tropico-3-absolute-power posts

When publisher Kalypso Media bought the rights to the Tropico game franchise from Take Two Interactive, some were skeptical that the long dormant "island dictator sim" game series could be revived. However in 2009, Kalypso and developer Haemimont Games proved the naysayers wrong with the release of Tropico 3.

The game got solid reviews along with an expansion pack, Absolute Power, in 2010. Later this year Haemimont Games and Kalypso bring us a new stand alone title, Tropico 4, where you will once again rule the Caribbean island nation as its "El Presidente." Big Download got a chance to chat with Boian Spasov, the lead designer of Tropico 4, as he tells us more about the game and how Chuck Norris figures into it.

When an expansion to Tropico 3 comes around offering Absolute Power, you have to be a little skeptical. After all, how much more power can a player get than to become a tyrannical (or benevolent) ruler of an island nation? As it turns out, there's quite a bit of power to be had... just never enough. Although the expansion doesn't offer a huge twist in gameplay, the new edicts and buildings help players gain a better sense of control instead of constantly falling to the whim of opponents. However, many of our complaints about the core game still exist, so it can be sometimes be a real struggle to become the ultimate ruler we've always imagined being.

Download the Tropico 3 demo (1.1 GB)
Check out all Tropico 3 downloads

In a bit of a surprise, Kalypso Media has just made the Tropico 3: Absolute Power expansion pack available for purchase and download via Steam, Direct2Drive, GamersGate and other PC game download outlets. This expansion does require the original game be installed beforehand.

Just a quick reminder; this $19.99 expansion to 2009's island nation sim game from developer Haemimont Games gives you a bunch of extra options as the leader (or dictator; your pick) of a fictional Caribbean island land. There is a new 10 mission campaign in the expansion with new buildings, disasters and more. You can even put in new tourist attractions to bring in people and money or help out a new Loyalist faction that are devoted to you and your leadership.

The upcoming Tropico 3 expansion's title, Absolute Power, might be a bit overdramatic but it will provide some great content for fans to further customize their island nations. New content includes monuments, carnivals and marinas to further increase the appeal of your benign dictatorship. The expansion is expected to release in July, so players still have some time to work on their campaign speeches.

"Tropico 3 Absolute Power is the first official expansion pack to the critically acclaimed city builder/management simulation -- Tropico 3. Absolute Power invites players back to the island paradise of Tropico to experience unprecedented power as the benevolent (or malevolent) ruler 'El Presidente'. The expansion adds new campaigns, new missions, new islands, unique buildings and new presidential powers to maximize the length and success of your term in power."

Download HD Tropico 3: Absolute Power Trailer (32 MB)

Say you are a dictator in an island nation but you still want the outside world to check your island home out. What do you do? You create cool tourist attractions, that what. This week, we learned that the upcoming simulation expansion pack Tropico 3: Absolute Power will allow you to create the kinds of locations that people will want to visit without being under armed guard.

The expansion, due out in May from developer Haemimont Games and publisher Kalypso Media, lets tourists fly above your nation in a hot air balloon, ride on a big ferris wheel or bring a big expensive yachts to the marina. All of these attractions bring in money for your nation but as usual they can have some negative aspects as well. But you want to show everyone what a cool leader you are, don't you?

Are you ready for more time to be an island dictator? Kalypso Media hope so. After relaunching the dormant Tropico franchise (previously publshed by 2K Games) with Tropico 3 in 2009, the publisher is working again with deveoper Haemimont Games for the game's first expansion pack, Absolute Power.

The expansion, due out this May, will give players a chance to flex their island ruler muscles again with an all new 10 mission campaign along with 10 new islands that can be played in a sandbox mod. There's also a new Loyalist faction that are devoted to you and your leadership. In other words, they want you in place for life with no more elections. New buildings, edicts, disasters and more are also a part of the expansion. Now go out there and build some statues of yourself; you deserve it.