You'd be forgiven for thinking that a city builder/sim game such as Tropico 6 might be a poor fit for the Switch. A huge number of systems at play, an archipelago's worth of individually tracked citizens... it's something of a recipe for compromise. And, sure enough, there are compromises here – but far fewer than you may expect, and not to the game's real detriment.
What we have here are the tools to craft a banana republic of your very own. The main attraction being the extensive sandbox mode, which offers you everything you could need to start exploiting your innocent citizens. It's immediately quite daunting an experience, with menus nested within menus. Thankfully, it's easy to navigate these sensible and cleverly-crafted lists, thanks to a UI that avoids the Switch's usual problem of being weensy, with readable text and generally useful, clearly-written text. In fact, it's impressive that even on handheld, it's pretty much effortless to get a game going. So much of it is intuitive that you could probably get your head around it even without the tutorial, but we're glad it's there nonetheless.
We personally found the easiest way to learn Tropico 6 was to simply play the thing. El Presidente (that's you) is bombarded with requests from various factions (such as, initially, The Crown, a not-entirely-flattering but also not-entirely-inaccurate take on Britain), which serve as useful direction in a game that can paralyse with its freedom. Both the sandbox and additional scenarios have this feature, which sees a novice player given the light and effective shepherding that they'll need to get to grips with the many, many systems.
The direction offered by said scenarios is also welcome, as in forcing you to work around limitations, you'll come to understand how to apply those skills to the main game. With multiple resources to manage and export, citizens to appease, pirates to fight off and – most importantly – money to make, this piecemeal approach to Tropico 6 is a very welcome way to learn the ropes and makes this game feel a lot less intimidating than it could have.
It helps that this port is solid. As mentioned, the menus and UI are perfectly tailored for both docked and handheld modes; you'll never have trouble finding or accessing the command you want, even when the game is absolutely swimming in variables. Graphics and performance aren't great, sadly; both docked and handheld seem to struggle to reach 30fps when the view is even moderately zoomed out, and it's all a little fuzzy and low-res. Understandable in a sense, as this is an ambitious port, but still a touch disappointing. On top of the framerate issue, there are also occasional hitches, and the initial load is remarkably long. Once you're in the game, though, you're in. Also, given the type of game it is, you're never really required to make any reflex-based decisions, and the clock can be sped up or stopped at will.
Oddly, though, even when sped up to maximum (4x speed), it feels like everything takes a little too long. There will be times where you're basically just waiting for things to happen, though you can speed up construction using quick build. But you've got to wait for that, for trade routes to complete, for your own pirate raids to complete... it's a lot of passive stuff. But that's the genre, really. Once things start coming together, there's an enormous amount to keep track of. You'll find yourself wondering why you're haemorrhaging funds, why supply chains are stalling, or why you're unable to defend yourself against pirate attacks.
Once you progress past the initial Colonial Era, you achieve (or outright buy) independence and truly take control of your nation, you'll be able to play through further Eras including the Axis/Allies struggle, the Cold War and, finally Modern Times. Each Era adds more nuance and challenge to the experience, adding more Superpowers such as Russia, The Middle East and even the United States to tangle with. It's a smart way of changing things up as you progress, and the relative drip-feed of new mechanics and additional complexity means you won't be completely overwhelmed by the transition.
Careful and clever play allows you to build and build into a Superpower of your own, enacting various different Edicts upon your populace to focus on problem areas of industry, as well as upgrade your buildings and workforces for more efficiency and better production. It's always clear what you need to do, if not how you do it; thankfully, your current objectives are always available, and a useful Almanac feature lets you see the important stats at a glance.
The game has also launched with paid DLC available, but we wonder if it's not a little ungenerous not to have included it in the base price of £44.99? That's not to say there isn't enough content in the package – there's heaps – but at the time of this review the game (with all DLC) is available on PC for less than half that price. Yes, yes, "Switch tax", but this is a 20-month-old game, and that asking price feels a bit much considering the additional ask for the three DLC packs.
Conclusion
It's the game's commitment to accessibility that makes Tropico 6 a refreshing example of an under-served genre on the Switch. Despite some irksome performance problems, occasionally inconsistent pacing and some rather rough visuals, the game is a lot of addictive fun to play and its cheerful ambience and compelling systems will keep you glued to your handheld. Paid DLC adds even more systems to the game, but there's plenty here to keep you occupied for hours and hours. We'd recommend this to genre newbies as well as veterans; a very impressive port with strong controls and a UI tailored brilliantly for handheld mode. It's a busy, demanding game but never feels stressful, and juggling your industry, faction relationships and the mood of your citizens can be thoroughly absorbing. If you can forgive the technical issues and an occasionally slack pace, Tropico 6 is an easy recommendation.
Comments 68
Fo shizzle my Niggle
Deep discount in say 3 to 6 months for me.
