History VideoGame / Tropico

* ArtificialStupidity: Tropicans are, on the one hand, fairly smart about doing their jobs, handling most of their work automatically. On the other hand, they can be ''very'' dumb about doing those same jobs. When every builder on your island is drunk, every teamster is visiting a cabaret, and every doctor is in church waiting on a priest to show up (and the priests are visiting the restaurants!) sometimes work can grind to a halt. Tropicans sometimes forget to visit the farms or markets to get food, teamsters let highly valuable processed goods languish in the factories, factory workers can leave buildings unmanned for months at a time, dock workers can be halfway across the island when the cargo ship arrives and not get to the dock in time to load it, and construction workers will let unfinished buildings sit there for ''years''.

* BlackMarket: The second game have one as the importation / exportations system since the European powers won't trade with outlaws pirates... until you ally with one of them.

* [[ColdWar The Cold War]]: The game's setting. Even past 1991, the USSR doesn't go anywhere. An important part of the game is balancing Tropico's relations with the US and the USSR to gain development aid and trade benefits. One of the ways to lose the game is to annoy one of the superpowers enough to provoke an invasion.

** For your citizens, at least - you can issue an edict legalizing same-sex marriage in Tropico 3. [[EternalSexualFreedom In the 1950s]].

** The imports system introduced in ''Tropico 4'' needs some tweaks, imported and exported goods unrealistically have the same prices (no middleman meddling or logistics cost), but you could use a customs office to raise export prices and make a marginal profit selling previously bought goods or excedents thanks to it.

* TheAlcoholic: Reverend Esteban, speaker for the Religious faction in ''Tropico 4''. He considers rum to be God's gift to Tropico, and would prefer to conduct his sermons in a bar rather than a church. Seems to be at odds with most of his followers, but reluctantly goes along with their wishes anyway. For example, he might approach El Presidente claiming that God told him to ask for a prohibition on alcohol, then if it is implimented call the radio station the next day as an anonymous "concerned citizen" to protest the very policy he asked for.

* ANaziByAnyOtherName: "El Diablo," the speaker for the Nationalists in ''4,'' is a rather foul skin-headed fellow who asks you to do unpleasant things like executing immigrants.

* ATeamFiring: Spec Ops trained soldiers can and will continually miss when chasing down political opponents. And that's because they're highly trained, mind you -- the rebels will regularly miss when firing their rifles at ''buildings''.

** AwesomeYetPractical: So build the polluting, messy industries on one side of the island and the tourist traps on the scenic, pastoral side.

* NoCelebritiesWereHarmed: The game has a straigth roster of selectable real life historical leaders but there are thinly-veiled versions too:

* ShoutOut: The details for "Inquisition" in the third starts with "Nobody expects the Tropican Inquisition!".
** In Tropico 2, when you view the thoughts of the captives you get a lot of references.
*** "[[MontyPythonAndTheHolyGrail I'm not dead yet!]]"
*** Viewing the thoughts of lumberjacks in 3 will give you "[[MontyPythonsFlyingCircus I'm a lumberjack and I'm okay]]."

* AssInAmbassador: The American ambassador in ''4'' is a fairly unpleasant man, who constantly makes not-too-subtle threats of bringing the full might of the US Military down upon you, if you don't try to please him.

* AuthorityEqualsAsskicking: One of the possible traits for your avatar is "War Hero", which makes him/her much stronger in combat. Even without it though, your avatar can still fight better than the average soldier, even though the soldiers have M-16 assault rifles and you have a ''pistol''.
** Inverted when you pick "Coward" as flaw, wich makes your avatar fight worse, your soldiers twice as likely to flee in combat and lowers your respect among the militaristic faction. It's mandatory to choose two flaws, so "Coward" it's one of the less harmful ones as long as your rule doesn't raise armed opposition. This trait and the above are logically mutually exclusive.

* BadassBookworm: If you loss too much respect from the Intellectuals or outright outlaw their entire faction, they will take up arms and revolt against you just like anyone else would.

