Far better than the GS review gives it credit for
Yes, the graphics are somewhat dated - but the game isn't designed to look or play like the Battlefield series. It's a strategy game - pure and simple; and it focuses on strategy unlike few games before it.
For example, I love the fact you have to keep supply lines intact and must be concerned with ammunitation and fuel. Further, not only is unit movement affected by terrain, the unit weight is increased or decreased according to the amount of weapons or fuel it contains. Unlike so many other games this adds an element of real world physics and eliminates unlimited supplies that enable you to disregard reality. Damaged units must be repaired so strategic deployment of bases and roads is critical. This game makes you think about troop deployment as opposed to the usual "crank out as many units as possible, as fast as possible, and throw everything at the enemy" tactics that have become the staple of today's RTS games.
As for units, the games progresses in expedited real time, so that structure and unit construction and repair replicates the real world. Thus, while you can recruit conscripts in as little as a week, it takes a couple months to build elite units like special forces or marines. The same is true for buildings, tanks, air and naval units. Plus they all have relative movement values so that, for example, ground recon units can travel a few hundred miles over the cours of a few "hours;" while heavy infantry on foot move painfully slow.
As for the micromanagement, as noted, you can allow your cabinet members to run virtually every aspect of the game, or you can control as much of it as you like. True, the "tutorial" is among the worst I've ever seen - but since I discovered the developer's website forum I have been able to answer all of my questions and the game becomes infinitely manageable and intuitive. And that is without submitting my own questions - just reading what other's have written. Most of my questions concerned, as the GS review points out, the rather complex economy and the fact that the consequences of your decisions may not be immediately noticeable. Things like resource management, immigration, unemployment, etc., in the absence of a tutorial, were seemingly impossible to figure out; however, a wealth of information exists on the forum that enables you to understand how everything works.
In that regard, I like the economy. Countries need basic resources to power the economy such that petroleum is needed to fuel its war machine, or even to crank out items that can be sold on the international market. Some countries are rich with natural resources, while others requires extensive trade - and the heavy trade deficit it entails. While manufacturing consumer goods can be profitable - it can be expensive. Industry needs electrical power, and to produce electrical power you need petroleum, nuclear or hyro power. You also need resources like timber or ore. Social spending and taxes affect unemployment and inflation, which affect the cost of producing goods, which affects your trade surplus and deficit. Social spending and taxes also affect population, which affects production and supply. Once you know where to look, you can see what your industry produces and consumes, and how much it costs. True, the AI offers trades from time to time that it appears you don't need but they can simply be ignored. On the other hand, while you may have a sufficient amount of a resource, it could be costing you more to produce then its worth. Resources from other countries are often offered at prices below what you can produce them for yourself - even if your production output is high. And you can initiate virtually any deal that you want and "shop" the international market to locate the best deals. Further, world events unfold in [relative] real time. Thus, for example, it can take years for a country like Iran to develop nuclear weapons.
Overall I think this is a great game for anyone that enjoys real world economic and military strategy and simulation. The fact that the graphics do not look like Age of Empire bothers me little. For people like me that enjoy tactics and strategy more than eye popping graphics this game is an excellent choice.