Beyond the amazing gameplay and atmosphere, let's dwell for a second on the technical stuff: 3D map, rainfall patterns, extensive unit design, an orbital layer - very few 4X even today have more than one of these features. The AI is fine. It's not going to dry out your continent by strategically building a mountain range, but YOU can! ... not do that... do it, but to some other continent. Yes. You don't even have to legalise war crimes first.
