Simply the best strategy game I have ever played! Very challenging, with enough flexibilty in game setup for endless variations. Several times I have found myself still playing as the sun is rising! This one's an absolute must. Don't get frustrated at first, the game can be tough. Just keep trying different things and you will be rewarded. Sound is nothing special, but I find it tasteful and appropriate. Graphics are pretty good for a strategy game. But these issues are secondary - the game play is phenomenal. The only downside is that on some systems, the mouse doesn't always work that well (you know, you have to click 5 times on something to get it to happen). Not on all systems though. Another annoying aspect is that after you have a significant number of colonies, you have to manage them and this takes time. Usually by that time in the game you are more interested in fighting your emenies than managing colonies. You can set colonies to 'auto-manage,' but, well, you know how dumb computers can be! Couple of quick hints: Try a customized race Creative and Telepathic. You'll have to give up something for these (like Ground combat and/or spying). Go for Orion as soon as you've got enough tech to do it (Merculite missiles with ALL modifications including EMG, and fast missile racks). Once you've defeated the Guardian, you're well ahead of everyone else in weaponry because of the gifts he'll give you. At that point, switch from missile-oriented weapons to beam-oriented weapons on your ships. Here's some ship equipment I have had particular success with: Heavy Death Ray (need Heavy for the added range), Heavy Auto-Fire Gauss Cannon, Structural Analyzer, Achilles Targeting Unit, Battle Pods, Reinforced Hull, High Energy Focus, Battle Scanner, Stellar Converter (of course). Note that if your ships are well-equipped you won't need bombs to penetrate planetary shields. I rarely waste the space on them.