A good update to a Sid Meier classic!
Probably the best non-stylistic modification was the addition of the several Continental Congress progress bars that now present the player with many new goals to strive for. The soundtrack backs up the rich atmosphere of the period with 117 MP3 selections that include colonial, Native American, and classical music. The loyalist/revolutionary penalty that used to slow the growth of the colonies has been removed from the game as well.
Unfortunately, the game shipped with some annoying bugs and accounting problems, but nothing that seems to keep a single player game from lasting over ten hours without crashing. The colony screen doesn't keep track of the buildings that have been completed but are still waiting for a shipment of tools. The adviser screen often loses track of your total horse and musket count.
I also found it quite entertaining to see the new way that the AI handles the Indian units on the war path, as they move unpredictably throughout your countryside, individually attacking, often pillaging, and frequently scattering. Beware of the one more turn phenomenon -- it is alive and well within this game!