Like RISK, but with optional complex real-time battles, where strategies and tactics can bring victory against bad odds.
The great thing about this game is that the learning curve is not too steep. Although it may take many hours to master the strategies needed to overcome battles where your enemy has the advantage, the game is friendly on beginners. It may take longer to win the campaign on your first playthrough, but you will learn each units roles and develop tactics for when defending, when fighting on open land, and on baiting enemy forces out of fortresses so as to make the siege an easier task.
The races have differing units, and some can be unlocked upon conquering certain lands. Some lands to the West allow war elephants to be trained, which is pretty cool.
The game has diplomats which when used strategically, can greatly increase your wealth. The trick is to demand gold when you're in a dominant position, and to pick your allies and enemies, and make sure you are allowing free trading with all your allies/neutral factions.
You must also strategically attack enemies. One way to do this is to focus on a couple neighbors, but make sure you don't take on too many factions at once. Allies will make your life so much easier, and can eventually be turned on when you wipe out enough of your enemies.
Although the learning curve is not steep, it will take a long time to discover all the functions in the game unless you really take your time at the beginning to learn what every menu and every key does. It is not necessary to know the more complex menus but later on it can make life a bit easier.
This is a great game in this series, and thought by quite a few fans as the best of the bunch. It is a fairly cheap game now, and can run on lower spec pcs on low settings, while still giving higher end pcs a good workout when on max resolution. If you like this kind of game do not hesitate or pass this one up! cheers :)