Got this game many years ago as a birthday gift and was instantly hooked. It is not better compared to Civ III, but different. Especially the fact the Civ games end in the current era, but this game extends into the future. I really liked this feature and it made the game so much more fun. For example the possibility to build cities on the seabed adds a new depth to the game. The UI is not that great, and the soundtrack is dull. But all in all a nice game that deserves a chance, especially with the big fan project some other reviews mention. It vastly improves certain aspects of the game, for example unit upgrades.
This was one of the first 'real' games I played, and even today it still is a classic. Some elements of this game I still miss in the later games, such as water power and progress through time, unlocking new (and even futuristic) stuff. Certainly not an easy game and of course with dated graphics, but still one of the best games I played.
I bought this game back in 2004 thinking it would be a fun game and a little challenge. However, I was wrong. It was the most bloody difficult game I ever played. I FAILED to beat the first mission of ALL the campaigns. This is of course my flaw and not the games fault, but I did waste 50 euros on it. So I write this as a warning. Do only buy this if you posses a high skill level in playing RTS games. If not, it might leave you frustrated and unsatisfied.
