So I've given this game a chance on a couple of occasions now. Has a lot of work gone into this game? Yes. Has all this work made it a great game? No. In simple terms this game is basically a bimbo. It looks really good, animates well, sounds great, but is just one of the most boring games I've ever come across. In essence the gameplay makes this a poor man's Endless Space.

Other reviews have gone into great detail on the failings of the gaming system including the AI's bizarre behaviour. I'd add to these things like the galactic council being a rather grandiose, yet pointless cut scene that comes up far too regularly. The missile defence systems also appear to be seriously OP. The pollution mechanic is pointless and just wastes time for the most part rather than adding any kind of extra dimension to strategy. Finally the battle mechanic is incredibly two dimensional and untrustworthy in places. For example a space monster vs 5 frigates, it will tell you your 5 frigates have a 99% chance of winning and then the simulation will have them wiped out completely inflicting no damage on the space monster. That bit qualifies the game as broken when its own mechanics don't reflect what will happen. The game has been out a long time now, so if it hasn't been fixed by now I doubt it ever will.

Looks like the developers were simply milking a cash cow on this one. Unfortunate for anybody who was a fan of the originals.