I agree with the reviewer that Tropico is a game with excellent production values.  Other than at 100% Zoom, the graphics are pretty good.  The music is good if you like Caribbean or Cuban style music.  The "rules" surrounding the city simulation feel relatively logical.

That being said, while the simulation is entertaining, unfortunately it lacks depth to the point where I would have to call the game "shallow".  After playing the game for about 3 hours, I HAD to turn off the music because it was driving me insane.  The radio announcer got cut off too.  While the rules surrounding the simulation aspects of the game make sense...they are extremely simplistic.  You lack options that you really wish you could have.  For example:

• There is no way to change or manipulate the terrain.  At all.
• You can't plant natural trees or grass, only potted plants and trees....which can NOT be built on.
• The road tool is infuriating.  At times, it won't let you place a road on an area of terrain, for no visible reason
• There is no way to reduce pollution except through legislation.
• You can't stop "shacks" from popping up all over the place even when you have FREE HOUSING all over the island.
• No public transportation options without building ginormous parking garages.
• There are very few job types, so your sims work as farmers, factory workers, or tourist agents
• There is only one style of building for each building type..so you can't create your own style.

In all seriousness...I completely beat everything that this game had to offer in a weekend and that was playing at 115% difficulty.

I would call this game a nice diversion, but it really felt like a simulation for a younger age group or a casual gamer.