They should have taken the more detailed route that the Civilization games followed. Where it falls down the most is probably the diplomacy side of the game. The graphics are pretty poor in comparison to many other more-recent games, but there are far worse out there. It has research in it like the Civilization games, and you can dominate a map like a Total War game. It feels like a watered down version of the Command and Conquer games when it comes to combat, and feels like an Age of Empires game when it comes to your village management. Beware that whilst you are growing, so are your enemies, and they may decide to pull off a daring raid on your village and deal a crippling blow to your defences and your evolution as a race.
You can destroy them as you grow your village, or you can wait until you hold the technological edge and destroy them with a few ultra-fast air fighters. All the while, your enemies are doing the same. With Empire Earth II, you start in the caveman era and research your way through to become a highly sophisticated and technological race. Build an empire and destroy anyone standing in your way.