* BananaRepublic: The titular island is practically the definition of this trope. You can even take it to almost-literal extremes if you choose to base your economy on canned fruit.
** It is even referred to at least once in Tropico 3 by name as a Banana Republic.

* BlessedWithSuck: Rising to power through military coup in Tropico 3. The description states that you failed to take power for so many times that he dictator of the island takes pity on you and gives you the poorest island in the entire region to rule.

*** Inverted in that some of the negative qualities have some positive bonuses, such as being a drunk gets you [[VodkaDrunkenski a more positive relation withe the U.S.S.R]].
* BilingualBonus: One of the ''Absolute Power' missions... provided you know or can translate [[spoiler: binary]].

* DirtyCommunists: Played straight and averted - while getting too friendly with the US and the domestic captalist can result in an invasion, the Soviets will spare some cash for development aid every now and then and provide you with an economic aid package which gives you cheaper apartment blocks if they approve of your rule and you stay on friendly terms with them.

* GayOption: For your citizens, at least - you can issue an edict legalizing same-sex marriage in Tropico 3. [[EternalSexualFreedom In the 1950s]].

* GratuitousSpanish: A few voiceovers contain Spanish words sprinkled in here and there (and don't forget that "El Presidente" is a key term). But don't expect authentic pronunciation or accent, unless you take the music into consideration.

* InfantImmortality: Somewhat. Babies born in Tropico do not have in-game bodies, or needs that must be met, until age 3. This eliminates most causes of death.
** They don't even need parents or siblings!
*** Which is kind of FridgeBrilliance when you think about it if you consider them wards of the state.

* MookChivalry: The [[LaResistance Rebels]], humble disillusioned citizens sworn to bring down your corrupt regime by any means necessary, will often emerge from the jungle and attempt to destroy your buildings - but only after politely waiting for your armed forces to show up.

* PeoplesRepublicOfTyranny: A common occurrence, the official name is simply "República de Trópico" but other traits are ther, achieving a {{LandslideElection}} is way easier in the sequels (and an unlockable trophy) than in the original game. The developers lampshade it in promotional materials with the slogan ''Vote El Presidente. [[ImpliedDeathThreat Or Else]]''

* RaceLift: Bizarrely inverted: Every single character in the series who's not a tourist has skin color indicative of Latin American ancestry and speaks fluent Spanish even if they're immigrants fresh off the boat from, for example, ''Moscow''.

* RidiculouslyFastConstruction: Sort of, anyway. Since the game isn't in real-time, the building actually take days, weeks, or months to construct, but it certainly ''looks'' fast.
** It certainly tends to not look so fast when [[ArtificialStupidity the AI would rather have the construction workers wander around instead of building]]...
** Taken to the extreme in ''Tropico 4'', which now provides the option to near-instantly complete construction of a building... for double the construction price.
*** DLC for ''Tropico 4'' also includes a cement factory, which helps you build buildings faster, and as a bonus, produces lots of cement that you can sell as an export.
** In the original Tropico, where walking times are a real concern (no cars), '''the opposite''' is/was a problem that was explictly addresed in the expansion but not completely repaired. Construction is a presential job and workers have to walk to the construction sites, they don't walk very far and only work if they have no other needs to refill first. Many construction offices have to be strategically placed to have something built in slightly peripherical areas. In addition non-flat ground requires a lot of preparatory work, so finishing an airport takes decades.

* {{UsefulNotes/Socialism}} : Well... basically the economic model of the simulation is state capitalism to be precise, in Tropico the state is the owner of everything and manages wages and production modes. Recent games are gradually introducing private capitalism, still ineffective as mentioned already (above, Command and Conquer Economy) but there are other traits like free health care, free education and free food that are core concepts unchanged since the original game and cannot be changed by the player and fit well as at least socialdemocracy. Although the game explicitly labels those services as "free", they could also be interpreted as being tax financed (and breaking even) since there is no apparent tax collection but there is a "Tax Cut" edict that simulates returning treasury money to the citizens to make them happier. There are optionals edicts too like "Free Housing" that are relevant to the trope.

