Tropico VR, published by Feral Interactive & Kalypso Media for the Meta Quest platform, invites players to immerse themselves in the role of El Presidente and shape the destiny of their own tropical paradise – but now from within the confines of a VR headset. With its blend of familiar (Tropico 4-esque) city-building mechanics and immersive VR gameplay, Tropico VR offers a nostalgic trip for fans of the series while introducing VR players to the addictive world of Tropico.
The premise of Tropico VR remains true to its flat screen roots, allowing players to take on the role of the charismatic leader of a fictional Caribbean island nation. As El Presidente, players have the power to design and manage nearly all aspects of Tropican life, from infrastructure and industry to politics and tourism. With over 40 missions and an endlessly replayable Sandbox mode, Tropico VR offers hours of addictive gameplay, making it impossible to resist the allure of “one more term in office and then I’m done.”
One of the standout features of Tropico VR is how well it’s been adapted for VR, offering players a fully immersive experience that puts them in the shoes of El Presidente. The intuitive motion controls of the Meta Quest’s motion controllers allow players to interact with the world of Tropico like never before, from shaping the landscape right down to ‘physically’ shaking hands with your constituents.
However, despite its immersive gameplay, Tropico VR is not without its flaws. Running on a standalone headset, it’s hard to ignore that the game’s graphics can look quite rough, especially when viewed from a distance. While up-close interactions with buildings and characters are impressive and convert a sense of scale, distant objects appear pixelated or blurry, detracting from the overall visual experience.
Despite these drawbacks, Tropico VR is a faithful adaptation of the Tropico series to VR and features its addictive gameplay loop that makes it easy to spend countless hours in the game’s world. Fans of the series will appreciate the opportunity to step into the shoes of El Presidente and build their own tropical paradise, while newcomers will find plenty to enjoy in the game’s immersive world-building mechanics – this is a fully featured city/island builder in VR.
In conclusion, Tropico VR offers a compelling blend of city-building gameplay and immersive VR mechanics, making it a must-play title for fans of the series and VR enthusiasts alike. While it may have some rough edges, its addictive gameplay and nostalgic charm make it a worthy addition to the Tropico franchise. With continued support and updates, Tropico VR has the potential to become a standout title in the VR gaming landscape.
Score: 7.6/10
Press Play Media 