Ben Polk:
Imperialism II has to be one of my favorite games of all times simply BECAUSE the AI was so challenging!
I LOVED the way it did the 'dog pile on the rabbit' if you were the weakest. And the best part is that it seemed to jump on the weakest regardless if it was a Human or AI controled nation...as it should be. Boy did it ever suck to be even perceived as having the weakest military... All the nation of Europe were like a pack of wild dogs smelling fresh meat!
I tend to agree with Courageous on the late game though. It did become a bit tedious reducing forts but overall its still one of the best games every published IMO. I've often cited I2's AI as the best AI in a PC game specifically because it DID appear to be playing by the same rules a human player (with a few exceptions).
Now if only you guys had allowed for tactical combat in multiplayer games....
Talenn