Basically, It's fun. Don't expect to be shocked out of your seat, but you can expect fun.
Comparing Tycoon City to other similar games such as SimCity, Tycoon City lacks the merit of a true businesses management game, like controlling politics, reforms, police, services and so on. What you will find in this game is basically designing a real city (New York..) with pre-designed buildings, much like City Life. However, the real magic in Tycoon City is the magical city feel you get by moving around and building coffee houses and clothe shops around parks and tenement houses.. a real hustle and bustle feel that you don't find in other games.
I would say, this game brings something new to the game table, something that lacks in other games, but in a pure strategy-gaming sense, this game is simply not enough.
Given all this, I have never been to New York, but I feel like I know the city and the feel of Manhattan Island thanks to having built endless business chains in every part of it.
So, not recommended for the practical gamers, but more for the romantic gamers perhaps.