* SlidingScaleOfIdealismVersusCynicism: The message behind the game is extremely cynical. It basically says that all political leaders are there to either line their own pockets or just to hold power. Whether capitalist or communist, ideology is merely a way to obtain more power. The Cold War setting heavily reinforces this notion by having Tropico essentially be a very small pawn in a much larger game betweem the US and the USSR that is the same money-making, power-grabbing scheme on a larger scale. In addition, all of the factions are completely cynical examples illustrating the worst of their particular group as a whole: [[HolierThanThou the religious faction]] is full of puritanical MoralGuardians, [[CorruptCorporateExecutive the capitalists]] are greedy plutocrats, [[DirtyCommunists the communists]] want you to keep everyone equal regardless of skill or effort, [[DayOfTheJackboot the militarists]] are club-wielding {{Black Shirt}}s, [[MyCountryRightOrWrong the nationalists]] are xenophobic shut-ins, [[AnimalWrongsGroup the environmentalists]] are so knee-jerk hateful of industries such as logging that they would rather have people unemployed than working at a mill, the intellectuals are prone to get offended at [[SlobsVersusSnobs anything done to appeal to the uneducated]], and the loyalists are universally depicted as [[WhatAnIdiot a bunch of boot-licking simpletons]] who measures a strong leader on how much he abuses his privileges, cultivates a near-religious cult of personality, and brutally oppresses the general population.

* TheStarscream: It is strongly implied that your presidential advisor Penultimo is constantly trying to assassinate you and take power himself throughout the entire third game. He is, however, completely loyal in the fourth game.

* SuspiciouslySpecificDenial: Of course the secret police do not operate out of this restaurant, where have you heard that, Citizen?

* SwissBankAccount: Explicitly part of the game in that El Presidente has one and you have to keep it nice and plumped with crooked donations. You are actually encouraged to put money into your account since it will give you bonus points in the end game.

* UnstableEquilibrium: Very present in the much harder original. Losing the very few initial male college educated citizens (usually exigent chaps, prone to emigration) means no doctors if you don't realize it in time and hire expensive foreigners. No doctors leads to peple dying like flies, a critical hit early on. Also since citizens have to walk to the buildings that provide services they sometimes neglect their own business. Working is a low priority by design, they serve themselves first. This is a critical issue with dockworkers, since they require to be physically at work to load exported goods into a ship, the entire economy of a industry-based island could collapse if they have to walk to the other side of the island to satisfy a need (e.g due to food shortages or crowded buildings), and during that time another different need likely triggers so they can spend their whole life walking if you don't monitor them. Once the island has deficit, wages are capped and things go sour(er). The sequels erradicate this with the introduction of cars and allowing to spend a little while in debt.
* UpdatedRerelease: ''Tropico 3'' looks to be this to the first game and its expansion pack - the bulk of the mechanics, buildings, edicts, etc., built into a new engine and with new campaigns and game modes.
** Many of the NPC citizens are carried over verbatim except in 3D.
** ''Tropico 4'' is pretty much ''Tropico 3'', but with slightly better graphics, larger maps, redesigned AI, a handful of new buildings and edicts, and a redesigned campaign. Everything else is exactly the same, especially the game models.
*** And the ''Script''! Especially the script...

* VoiceOfTheResistance: DJ Betty Boom of Radio Free Tropico from the ''Absolute Power'' expansion. She is quite the ConspiracyTheorist, and is vehemently against everything El Presidente does. Even if the player plays a genuinely progressive, democratic, incorruptible, and generous El Presidente, she will still declare all taken actions acts of pure evil and use them as reasons to call for El Presidente's head on a stake. No seriously, if you enact air pollution standards, she'll lambast you for ''[[InsaneTrollLogic keeping the "healthy" noxious fumes all to the bourgeoisie]]''.
** If you build a wind turbine, she'll decry it as a symbol of oppression for only turning in the direction of the wind, and ask her listeners to join her in tearing down the turbine and building a new one that rotates against the win. This is Lampshaded in ''4''.

** Sheik_Sallim is an expy of [[ArabIsraeliConflict Yasser Arafat]]

* GovernmentProcedural: Ministers ([[SkeletonGovernment Five]]) are introduced in ''Tropico 4'' and are needed before some buildings can be built. They generate positive events if they are competent, and the other way around. Sometimes El Presidente will have to fire them to avoid backlash.

