So when this first came out it got slated and rightly so because 30 or 40 quid for a game that was so inferior to Civ 5 at the time deserves all the flak it got so I stayed away from it.

But I recently bought it on sale at a fraction of the price and putting the cost aside, I think it's a pretty decent game, yes the combat and city management are a lot like Civ 5, but a lot of other mechanics feel totally different.

I think if you're expecting SMAC 2, then you're going to be disappointed, but get it on offer, and treat it as a new game and I think you'll be pleasantly surprised, a shame they charged so much for it on release.