Worth it for Modern Times alone This collection includes all of the DLC and the expansion pack for Tropico 4. Most of it follows a standard format adding a new building, a new solo mission and map and a new outfit for El Presidente. These smaller DLC can be irritating when one can’t quite shake the feeling that at least some of the content was built into the original game and then removed and repackaged for sale at a later date. Nevertheless this DLC, especially Plantador, Quick Dry Cement and Vigilante, in my opinion offer enjoyable content that does enhance the experience. The real gem is Modern Times which is a fine example of a proper expansion pack that adds many hours of gameplay with several new buildings, the ability to upgrade antiquated buildings, new edicts and an amusing campaign pitting El Presidente against a classically mad scientist. If you have Tropico 4, then this DLC pack is a great addition.
Tropico 4 is a city-builder with a very simple political simulator component that returns you to halls of power in Tropico as El Presidente, the autocratic dictator whose place in history as a benevolent protector or sadistic tyrant will be written by the player. Tropico 4 has a lot in common with Tropico 3 which is both good and at the same time it's the game’s biggest failing. Tropico 4 runs on the same engine and even borrows pretty much all of the models and artwork from its predecessor making it look more like an expansion pack than an independent game though it had the latter’s pricing at release. That’s not to say that Tropico 4 isn’t a great game, it is. IMHO, it’s probably the best in the series especially when you combine it with its expansion packs, most of which are good. The Good: -The soundtrack. Tropico games always have fun and catchy (if repetitive) soundtracks to listen to and they add a nice level of immersion. Mixed: -The graphics are nice albeit exactly the same as 3 and while there are several new buildings, there isn’t quite enough new content to make it distinct from its processor as a new game. The bad: -Combat. Given the political nature of the game, the threat of rebels, coups and invasion by foreign powers is always a possibility. It’s too bad that combat is really quite terrible. When Tropican soldiers respond to an enemy attack, they do so as individuals even if there are other soldiers nearby. To be sure, Tropico is not an RTS game and shouldn’t be treated as such. Still, given that politics is an integral part of the game it would make sense that some attention was paid to the combat dynamic. The lack of development and poor AI is disruptive and reduces the games immersive capacity. On balance, I would rank Tropico 4 as the best entry in the series. That it in many ways it feels like an expansion of 3 is unfortunate but nonetheless it is a solid and enjoyable experience that will provide hours of enjoyable gameplay.
I own Tropico 5 on Steam and isn't a bad game per se, it just isn't quite as good as its predecessors. This entry into the series boasts a few positive albeit half-baked new developments but in a lot ways is, at best, more or less the same as what you would find in Tropico 4. On the plus side: -Graphics and soundtrack. The island of Tropico has never looked more lush and inviting and with its enjoyable soundtrack, sounds like a great place to live and rule. So-so: -Eras and dynasties were an interesting idea that could have made for compelling gameplay, but their half-baked implementation made them underwhelming and ultimately uninteresting. Especially in the case of the dynasty system. While I certainly didn't expect something so complex as Crusader Kings: Tropico, the mechanic is shallow and feels like an incomplete afterthought. -Buildings. With the expansion packs, Tropico 5 has a lot of building options but many of them are just plain stupid (E.g., aircraft carriers. Kind of cool, but in a small Caribbean state with a few hundred citizens? Really? Why don't they just use helicopters?) or pointless (Wind farms). -Combat. I think it's great that the Tropican military has finally learned how to fight as a unit and drive tanks and fly planes, but they still aren't all that good at what they do. Tropico is not an RTS game, but the combat AI still leaves much to be desired. The Bad: -Rebels. Rebels in Tropico 5 seem both overpowered and inexplicable. I.e., I've had islands where I have very high approval ratings and decent relationships with foreign powers, yet the island is infested with rebels who are constantly and effortlessly blowing things up. I liked the rebellion mechanic is past games it adds a fun challenge, but in Tropico 5 it just seems broken. To sum up, I enjoy Tropico 5. I really do, but the fact of the matter is that besides better graphics, there really aren't very many compelling reasons to switch to Tropico 5 from Tropico 4.
Games like Patrician 3 are not for everyone, but for those who enjoy the commodity trading, economic simulator genre Patrician 3 is one of the best titles available. Pros: -The game has great depth though this is not obvious at first. -For all of its complexity, it is accessible and fairly easy to learn and some of the more repetitive tasks can be automated. -Once you get into it, there is a lot to keep you busy and activities available to you progressively unfold as you rise in stature. -The progression of your character from humble merchant to wealthy Patrician and Lord Mayor or Alderman is rewarding. Cons: -Slow to get started and the first few hours of play can be repetitive. There isn't much bad to say about Patrician 3. If you enjoy this sort of game play and have the patience, the game will reward you with hours of entertainment.
Overlord is, in my opinion, an underrated classic that for whatever reason did not achieve the level of success that it could have. The game flips the trope of the high fantasy genre on its head and creates a thoroughly enjoyable experience as you romp through the realms of the game world as the titular Overlord who is bent on exacting revenge against the killers of his predecessor and ruling the world. You are assisted in this endeavor by an army of impish minions who have different powers and abilities based on their color and will happily obey your every executable command even at the cost of their own lives. Pros: -An amusing and original take on the genre. -A colorful and vibrant world to play in. -Amusing and memorable characters. The Minions are the best part of the game. -The GOG version includes the expansion pack which provides more of the same but is still enjoyable. Cons: -The controls used to direct the minions, while easy to learn, are clunky and sometimes difficult to use. -The Overlord character, even at the advanced stages of the game, is next to useless by himself. Overlord is an excellent game that can be enjoyed repeatedly by just about anyone. If Overlord II is ever released on GOG, it will be an instant buy.