Nearly every Switch game that has been reviewed here as of recent has had an issue with its visuals and/or performance. There is no doubt that there is a big need for that Switch Pro!
I’ve been enjoying it so far.
@doctorhino Was watching Mighty Boosh this weekend with my girlfriend (we're in the USA) and while watching an episode, saw her eyes go big and I turned to her and assured her that "niggles" had zero to do with the the other word American's unfortunately created a few hundred years ago, lol.
@jcboyer515 It sure does. But fear not, its an archaic term that means constant annoyance or irritation.
Anywho, I'll pass on this. It doesn't look like it'd be my thing.
@Dang69 What's Mighty Boosh?
On my wish list.
@jcboyer515 Just started rewatching the Mighty Boosh because my girlfriend put on the Great British Baking Show and I got excited when I saw Noel Fielding/Vince Noir hosting it.
@doctorhino because of this right here... Please change this description. Thanks.
@doctorhino I remember my grandpa and dad using the word "chiggers". Google tells me they are "trombiculid mites", lol. So yeah a specific thing.
@jcboyer515 Oh ok. Thanks
What are Niggles?
@Gamerdudesteel Probably some British word.
If you can get passed the visuals this will be a amazing game
£45 with out all the DLC what kind of mad dictator thought this would be good price. Only buy if i can find it on clearance
@jcboyer515 @HatosBlack @Gamerdudesteel @HotGoomba___Rebrand
https://www.dictionary.com/browse/niggle
I’m British, so understand ’niggles’, but from the comments here it sounds like it means something inappropriate in American English? Or is it just that it isn’t used at all in American English?
@Damo Oh ok I understand now.
@thiswaynow To us Americans, it sounds like a certain slur that I'm don't wanna say (it refers to Black People) which is why it sounds wrong to us Americans 🤠.
My friend bought this for me on PC already. So will be playing it there eventually. But glad it sounds so docent.
@HotGoomba___Rebrand Gotcha. I’d have never thought of that. As the saying goes, we’re two countries divided by a common language!
Back on topic, I loved Anno 1701 on my DS back in the day, so will give this a go.
"Niggles?" I am offended sir.
Jk all jokes aside, this was a solid review.
@Damo Dude this is in the dictionary too and I wouldn't be caught saying it out loud. (Dare even hit the speech button on the site, i'm probably going to delete this comment.
https://www.dictionary.com/browse/niggard
@doctorhino Niggles is an extremely widely used word though, you can’t really start to censor the English language because it sounds vaguely like something else in a different language. Niggard is archaic everywhere.
@thiswaynow The word we are referring to it sound like is in english, and I'm not censoring, more laughing at and saying no way in hell I'd say it out loud. As for the other word mentioned I had never heard of it and it's pretty clearly more appalling than niggles.
It may not be an offensive term but its literally two letters from being a very offensive term. Smh, try a thesaurus
@ummyeahnintendo Snigger is one letter away. Should we stop using that, too?
@thiswaynow Exactly. This is yet another case of people trying to create drama where there isn't any. Seems to happen a lot more often these days than it used to.
@Damo Please stop feigning ignorance
Good enough for me. Will pick up by the end of the month.
@ummyeahnintendo I'm not, I'm simply using the English language - niggle is a commonly-used word.
Examples:
http://www.deadlinenews.co.uk/2017/08/10/review-nothing-niggle-mesmerising-take-tolkien/
https://www.independent.ie/life/health-wellbeing/are-your-knees-niggling-here-are-10-steps-to-avoiding-pain-and-injury-37843792.html
https://www.republicworld.com/sports-news/cricket-news/andre-russell-to-play-against-bangalore-despite-niggle.html
https://www.essexlive.news/special-features/dont-niggling-health-worries-develop-3506150
https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/cautious-cats-say-cockatoo-s-hamstring-issue-just-a-niggle-20200216-p541bz.html
https://www.livemint.com/companies/start-ups/an-indian-fix-for-a-coding-niggle-goes-global-11580050246627.html
@Damo Yes, I would never use the word snigger if you know what's good for you. Say that on an international business call and tell me how it goes.
@doctorhino And "bigger"?
This was a fun comment section. Niggle is just a word, with zero connotations. This is making trouble where there is none. I hate it when the bloody Americans hold everyone else to their own standards when this is a British site first and foremost.
@Damo I haven't heard or read the word "snigger" since the 90s, forgot that was even a word.
@Damo Stop being so defensive, I don't think people are calling you a racist or saying we must censor the word, it's just odd for us in the US to see or hear the word "niggle", cuz of it recalling the n-word and "nizzle". Just educate your comments section, don't ***** out at anyone!
@nessisonett Just educate man! In the history of the world we're children. Educate! Cutting people us down just makes us act up. I look up to ya guys!
@doctorhino I... I don't even know where to begin here.
I'm American and when I hear "niggle" I think of the actual word... Its like some folks look for things to get offended by or something to complain about.
