The aesthetic of the game are great. My best looking Cities of the Sierra City-building series were in Emperor. But, rules became simpler and simpler with each game in the Sierra series. From struggling to get walkers to co-operate in C3 to build anywhere in Emperor, this game became beautiful but, for me, dull. My C3 Cities were sloppier but the struggle making them work made them feel more organic. One really good note in Emperor was the spying system in this game. That part would have pleased Sun Tzu.
