This game is old but still a classic. It cannot be compared to other games of it's genre. The scale and compexity is off the charts. You can control a planet and still not be in control of it, lol. Ground battle can be a slugfest if not handled properly. Space battle is frustrating until you have superiority. You invest in capital ships and hope they don't go down until you can support them. Diplomacy is exactly that; full of backstabbing, manipulating, scheming. Work the Church of the Holy Terra to your excommunicate your opponents. Request the Leagheim withhold resources from them. All the while, the church is knocking on your labratories with the inquisition because of forbidden tech, and the Leagheim has been amassing a fortune to install a merchant republic instead of your austere quest to become the Emperor. Quite Fun!!