Anyway, Tropico looks like a solid game, probably just wait for an inevitable sale though. WAY too many other games to play right now.
Yikes. I've seen better textures from Roller Coaster Tycoon 3!
@doctorhino A school teacher would also go to great lengths to point out that just because a word sounds like another word, it doesn't mean it's the same word. That's a pretty basic concept.
Oversensitivity is often one side of polarization.
With regard to the game: looks like fun! I may pick it up at a steep discount after the first graphics patch.
@Damo Yeah, no one is saying it's the same. My point is you use words like that in an international setting don't be surprised if you raise a few eyebrows. They sound funny to some and offensive to others.
I think personally it isn't offensive but it's dumb to put yourself in that position. This isn't like some run of the mill swear word we're talking about here, so if you want to do business in an international setting (like this site) it is a good thing to know.
Sounds actually quite good but too pricey.
(And there is nothing wrong with using the English word "niggle". It has no relation to the offensive n-word at all and is used a fair bit in Britain where English originates from).
Did we say that you shouldn't use the word 'snigger' in-case someone mis-hears? Wow. I'm going to update my CV, I've spent the last 5 years as a rigger. Probably need to re-phrase that.
@thiswaynow 😂😂😂
I find it quite disturbing that Americans are so keen to censor British English from the internet. I recently saw an enraged commenter on another website bemoan the alleged overuse of the word ‘whilst’ in an article that apparently made it totally unreadable. Niggle is a perfectly common English word that has absolutely no connection to racism whatsoever. Why not try to understand and accept other cultures, rather than trying to censor and eradicate them?
Jeez, these comments. -.-
I take it that the word "niggle" of all things was censored in the article as I haven't found a trace of it? Is this the sort of pathetic indignation that the first world has come to? I thought that we were finally maturing as a society, but it seems that everything is about "race" nowadays. Whatever happened to judging a person by the content of their character? Whiteness and blackness aren't vices or virtues; they are mere bloody complexions.
A huge discussion on the word niggles with 90% of the discusses unaware that it is am actual word. Shakes head, walks away, weeps for the future.
In germany we have a ice cream brand that is called "Nogger". And if you get it with chocolate filling it's "Nogger Choc".
Can't honestly say I ever made a connection to the N-word though. Just because something is spelled similar ...
Two quickies, this was full 50$ for the base game only. Which is 2 years old now and they dropped the DLC at the same time. Very not cool.
Secondly, WHYYYYY does it look so bad? I’ve been a huge fan of Tropico since the very first entry 20? something years ago on my crappy CRT. AAnd that version looked far better than this jaggy garbage.
I’m really hoping for a graphics patch, but I’ll enjoy more Salsa and Meringue while declaring war on the Crown. Gameplay still rocks.
Wow. Anything will get people triggered these days. Oh wait... triggered is four letters off from a certain word. I guess I should stop using it as well or saying it out loud. Good lord...what’s living in Japan like?
@Ambassador_Kong Hey, haven't seen you in a while; still hating Nintendo? (not a serious question)
@Damo I apologise for us Americans, we're having a huge problem with equal rights right now, and people are easily getting mad, even though this is the same country that legalizes guns and allowed the Annoying Orange to become a one-term president (leader for four years rather than the maximum eight).
This is like the cringiest comment thread ever
I love games like this but OMG OW MY EYESES.
Please update the Switch hardware already, Nintendo. It needed it when the Lite came out.
I can't help but snigger at this niggling debate over the word "niggle."
But seriously, y'all, the etymological origin of the word is entirely different than the-word-that-shall-not-be-uttered.
@nessisonett
Me : trying to find comments about the game
Snowflake thread : argue how niggle sounds rACiST
America starts to suck more and more each day and resemble more of a Banana Republic
@Cakefish Well said
british people made english and by god theyre trying their hardest to ruin it
Very nice little game, even with the PS2 textures.
@Flashlink99 I can confirm this is true. I live here. Even fought in our Army. My patriotism has taken a nosedive right around 2008 up to present...
@jcboyer515 I knooow right? Us regular people do find it funny tho, it’s just the whole PC outrage from some that kills the fun :/
@Damo The whole reason not to use the word when literally dozens of synonyms exist for said word is because racist idiots will twist the usage of the word to make racist remarks. This is made evident from not only the Twitter comments section for this article, but literally the very first comment of this article.
@ummyeahnintendo Oh, get over it. If anything, the author of the article is probably going to steer clear of dropping it in a future article to spare the comment section of this kind of headache, not to avoid offending you personally.
They should use Donald Trump for Tropico 7.
@ummyeahnintendo The cesspool that twitter can sometimes be would use any word that resembles that awful, stupid n-word and use it as an racist insult. What can anyone freaking do?
I actually came off that platform last April after 11 years of active use. Feel better for it.
FYI the port was developed by independent arts software afaik - found in the game credits
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