* UnstableEquilibrium: Very present in the original game, since the citizens have to walk to the buildings that provide services they sometimes neglect their own business. This is a critical issue with dock workers, since they require to be physically at work to load exported goods into a ship, the entire economy of the island could collapse if they have to walk to the other side of the island to satisfy a need (food shortages or crowded buildings), and during that time another different need likely triggers so they spent their whole life walking if you don't monitor them. The introduction of cars erradicated this.

* NoCelebritiesWereHarmed:

* TheGeneralissimo
* GovernmentProcedural: Ministers ([[SkeletonGovernment Five]]) are introduced in Tropico 4 and are needed before some buildings can be built. They generate positive events if they are competent, and the other way around. Sometimes El Presidente will have to fire them to avoid backlash.

* GunboatDiplomacy: If Tropico's relations with a superpower are poor, that superpower will dispatch a naval task in your waters [[YouHaveBeenWarned as a warning]]. If relations still don't improve after some time, an invasion usually follows.

** The imports system introduced in Tropico 4 needs some tweaks, imported and exported goods unrealistically have the same prices (no middleman meddling or logistics cost), but you could use a customs office to raise export prices and make a marginal profit selling previously bought goods or excedents thanks to it.

* {{Pirates}}: ''Tropico 2: Pirate Cove'' shows that it takes a '''lot''' of work to be a successful pirate lord, far more than just sailing the high seas to find victims or BuriedTreasure.

* ThePope: "Papal Visit" is one of the best edicts of the game, it provides a great happines boost. Can only be used once. The one in the original game is a reference to John Paul II's visit to Cuba.

** The towering [[http://www.miastogier.pl/baza/Encyklopedia/gry/Tropico_PC/Okladka/okl_tropico_okl.jpg original Presidente]] from the first game is an {{Expy}} of the Cuban Comandante FidelCastro, signature green uniform, cap hat, bear, CigarChomper and all. He was not present in some covers and looks like a more generic TheGeneralissimo in the sequels, but the generals are still modelled in-game after him with the mentioned traits.

* EvenEvilHasStandards: In the original game, trying to use the eliminate edict on a child prompts the message "You can't do that to a child!"

* ThePope: "Papal Visit" is one of the best edicts of the game, it provides a great happinnes boost. Can only be used one. The one in the original game is a reference to John Paul II's visit to Cuba.

* {{UsefulNotes/Socialism}} : Well... basically the economic model of the simulation is state capitalism to be precise, in Tropico the state is the owner of everything and manages the wages and production modes. Recent games are gradually introducing private capitalism, still ineffective as mentioned already (above, Command and Conquer Economy) but there are other traits like free health care, free education and free food that are core concepts unchanged since the original game and cannot be changed by the player and fit well as at least socialdemocracy. Although the game explicitly labels those services as "free", they could also be interpreted as being tax financed (and breaking even) since there is no apparent tax collection but there is a "Tax Cut" edict that simulates returning treasury money to the citizens to make them happier. There are optionals edicts too like "Free Housing" that are relevant to the trope.

* GovernmentProcedural: Ministers ([[SkeletonGovernment Five]]) are introduced in Tropico 4 and are needed before some buildings can be build. They generate positive events if they are competent, and the other way around. Sometimes El Presidente will have to fire them to avoid backlash.

* OccupiersOutOfOurCountry: Nationalists will resent you if you allow a foreing military base in your base.

* {{UsefulNotes/Socialism}} : Well... basically the economic model of the simulation is state capitalism to be precise, in Tropico the state is the owner of everything and manages the wages and production modes. Recent games are gradually introducing private capitalism, still ineffective as mentioned already (above, Command and Conquer Economy) but there are other traits like free health care, free education and free food that are core concepts unchanged since the original game and cannot be changed by the player and fit well as at least socialdemocracy. Although the game explicity labels those services as "free", they could also be interpreted as being tax financed (and breaking even) since there is no apparent tax collection but there is a "Tax Cut" edict that simulates returning treasury money to the citizens to make them happier. There are optionals edicts too like "Free Housing" that are relevant to the trope.

