The concept of playing God is an enticing one to say the least. Many video game developers have attempted, and not without success, to achieve a superior sense of realism. But the unfortunate side effect to such games is the sheer number of options that can sometimes act as a deterrent. Tropico on the other hand, appears to have achieved a balance, whereby it has managed to include a seemingly infinite amount of possibilities without making the game too complex.
You are the new director of a small but desirable Caribbean island. From scratch, your task is to build a healthy and happy population of local citizens, while at the same time, earning yourself a substantial amount of moolah.
Taking on an isometric point of view, Tropico has chosen high-resolution environments and detailed animations over a less impressive 3D environment, and considering the nature of this game, that was probably a wise choice. Beginning with just a sandy beach and a small forest, deciding where to begin is a daunting decision. After creating a few citizens, you must provide housing or shelter for them, keep them in good health and control numerous industries, while simultaneously looking after the islands finances. As your land grows into an independent city, where the people work for themselves and have identities, you should be able to put yourself into a position whereby you can watch the money roll in. By this point you should only be required to make minor management tweaks.
As mentioned earlier, Tropico is a well-balanced game that oozes quality gameplay. Its one of the best games of its kind, and thats all there is to it.