[Tnarg]

This game is one of the greatest with out a doubt; however, there is one area that the game seems to lack in. Unique civilization or empire depth beyond extremely diverse military technical aspects. It seems that every game that I am in or have played, military technological advancement is the key to survivial and enjoyment. Everybody wants to plunder the next Joe without taking the time to enjoy what they have actually accomplished as far as a unique empire.

This is true with many of the great 4X games like Civilization II and MOOII. One needs to have the sharper edge to expand or flourish; however, these games also incorporated a rich cultural aspect investigating philosophy, the sciences, cultural enriching advancements, and social endeavors such as diplomacy and governments. True SEIV offers all of the above, but it seems rather two dimensional. Example: Population on planet A IV is unhappy so one researches a technology to get a facility to make them happy, and boom that's it; one never really has to worry about it again, whereas in CIVII or MOOII that was something that constantly needed to be checked and kept in check. And there are so many reasons why populations would get unhappy.

Instead of everyone building the biggest and baddest fleet around, why couldn't another race take a different approach and build great and majaestic planets full of unique facilities and or "wonders" type advancements.

In a strategic stand point the home planet is the goal of many empires, all the other planets are just gained territory and a few facilities to help the war and research effort. In CivII, one had goals to find out the city that created something you worked so hard for but lost in a race, fuelling the seed to go after that city and plunder their gain for you own.

In MOOII one sought goals of obtaining that planet with the bonus for money or food, and then refined that planet as a sole economic or agricultural planet that if lost would put an empire in ruin.

In CivIII the introduction of culture added a new curse factor as one had to stay ahead of the competitor for culture advancements and growth. Failure to do so would result in the outlaying cities revolting and joining the empire of better opportunity.

Again in CivII and III one had to maintain research in various fields to help them exploit resources. Resources that could help mold an Empire and open up doors for trade negotiations and advance an empire that had possession of key resources.

I don't know, it just seems that there was a bit more to fight over and lust for in the above mentioned classics rather than just uber fleets and players with the most advanced PPB technology. Truth be said the only reason that I am enjoying a few of my games is because of role played races in PBW. I have read some saddening forums where players are only playing to gain the prestige of winning rather than the enjoyment of what the next turn offers.

Let me end by saying that hands down SEIV adds a layer of miltary strategic and technological depth that the above mentioned lack greatly in. It is also one game out of many that will always keep my attention and respect.