There's a good chance that life in a real Cold War banana republic wasn't quite so fun and cheery as it is in Tropico 3, but put that aside for a while – the game isn't about your real life, it's about your very own chance to become an island dictator!

In Tropico 3 you're put in the office of either your own custom-created dictator, or one of history's most notorious leaders, including Fidel Castro, Che Guevara, and Eva Peron. From that office, it's your job to run a small island nation, ... more >>

There's a good chance that life in a real Cold War banana republic wasn't quite so fun and cheery as it is in Tropico 3, but put that aside for a while – the game isn't about your real life, it's about your very own chance to become an island dictator!

In Tropico 3 you're put in the office of either your own custom-created dictator, or one of history's most notorious leaders, including Fidel Castro, Che Guevara, and Eva Peron. From that office, it's your job to run a small island nation, either making it your own little pot of gold or a people's paradise as you see fit.

As well as the usual city-building elements you would expect from a strategy game of this ilk (which include management of tourism, petroleum, mining and agriculture), there's a hearty dose of politics thrown into the mix. While you complete the 15 different scenarios, plugging away at the not-insubstantial job of managing a metropolis, you'll need to do things like deal with the US and Russia, weigh up competing bribes from different multi-national corporations and buying off insurgent kidnappers who are hurting the tourism business.

It's not just a matter of spreadsheets and menus, either. You'll be able to add a personal touch, delivering speeches from your balcony to rouse the population and walk about the island to make your presence known.

Time to uncover your inner tyrant! << less