Difficulty:

Just Right

Time Spent:

40 to 100 Hours

The Bottom Line:

"Rocks"

I am having a great time playing the game. I have been waiting for its release since I heard about it. I am still playing the game at the higher difficulties. The game increases the challenges intelligently with the opponents making more intelligent or ruthless moves sooner in the game as the difficulty increases. I played the original to death until I no longer had a pc that could run it and I would always play on superhuman difficutly and still win. That was based on knowing how the game works. This new game is still teaching me things and I love it. I was surprised at some of the changes they made from the original. I used to load up my characters with all they could carry and they were always prepared for any eventuallity. Now you have to choose exactly what single extra item you will bring on a mission. I used to have missions with 8 or more soldiers; that can't happen. I used to have up to 4 shiv's on a mission; that can't happen. It makes it more challenging to be limited in what you can bring with you. I also like the Officer Training school and the limitations on what you can build based on available Scientists, Engineers or Power requirements. All in all a very enjoyable game