The challenge for "Tropico 3" players is to build a thriving island nation from the ground up.

A nation-building game in which the action is confined to islands, "Tropico 3" installs the player as dictator of a fictional Caribbean country.

The game is not unlike this year's "Dawn of Discovery" for the Wii, though it is more involved and more informative.

Players can choose from several prefabricated leaders, such as Fidel Castro, Che Guevara or Augusto Pinochet, or create their own from scratch.

Each has several personality traits. Some are positive: A hardworking leader boosts all production, for example. Others are negative: A womanizer will find it tough to impress the religious community or educated women.

Leaders all have two of each kind of trait, along with a personal background and method for taking the presidency; these aspects influence their effectiveness and how certain groups will react to them.

Whatever their traits, a leader would do well to keep the people happy, providing jobs, food, spiritual fulfillment, housing and education.

Unhappy people may protest or revolt, though the threat or use of force is a possible response; secret police and a strong military presence can keep the citizens in line at the cost of liberty.

It can be easier simply to improve conditions and relations with the various interest groups of Tropico. A detailed almanac keeps track of many important factors, such as the condition of the people and what they want, foreign relations, the status of services and the overall economy.

The main thrust of the game, whatever the player's style, is to build a strong economic engine based on crop and mineral exports, tourism and fees. Foreign aid and trade deals may also contribute to the national treasury, as can contracts with corporate interests that may or may not seem beneficial a few years down the line. And of course, a savvy dictator squirrels some money away into a Swiss bank account.

The player may also issue edicts, usually for a price. There are several kinds. Social edicts include such decrees as banning alcohol, allowing gay marriage and banning contraception. With Foreign Policy, players may curry favor with the United States or the U.S.S.R. (the game can run from the 1950s up to 2000).

Economic and Domestic Policy edicts are also available, provided the player has met the conditions for using them.

The game can be played in a Campaign mode, which offers a chain of scenarios on predetermined islands. There's also a Sandbox mode, in which players are free to adjust the conditions of their island to their liking; and Challenges, special scenarios created and uploaded by players.

PICKS AND PANS

Left 4 Dead 2

3 stars

"Left 4 Dead 2" does what any good horror sequel does: It ups the ante. More zombies, more weapons, more gore – "L4D2" has them all.

The four new Survivors face a new set of campaign scenarios, and they'll find new equipment, such as a defibrillator for reviving dead allies, and an assortment of new weapons, including melee weapons like chain saws and swords.

The Survivors will need them all – the Infected now include acid-spewing Spitters; Chargers, who can grab a Survivor with their huge arms; and Jockeys, who can jump onto a Survivor's back and steer them toward danger. The original game's Infected forms return as well.

The game offers solo and online campaign play; the Versus mode, in which one team plays as the Survivors and the other as the Infected; and three new modes. The Realism mode makes the game harder for the humans; Survival sends waves of Infected at the Survivor team; and Scavenge has the Survivors trying to gather fuel for an escape while the Infected try to stop them.

Microsoft Xbox 360, also for Sony PlayStation 3, PC; $59.99 ($49.99 for PC) •

Age rating: Mature

Star Wars Battlefront: Elite Squadron

2 stars

The second portable-only "Star Wars Battlefront" game, "Elite Squadron" goes from land to air to space and back again, all in the same battle.

"Elite Squadron" brings back the open-ended character classes of the previous "Renegade Squadron" – players can choose a predetermined equipment set or make their own.

As the clone trooper X2, whose genetic material was from a Jedi, players will fight on the Republic's side before switching to the Rebellion in the single-player campaign. The game also features Instant Action and Galactic Conquest modes, as well as online competition for up to 16 players.

The campaign has some interesting elements, but it feels like the game and graphics are straining against the PSP hardware — controls are clumsy and visuals can get choppy.

Sony PlayStation Portable, also for Nintendo DS; $29.99 • Age rating: Teen

Grand Theft Auto: Episodes From Liberty City

2 1/2 stars

"Grand Theft Auto: Episodes From Liberty City" packages the two downloadable add-ons for "Grand Theft Auto IV" together on one disc. (Both episodes are also available for download.) The first, "The Lost and Damned," introduced a host of new missions revolving around a biker gang. The latest episode, "The Ballad of Gay Tony," has a more likable cast, and its own new missions, vehicles and weapons, along with other additional material.

Microsoft Xbox 360 (or Xbox Live download); $39.99, or $20 (800 Microsoft Points) each • Age rating: Mature

– Justin Hoeger