* NoCelebritiesWereHarmed: The towering [[http://www.miastogier.pl/baza/Encyklopedia/gry/Tropico_PC/Okladka/okl_tropico_okl.jpg original Presidente]] from the first game is an {{Expy}} of the Cuban Comandante FidelCastro, signaute green uniform, cap hat, bear, CigarChomper and all. He was not present in some covers and looks like a more generic TheGeneralissimo in the sequels, but the generals are still modelled in-game after him with the mentioned traits.

* AnEntrepreneurIsYou: There are several background traits featuring this trope, Booze Baron being one it gives a great boost to your beverage industries and exportations.

** The imports system introduced in Tropico 4 needs some tweaks, imported and exported goods unrealistically have the same prices (no middleman meddling or logistics cost), but you can use a customs office to raise export prices and make a marginal profit thanks to it.

* PeoplesRepublicOfTyranny: A common occurrence, achieving a {{LandslideElection}} is way easier in the sequels (and an unlockable trophy) than in the original game. The developers lampshade it in promotional materials with the slogan ''Vote El Presidente. [[ImpliedDeathThreat Or Else]]''

* VillainWithGoodPublicity: You, if you're doing well.

Like a cross between ''SimCity'' and ''TheSettlers'', ''Tropico'' puts the player in the role of the newly installed president of a [[BananaRepublic Caribbean island]], starting in [[TheFifties 1950]].

* LandOfOneCity: Averted in the first game; different collections of buildings would have their own names hovering over them automatically. Whether or not you have just one "city" in Tropico 3 and 4 is up to you, though. Those games don't have an auto-naming system.

** Your citizens would start a demostration if their respect for you is low and their life conditions are poor, attracting the attention of nearby walkers. If things don't improve they would emigrate to greener pastures or become rebels and eventually attack your buildings or your palace. Unhappy soldiers and generals can stage or join a military coup and if too much citizens are very unhappy they could start a general uprising. If your palace is destroyed by any of these events, GameOverMan.

* BalconySpeech: Since the third installment your character can deliver one from the palace. It raises your standing among the people who gather to hear it.

* CrapsaccarineWorld: ''Tropico 2'' essentially has you playing as a genocidal slave-driving psychopath lording over a band of murderous thugs who are kept fed, housed, and entertained by an economy driven entirely by slave labor. These slaves are kept in line with torture, random executions, and malnourishment. Despite this, the game is cheery, casual, and lighthearted, with a cartoonish art style, upbeat music, brightly-colored buildings and funny little comments in your citizens' thought boxes. Even the captives' crippling terror and miserable lives are played for laughs.

** You can also avert this in the third game, which include an edict called 'Privatization' which [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin privatizes all non-essential industries on the island]]. The capitalists practically orgasm when it's enacted, and the communists will in all likelihood start calling for your head on a plate, but it relieves you of the worry of having to micromanage every single industrial and commercial building on the island. However, enacting it will mean that you lose a huge amount of money, as instead of gaining money from exporting the produce of privatized factories, you merely get the rent the new factory owners pay you, which is an absolutely paltry amount compared to what you'd earn from exports. The edict is thus rahter useless unless you desperately need to appease the capitalist faction for some reason.

* ArmsDealer: In ''Tropico 3'', you can now build weapons for export using iron you've mined. Weapons are in fact one of the most profitable exports in the game (only jewelry sells for more) but unless you only sell handguns (lower production rate), this hurts your reputation with the US and the USSR.

* Intellectuals: The highly educated elites of Tropico. Like lots of educational buildings, high liberty ratings, and a progressive society. Generally a small faction, but like the Capitalists, many of their members are highly skilled and educated workers who can be difficult to replace if you loss their support.

* CurbStompBattle: If you get invaded by the US or the USSR, you will lose instantly and the game will be over. What? [[RealityEnsues You honestly thought that your 'large' army with 30 people can stand against the might of a super power?]]

