Tropico 2 borrows only a few basic elements from its predecessor and is basically a brand-new game. Apart from the tropical Caribbean setting, the new game borrows from some of Tropico's basic game mechanics and its interface. Drawing parallels between the two games isn't enough to explain Tropico 2, but there are some easy parallels. Instead of a dictator of a 20th-century banana republic, in Tropico 2 you play as a pirate king. As leader of the pirate island, it's your responsibility to keep the pirates happy, the captive laborers fearful, and the plundered treasure pouring into the island's coffers.