it gets.

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IGN

Tropico 3 combines a very good city building game with an intriguing political game.

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Cheat Code Central

Gamers should find that Tropico 3 is one of the better city-building RTS games to come out in a while, and although it may not be much different from its predecessors and its online "features" don't amount to more than social media "lite," what it does offer is simply solid and polished gameplay.

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PC Games (Germany)

A successful and faithful relaunch of the series. Tropico 3 delivers nice graphics, entangling music and a gameplay that makes you feel El President-ish at once! Go buy, or else…!

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3DJuegos

Tropico 3 is a great city builder and at the same time an enjoyable and very good-looking RTS.

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GameSpy

Tropico 3 is an enjoyable city simulator that offers the same sort of replayability that others of its kind do; this one just emphasizes experimentation with moral behavior rather than perfecting a building grid. Outside of the refined graphics and Latin soundtrack, it doesn't reach too far beyond the original Tropico. But that's fine with me, as it was the best of its kind since the original SimCity.

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Multiplayer.it

Tropico 3 goes back to the origin of the series, offering the same mechanics of the first episode with a full 3D engine, a 15 mission campaign and a lot of things to do.

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Gamer.nl

Brings the political and economical facets of running your own little island to life with vivid colors and tropical music. The game also adds a lot of humor and stays true to the original game.

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Total PC Gaming

It's manifestly amusing and downright fun, and that's its real strength. [Issue#26, p.46]

GameSpot

Playing a banana republic dictator in Tropico 3 might not be easy, but it certainly is rewarding.

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Strategy Informer

The lack of a competitive online mode also reduces the replay value, although you can compete indirectly by getting high scores, and you can even visit other player’s islands.

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LEVEL (Czech Republic)

Nothing but a copycat of the original Tropico game comes with small arrangements like a road building system or 3D visuals. Yet it is a catchy and reliable “dictatorship” game. [Nov 2009]

Meristation

Tropico goes back to its roots with a new developer which has reproduced the most noticeable and fun elements of the first Tropico, merging the typical city management options with politics and social planning, which makes this a very interesting and engaging game.

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Eurogamer

And, of course, there's the music. Which, as we've already is discussed, is awesome. The fight to have this music piped through every PA, loudspeaker and radio station in Britain begins now. Viva la revolution.

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9Lives

Tropico 3 has turned out to be a nice management sim that fans of the genre will love. The gameplay mechanics are elaborate, the economic and political systems are well done and it looks like a charm. The micromanagement can be annoying due to lack of information, but luckily it's never entirely frustrating. Looking for a good sim? Tropico 3 is definitely not a bad choice.

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InsideGamer.nl

Tropico 3 is a difficult, but never an unfair game. Is your financial plan in order, then the political problems will rise on the table, and vice verse. You can never rest and stay on guard for new problems to solve. Before you can solve every problem in the right way you might be a couple of games further. That’s also because of misplaced buttons and options. It is a little downfall on the ‘build your paradise’ game that despite of those small problems, shines like a tropical sun on a usually bright day in paradise.

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2404.org

Tropico 3 is not only a faithful adaptation of a classic idea, it’s also the best game Haemimont has ever made.

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Gamers.at

Those who have already played the first one should not expect anything new in Tropico 3 - the gameplay is almost identical. This is good news for fans, because the original is still a great game, but we would rather have liked to see more innovations.

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GameStar

Despite the 3D graphics, Tropico 3 is basically the same game like the first version eight years ago. A lot of things are not up to date, but the mix of politics, economy, development and black humor is ageless. If you liked the first Tropico, you will love the new one.

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GamesNation

Tropico 3’s gameplay hasn’t changed much since the first iteration thus making it difficult for the players to decide whether the new graphics is enough to make want to be El Presidente once again… But if you’ve never played at it before, this is a great chance!

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1UP

Tropico 3 beats the hell out of history books, and strangely, most games of its kind. I only wish that the soundtrack had more tunes. And that I could have the DJ shot. God, I can't stand that guy.

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PC Zone UK

A really involving little sim. [Christmas 2009, p.78]

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PC Gamer UK

As much fun as a day at the beach, but Tropico 3 misses a big boat by not showing you the results of your presidential labours. [Dec 2009, p.108]

PC PowerPlay

Surprisingly deep city-building sim with lots of neat quirks. [Christmas 2009, p.62]

games(TM)

The tongue-in-cheek Cold War-era humour is preferable to Cities XL's hard-faced exterior, but Haemimont's skill in masking the behind-the-scenes mechanisms pales in comparison to Mote Cristo's effort. [Dec 2009, p.118]

What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this game is 8.0 (out of 10) based on 26 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Bradford S. gave it a10:
Tropico 3 is a true masterpiece -- mostly flawless in excecution, but most of all *fun*. Whether you're building your island empire, or simply cruising the streets and following peoples' daily activities, it's all fun. You could say it combines Sim City, The Sims, and... well, more. Everyone should try it.

Peter G gave it a9:
Having only discovered this recently due to their demo I tried out the first part. Gameplay is nearly the same , although Tropico 3 adds your presidente as a avatar. This avatar is currently the most useful buffing for lack of a better word the function of most buildings, thereby adding 20 service quality in most cases. It is also able to fight alongside your soldiers, break up peaceful demonstrations by talking to the person that started it and holding a speech from the palace balcony. Election speeches might be new in which you can give 1 faction or superpower a 10% ratings boost. The avatar is also fully customizable , on top of having certain bonuses to ratings, productions or what have you, all chooseable at the beginning of a scenario. If you can't do it at once, you can always try it again with a avatar better suited to that map. Graphics are gorgeous at highlevel settings. Complexity is there, but it is forsaking some realism for more interesting gameplay I guess. For instance food is free, always, yet most factories and farms are only ever privatized in a very few scenarios where they give you monthly rents instead of sales. Overall I suggest doing the tutorial and playing around a bit first IF you have never played Tropico 1 or 3. If you have played Tropico 1 you might also like the third (can't say anything about the second yet, as I haven't installed it yet. Most things from the first one are in the second as well along with the latino soundtrack. Instead of your Adviser you will be able to hear the Radio DJ Juan and yourself during Election speeches. Just a word of warning, it is not a War simulator, your soldiers will behave better depending on how much skill they have at that Job, like in any else. You can influence that though wtih a few edicts, essentially laws you pass but can cancel anytime again.

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