* SensitivityTraining: A policy that can be implimented if Tropico has a college or minister of education. It helps police and military personel be less of a drag on liberty ratings by offering such helpful suggestions as "Never hit a civilian anywhere that will leave a mark."

* BananaRepublic: The titular island is practically the definition of this trope.

** One of the cheat codes for ''Tropico 3'' is "[[TheCurseOfMonkeyIsland elpollodiablo]]".

* JudgeJuryAndExecutioner: If the SWAT HQ is set to "[[StateSec Personal Death Squad]]" mode, it will only employ loyalists, who will immediately take the law into their own hands, and gun down criminals in the streets as they come across them. SWAT members also do double duty even if you don't set them to this mode; they count as both police officers (they cut down on crime) and elite soldiers (they fight rebels, and a bit better than generic soldiers do).

* JudgeJuryAndExecutioner: If the SWAT HQ is set to "[[StateSec Personal Death Squad]]" mode, it will only employ loyalists, who will immediately take the law into their own hands, and gun down criminals in the streets as they come across them.
* LandOfOneCity: Averted in the first game. Oh so true in Tropico 3.

-->'''Jaunito''': I think I have some bad news. Russian warships have been spotted off the coast of our island, I think our little island's days are numbered. Don't the Russians know that our El Presidente can ''easily'' chase them off with a baseball bat?

** The description of the weapons factory fits this to. "Weapons? What weapons? They are nothing but pipes, pipes in which you could possibly shoot something out of..."

* EvilMentor: The first few missions of Tropico 4 are a tutorial with a succession of mentors. the rest are revenge against them when they turn against you. Though whether any of them are more corrupt than El Presidente is open to debate.

* FisherKing Personal traits selected at the beginning of the game influence the entire population. If you were a Farmer or Miner in your background, everyone will be much better at farming or mining. If you're Hardworking, everyone else will be hardworking.

* StuffyBrit: The EU representative from ''4''.

* TheStarscream: It is strongly implied that your presidential advisor Penultimo is constantly trying to assassinate you and take power himself throughout the entire third game.

*** "I'm not dead yet!"
*** Viewing the thoughts of lumberjacks in 3 will give you "I'm a lumberjack and I'm okay."

** The details for Museum of Modern Art mention something about the decadent piece of art called [[{{Squick}} "2 girls, 1 llama"]]. Thank you, !Haemimont/Kalypso.

** The message from the rebels who hijack your oil refinery? "Somebody set us up the bomb".

** The Plantanador DLC mission for ''4'' is heavy on referencing Lovecraft, but it also mentions [[BaldersGate a giant space hamster named "Boo."]]

* ArmsDealer: In ''Tropico 4'', you can now build weapons for export using iron you've mined. Weapons are in fact one of the most profitable exports in the game (only jewelry sells for more) but unless you only sell handguns (lower production rate), this hurts your reputation with the US and the USSR.

** By having the moronic as your character's flaw, it will make the game almost impossible to win since it removes your ability to build colleges, which are critical for having an advanced economy.

* LesYay: The Womanizer flaw is available for men AND women, and there is [[HoYay no corresponding flaw regarding men.]] [[YuriFanboy This fact was lauded in certain circles.]]

* ModernStasis: Tropico is trapped in a middle-20th Century stasis, and nothing really upgrades past the 1950's. That is, of course, until the "Modern Times" expansion for ''4'' which finally lets El Presidente do things like build car and electronics factories, establish telecomm towers for cell phones and ban the use of Twitter and Facebook by presidential edict!

** Although most players avoid doing so, due to the [[MostAnnoyingSound incredibly irritating noise]] it makes.
--> '''VIVA EL PRESIDENTE! VIVA EL PRESIDENTE! VIVA EL PRESIDENTE!'''

** Bizarrely in Tropico 3, becoming employed as a doctor makes the character look much more African looking. If said character gets some other form of employment they go back to looking of predominantly Spanish ancestry. It's probably one of the weirder examples of this trope around really.

*** That is because they refuse to work unless their needs are somewhat satisfied.

** Or for the redundant El Presidente, an ordinary police station.
*** Which is expensive since you then have to build another one for the regular police.