Tropico 6

[Panos]

Haven't seen any discussion about this so decided to create one.

Did anyone bought the El Prez version for the Beta access?

Had the time to do the tutorials tonight, and must say it looks great.
More customisation added to everything. Not only the El Presidente, but to the Palace also, which you can make to your own taste.

Graphics wise. With everything maxed out at 2560x1440 is bit "heavy" (aka 80-90fps on Vega 64) but is still beta also and no drivers optimisations out for it yet.

 

[Panos]

One of my favourite games series, and number six might be the only game I play this year.

It's good to see some new Tropico images, though it doesn't look too dissimilar to the earlier ones in those screenshots. What are you impressions of it in comparison to the previous incarnations? Any substantial changes? How does the archipelago system play out?

How much are you allowed to say as a beta player?

I am still at the first mission. The game feels like a combination of Tropico 2 with Tropico 4. I haven't drove more into it, and personally I thought that changing development company might go bad, however it hasn't.

Atm the first mission is on 3 islands. Interesting concept especially the extra planning is required to move people by boat. However all the cool stuff start at later ages.

 

[Panos]

5 was a bit Meh, but 6 looks like it's shaping up well, I love tropico in general, and looking forward to 6 after the delays to launch hopefully it will be good.

Yeah compared to 3 & 4 the 5th was bit meh.
But new developer now, as the original ones are making Surviving Mars.
Also is uses Unreal Engine, and the graphics are superb but maxed put is pretty heavy.

However while it feels the same in basic lines, it also feels different. Maybe is the new piracy concept or the new research. Idk. When next weekend delve more into it i would be more helpful with my opinion.

 

[Panos]

Sounds good.

Looking forward to seeing the multiple island mechanic in action. It did need something a bit new to liven up the series, even though I'd probably have happily whiled away 50-60 hours anyway just playing through a new campaign on an updated engine.

Any other big differences in the game economy/mechanics? I had rather got the start of the game on auto-pilot after a few iterations and it started to feel pretty straightforward to get to the point where my economy was self-sustaining (at which point the challenge is pretty much over).

Trade missions are more simplified, there is also the pirate cove for underhand operations. Economy looks the same with many news buildings and options to improve or make worse, but adding different bonuses elsewhere. Eg the initial church building has option to have reduce faith pleasure effect, but provide some health. Or a plantation have a big impact on its produce but assist all nearby plantations of different types.

There are many such subtle changes that make the game different than Tropico 5 but also make it feel.the same and a better version of it.

 

[Panos]

What are your thoughts on T6, iirc didn't you also play the beta .?

Feels better and more rich than Tropico 3/4/5. (Tropico 2 was different with pirates).
As wrote more than 7 months ago, is made of the best ideas of Tropico 4 and 2 as it's core. Which is a good thing.

Must say Limbic Entertainment (MMH VI/VII, MMX) has done a damn good job, having spent the last 6 months in open beta testing. Even simple things like tweaking your own palace, greatly improve the experience, though I do hate TAA, let alone FXAA, as only AA options however is using Unreal engine so all is possible.

Hopefully Kalypso going to push for as many DLCs as they had on 5 at least, because personally loving the storylines and campaigns, having a good laugh, more than just "build a city". For that there is Cities Skylines tbh and not my cup of tea.

Imho while Haemimont did a good job when made Tropico 3/4 somehow on 5 lost something and didn't push the game as it should. Something they have done with Surviving Mars.

How does this compare to Cities Skylines? Seems like a similar game?

Cities Skylines is a "life" simulator. Sterile of personality and character, and is the best game ever had in that sector (of SimCity gen games).
Tropico 3/4/5 were always different than "SimCity style games".
Personally more of how to build a "banana republic", play a political game to survive the elections while trying to go through the campaign and missions, though nothing stopping you to build something like Havana.
Have played more Tropico than the rest, because of the missions and jokes. Feels more like my cup of tea tbh.

 

[Panos]

I see that Anno 1800 is out very soon, altho that costs quite a bit more out could still be worth a buy. Glad that they chose a theme similar to the 1404 game than the futuristic ones .

Anno 1701 was my favourite one tbh. 1404 was bit dumbed down, and especially 2070 and 2205 completely stupid while over complicated for the sake of it. (played them all).
Though is completely different type of game also, and while isn't city builder game like Cities Skylines, is more dumb than Tropico also. As the population is just numbers and statistics (like CL or SimCity 4 and before), not real people with lives, homes and ability to "grow" at least financially and educationally, through their own work and your actions.

And a personal thought.
While not big fan of the game, Cities Skylines is the best for city building, real simulation and management. Though if it had the ideas of Transport Fever when comes to trains and supply chains, production etc, could have been the perfect game and best of all time, and I would have played it more than the 30 hours currently have, but right now is only half way there.
But again too complex for someone who just want to spent short amounts of time having fun, which is why found Sim City 2013 better, regardless it's issue and abandonment by the developers, and very very limited Mods support.
And on SC2013 have clocked hundreds of hours, especially online. Having amazed more dedicated people like those on Sim Nation group, who invited me on their online map, and in one evening saw a booming Casino town building on it's own an great works on the map, with barely any traffic yet massive amount of population, while their towns which have spent days, were still struggling to make ends meet.

But both those games above are different than Tropico and Anno, which are different games between them also.

And from all the above, the Tropico series is the one which has hooked me more to it over the years, because of the missions, fun and great music.

FYI to everyone. If you are getting bored with game music, put some Latin radio station like Tropicalisima FM and select Salsa as music. It will stick to the tone of the game
(nothing to do with Tropico the station)

 

[Panos]

Imperator Rome is the one I'm waiting for. If it falls short of expectations, T6 looks like it'll be a nice alternative (yep, they're very different games, but I can only invest time in one of them).

Imperator Rome wont let you down.

 

[Panos]

Yeah, I think it'll be ace, but I've just gotten used to tempering expectations as of late!

PDX isn't EA or Bethesda. At least the games making themselves using the Clausewitz engine. For those they are just publishing jury still out.
And find me a game Johan Andersson failed to deliver of those he designed. (HOI3, EU4, CK2, Vic2, Stellaris)
Huge money makers all of them, especially EU4, CK2, making everyone playing them addictive for the next decade clocking thousands of hours on each.

Though I admit, at 800 hours you are still in the tutorial, finding new mechanics... Shame on him not making games lasting 8-10 hours max........