It also gives the player the option to get involved with the criminal underworld, doing activities such as drug dealing, weapon dealing, or sabotaging competitors. While the player can avoid the Mafia, the competitors will not, and is advisable to do so to keep one's storefront safe from attacks.
Had two sequels, Fast Food Tycoon and Fast Food Tycoon 2 (Non-Indicative Name, as the "fast food" is just pizza).
Can be run on modern day computers with help from DOSBox.
This game provides examples of:
- Alliance Meter: More of a reputation actually, and the two types are not mutually exclusive at all. Underworld deals with one's standing in the underworld, where as social deals with the player's position in the public eye. If the player is low ranking, they won't get the time of day from either side. The higher the player is, the more respect they'll get.
- An Entrepreneur Is You: The point of the game.
- Boring, but Practical: Using powerful weapons to destroy your competitions' places can be flashy and fun, but it makes a lot of noise and attracts attention from the cops. Chemicals aren't as flashy, but can shut down the place for a few days, and are generally safer.
- Bribe Backfire: The player can be fined or even arrested if you are open about bribing public officials. Best-case scenario is that if they don't have enough money to give, the police will just kick you out of the station.
- Character Customization: The game allows you to put in different stats and traits, which influence gameplay and social interactions.
- Expy: Most of the character design is very obviously meant to emulate the art style of Don Martin, a popular American cartoonist from MAD (that ran for some time in Germany). This has caused some viewers to think Don Martin himself has worked on the game, and some of the art - mostly the head animations - had to be modified in the English version so as to prevent some confusion (or even a lawsuit!).
- Hold Up Your Score: How pizzas are judged in the game.
- Honesty Is the Best Policy: Averted. Being open about your intentions to buy weapons or bribe officials will get you arrested.
- Insurance Fraud: Possible to do by getting arrested and fined on purpose, and trying to collect insurance on it. However, the insurance company is just as corrupt, and the agent who handles the insurance may "conveniently" be out of the country during the time needed to make a claim before it is invalid.
- The Mafia: Major element of the game. While you can avoid them, they are useful for extra cash, protection from other companies, as well as being used to attack other companies.
- No Celebrities Were Harmed: In the English version of the game, the head animations were replaced to look like celebrities; these include among others Ronald Reagan, Prince Charles, Margaret Thatcher, John Wayne, Michael Jackson...
- Screw the Rules, I Have Money!: One way to get out of legal troubles.
- Shame If Something Happened: You'll get some visits from the local gangsters who will threaten you with protection racket. The higher you are in the underworld position, the less you will have to deal with those.
- Spy Speak: Used to buy weapons or bribe officials. Being open about what you are doing will get you arrested.
- Totally Not a Criminal Front: The weapon dealers sell "ice cream" (weapons) and "joke articles" (items used to sabotage competitors).
- Trumplica: One of the pre-made characters you can select is called Diamond Trump. One of his benefits is a large starting bank account.
- Villain with Good Publicity: You yourself can become this thanks to the dual reputation system. In the public eye, you can be a respectable businessman, but commit heinous acts with the criminal underworld.
