Tropico 3

 Xbox 360
Metascore
75

Generally favorable reviews - based on 33 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 21 out of 33
  2. Mixed: 11 out of 33
  3. Negative: 1 out of 33
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  1. XGN
    72
    To understand the controls of this game, it's wise to check the tutorial and the manual first. About the game, the graphics are just fine, but the music will annoy you soon enough and unfortunately there are more lacks which will cause irritations. Despite all this Tropico 3 has become a decent game, but it's definitely only meant for the fans of this genre.
  2. Game Over Online
    72
    Overall, Tropico 3 is a fine city management game, provided that you don't mind that it's essentially just Tropico with a modern game engine.
  3. Eurogamer
    70
    Maybe it's the classic, solid city-building gameplay. Maybe it's the unique style and sense of humour. Maybe it's the fact that, despite all the niggles, the game is still so absorbing you can spend hours on it without realising just how much time you've wasted.
  5. Official Xbox Magazine UK
    70
    So addictive you'll be playing for weeks. [Jan 2010, p.108]
  6. GameZone
    70
    Whatever you do, don’t lose your palace or else it’s game over. Hire secret police, win over the militarists and build up army as the KB, the CIA and rebels will make several assassination attempts to call the end of your reign. It’s this type of problem solving that makes Tropico 3 a rich title with plenty of things to do.
  7. Armchair Empire
    70
    This genre is notably absent from the console world. A number of real-time strategy games have made in-roads in establishing this almost PC-exclusive genre on consoles but until mouse and keyboard get the nod, it has hit a wall. I'm just glad it has done so with a steel drum beat.
  8. GameWatcher
    65
    It’s a real shame that the campaign plays second fiddle to challenges for drama and certainly entertainment, as Tropico 3 still has a fair way to go before it makes a significant impact outside of the PC world.
  9. SpazioGames
    65
    A good game partially ruined by the complex control system. If you can, buy the PC version.
  10. GameSpot
    65
    Rebel coups and corruption aren't the only things you need to worry about in this somewhat problematic, yet still addictive, port of Tropico 3.
  11. Gamers' Temple
    65
    After playing both versions of the game, I'd recommend looking at the PC version instead of this one if both are an option to you. If not, keep in mind that the Xbox 360 version of the game is going to take some patience on your part. You'll need to deal with a clunky interface, long stretches of do-nothing time, and a difficulty curve that's barely a speed bump. Other than that, it's a day in the sun.
  12. X-ONE Magazine UK
    60
    A steep learning curve and a complex play style stop it from succeeding. [Issue#53, p.90]
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Awards & Rankings

91
#91 Best Xbox 360 Game of 2010

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
6.9

Mixed or average reviews- based on 23 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 23
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 23
  3. Negative: 5 out of 23
  1. TechnologoDoom
    Aug 2, 2011
    7
    Tropico 3 is a mixed bag. You'll be frustrated when its hard and bored when its easy, but its fun nonetheless.

    1. If you don't have an HD tv,    Tropico 3 is a mixed bag. You'll be frustrated when its hard and bored when its easy, but its fun nonetheless.

    1. If you don't have an HD tv, you'll not be able to read ANY of the text on the screen. For real. However, once you play for 10 hours and look a lot of stuff up online, you wont need to since almost everything you need has an icon associated with it. Frustrating but not game-ending.

    2. Tropico is frustrating when things aren't going well. When you're behind, its darn hard to catch up, whether from lack of monetary income, natural disasters, rebels, etc. You'll feel like you're always running to catch up, which isn't really that pleasant of an experience for hours on end. Inversely, when you've got everything under control, you'll likely end up bored of playing because at that point is just about island design and racking up more points, in essense, the game looses its appeal and becomes dull.

    3. While Tropico 3 is a lot like Sim City plus politics, strangely enough the politics only play into how you build your city, or what buildings you make. Its virtually impossible to flat out ignore any constituency, and of course you have to have money regardless. So in the end either everyone is happy with you or you'll have a failed state. Its hard to be in-between. I wish there was more political stuff going on - its way too easy just to ignore the US and USSR.

    4. There's virtually no tutorial about how to make anything work on your island for such a deep sim builder. So you'll spend a lot of time online, thankfully nothing much has changed from the old Tropicos, so those work just fine for strategy FYI.

    5. Tropico, despite all i've noted, is actually quite a fun and addicting game. the framerate suffers sometimes, but its not a huge deal. overall, if you pick it up used say for $25-$30 i'd think it worth it. definitely a game you can leave and come back to again and again. So sorry if the review makes it feel like a downer, its just dont expect to be blown away. its a fun game if you like civ building for sure.    … Full Review »
  2. RafaelBarrera
    Apr 5, 2019
    6
    Tropico is an interesting Simcity-like videogamesin which you rule your own banana state... and that makes it sooo fun. Because you can be theTropico is an interesting Simcity-like videogamesin which you rule your own banana state... and that makes it sooo fun. Because you can be the bad dictator, try to be the good one... But it doesn't matter which one you pick, you always end up being murdered. There are no real options you can make to fix internal problems. In addition... you only need one game to experience everything, and I think that's be the biggest problem with this game... It ends up being boring after a couple games. It is a good approach to a simcity-like banana state game.… Full Review »
  3. BrettSiebenhaar
    Aug 11, 2018
    7
    EL PRESENDENTE!!!! This was a nice change of pace from Sim City. The only problem is that you are very limited to as what you can do in theEL PRESENDENTE!!!! This was a nice change of pace from Sim City. The only problem is that you are very limited to as what you can do in the game. The missions are fun, and the narrator is funny. I am happy the game improved in later releases. Building on many islands was fun and very challenging at times.… Full Review »
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