Graphics wise and concept wise, this is a well done game. The problem lies in a huge flaw in the gameplay loop that breaks the entire game. In combat, the winner is determined by whoever has the highest sum of power by the end. You can only add/remove soldiers. There is no stamina/fatigue/hp system so bringing all your characters is the best way to secure a win. This encourages an "all in" style. If your enemies have a higher value than you, there is no way to fight back. Not all your characters gain power upon leveling up. There is no reliable way to spend your money to increase your power. If you've had a bad set of characters, you're done. You cannot weaken your enemy because the only way to lower their power is to "win" a battle/skirmish (but each battle is an all in so you cannot chip). If you try to rat your way, the ai will send their whole army to fight back because it takes too long for you to capture a city. The enemy can also invade your zone and there are no reliable way to increase your defensive values. You can stand in your city to protect your "castle" but you cannot support your towns as they get destroyed. Don't even get me started on the research tech. I've cleared the entire map with nearly infinite money and I still haven't touched T3 tech because of the absurd time it takes to complete 1 research (16 ingame days at most). Once again, your income cannot influence your research tech other than the requirement ( except for a unique expensive building that only reduces by 10%). I would recommend this if the numbers are tweaked to a realistic number when the game is patched out or a mod that does so. Other than that major flaw, the lack of shortcuts (you cannot build using your keyboard keys, it has to be by mouse), the campaign being a grind, Cartel Tycoon does everything else well for a mobster tycoon.
