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Very uptempo

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 66 / 68
Date: May 14, 2001
Author: Amazon User

First off, the word Tycoon really needs to be put to rest as far as it relates to PC games. But on to the game, it isn't bad. You choose one of 8 different scenarios to play, choose a nation, pick a head-of-state, and set out to engage in trade, diplomacy, war, technology, and varous methods of interacting with the seven other nations all vying for global domination.

You have advisors with their own skill ratings, as well as diplomats assigned to the different nations. You can assign these diplomats to scurrilous underhanded objectives like sabotage, digging up scandals, and fostering uprisings. You handle production in your nation by building more production facilities for things like cattle, soy, perfume, shoes, and tomatoes. You trade these goods to the other nations, exporting what you have in excess and importing what you cannot make yourself.

Research also plays a part, as increasing it helps different facets of your abilities, like genetic engineering for increased cattle population growth, or weapons technology for your missile and anti-missile programs. As long as your people view you favorably (>50%) you will earn re-election. This can be manipulated with propaganda campaigns and tax reductions. Plus you can squirrel away your slush fund to pay your operatives abroad to carry out their dirty deeds (done dirt cheap!)

The pace of this game is very fast. Nations will be throwing trade offers at you by the second, as well as possible contracts for things like cooperative tech research or military alliances. Plus there are the global votes (much like the United Nations) that might result in sanctions, international aid, or even military intervention. Keeping up can be a taxing effort, as it all happens in real-time... no turn-based system here. The graphics are well-done and sufficiently cartoonish. The missions are fairly sparse at a scant 8 (and that 8 includes the online missions) but you can play each for several hours, and each mission can be tried using different countries with different objectives.

The coding is not perfect, as I was thrown out twice, as well as having some sound effects mysteriously disappear after a few minutes. But nothing that significantly hinders play. I thought a lot of the games inner workings could have used some further explanation than what is provided in the manual or the various tutorials. The whole time you play, you get the feeling there is more going on that what you are aware of. This isn't a game for the easily frustrated, as the multitude of tasks all occurring in real-time make for some frenzied gameplay, and often the path to victory isn't exactly crystal clear. But you will likely have fun trying, as I cannot think of a similar game ever released on PC.

Good, but problems

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 21 / 23
Date: October 26, 2001
Author: Amazon User

Ok, I've always wanted to run a government, so I got this game. I downloaded the tralier and it looked AWEASOME. THe game runs smoothly, no problems on my computer. The graphics are a bit child like but otherwise are very good.

There are only a few problesm that I had with the game. Ok, for starters there isn't a scenario for just playing a game without having to achieve a goal. You can't just run the government for fun and not have to be working for something.

Other than that this is an aweasome game.

Pros:
Good sound
Great scenarios

Cons:
Child Looking Graphics
No scenario wher eyou don't have to achieve something

Good but could be better

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 14 / 17
Date: September 05, 2001
Author: Amazon User

I loved this game. You manuver youreself though a searies of sinarios trying to put your country on top of the world. I liked the political aspects of the game combined with economic conditions. What I did not like was the short sinarios and always being in a crises of some kind. The game lacked depth, there is more to a political carear than just economics. With the game focased on economics there was a lot of needless war. Because the game was so hetic with no peace time you don't get to develop youre esponoge tatics as fully as you would like. Finally when things are starting to go youre way boom the game is over and you have won. Giving yourself no time to gloat over your acomplishments. Instead its off to more hetic elections. Finally I got bored of the game fairly fast because of the lack of detail and other possible outcomes which this game does not let you persue.

Good for a few tries

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 10 / 12
Date: April 05, 2002
Author: Amazon User

It starts with a good video, and it gets entertaining but it does have very poor graphics and poor game development. It is highly predictable once you catch up with the underlying assumption that the world cannot colaborate. You will play it for few tries and then forget about it. The music is extremely annoying. Buy it used if you must. I cannot sell it to you because I just threw it away judging that you may have better games to play than this one.

Boring....

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 3 / 5
Date: July 18, 2002
Author: Amazon User

Fellas don't spend a dime on this game. It's boring...

Supposedly you become president / prime minister / leader of a country and you have to deal with other nations like real world.

We all know other countries are not "saints" and protect their very own interests, but this game magnifies "in extremis" this point. What do I mean? "You don't accept this trade agreement? Then booooom, you're nuked!" or "Support my blockade or you're nuked!"...
After 3 or 4 turns a nuclear war erupts somewhere and you end up being nuked most of the times!!!

The graphics are not that good either and the plot is sometimes too complex or simple...

gets boring!

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 4 / 9
Date: January 23, 2002
Author: Amazon User

I liked this game for the first few days but could never beat it. It gets boring and is tough to beat.

Save your money

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 2 / 3
Date: March 02, 2003
Author: Amazon User

The game is awful. I bought it, and thank goodness I only paid about 7.00 for it. I get to a certain point and I can't do anything else with it. It was terrible. Even the "patch" from the website did not work.

Not what I expected but a decent game.

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 3 / 8
Date: July 20, 2001
Author: Amazon User

I bought this, thinking it would be like the third world war on the old sega cd. It has similar situations but this game is senerio based with different objectives to obtain. I am giving the game 4 stars cause it's just one of those games where when you start to learn how it works, you just can't walk away till the world has been dominated. But beware, the later senerios are quite hard and your enemys are alot more aggressive. Have fun playing.

disappointment

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 2 / 4
Date: March 09, 2004
Author: Amazon User

Isn't the "political" I was thinking of. This about going to war, etc. with other countries. I was hoping to be running for offices. Maybe starting with senator or congressman, eventually being a presidental candiate- campaining, debating with other candidates, etc. Or maybe being president, and making decisions- passing, vetoing bills, etc.

If anyone knows of a better "political" game, please tell us people who are disappointed with this game.

Fun for what it is, but sometimes not enough!

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: June 07, 2004
Author: Amazon User

I bought this game a little after I got "Superpower." The latter, with its possibility of playing every country in the modern world, just didn't live up to what I expected. This game, however, offered something "Superpower" didn't. I didn't realize it until I found myself playing it more. It might just be how much more refined the game system is, and hey...when you're in the right mood, its just plain fun!

You can manage resources, trade deals, and even military alliances. And unlike "Superpower" these military alliances actually MEAN something. The political system was also nice, as you can be hated or loved by your people depending on how you do.

And yet...this game is too limited. The scenarios give you objectives, most of which can be easily obtained or just don't spark my interest. They should have given you an option to have free reign, ruling your nation as you see fit. The scenarios also give you only a few countries to play, and only a handful to play against. They could have added many more nations in, and should have let you picked which to play among them. That would have not only added replay value, it just would have made it plain fun!

So I guess to sum it up, this is not a GREAT game, but it ain't all that BAD either. Don't expect the next great political simulator, but its worth a few hours of your time just to fart around. Don't spend too much money on it though.

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