This game is a lot of fun, but quite challenging.  The graphics are OK.  There's plenty of tension, and so excitement, during the game.  There are three difficulty levels.  Easy is too easy.  Hard is too hard.  But Normal is just right (after at least 10 games) IF you play the Kra'Hen (Klingons) until you are pretty good.  THEN you can try the Solarians (humans).  The Kra'Hen are much easier.  The Shinari don't seem to work right.  Initially, keep your taxes low for rapid population growth.  In fact, when your planet has less than 10,000 people, use NO TAX.  From 10,000 to 19,999 use low tax.  20,000 and above use moderate tax.  The reason is, your population growth depends strongly on tax, but not at all on population size.  Therefore,  you wouldn't get much tax from small population planets anyway, so make them grow fast.  Use HIGH TAX and no autobuild on all planets when you have half the galaxy or so conquered.  Also use high tax if needed to satisfy a short term demand of the God Emperor.  KEEP THE GOD EMPEROR HAPPY at all costs.  Do these things and you will have a lot of fun on moderate difficulty and even win sometimes!