This game is not MOO2 with better graphics. This is MOO4, and it is a blast to play. The same races are still there and all of the tech plus much more tech, but the game play is completely different. The graphics are excellent. The sound is great, the game play is excellent. It is just a different game where you need a few different strategies than you used in MOO2. Every turn there is something to do. The game actually tells you about every bulid, every ship move, every spy. In MOO2 there were dozens of turns where nothing happens as you try to build buildings and units, which I did not care for.
This biggest change is "no fuel limits". That allows you to move all over the galaxy freely. To balance that change, there are now space lanes (ala Sins of the Solar Empire). Space lanes can be defended and blocked and fought over. This does restrict free movement to "any" planet but with no fuel requirements there is always a way around.
Also, no food freighters. There are techs that allow you to settle on any planet and not starve though, which allows you to colonize more freely.
Spying is completely different. You create a spy and then give him a mission. He may or may not succeed but if he does he gains spy levels which makes it easier to succeed. Spies now cost maintenance (higher level, higher cost) so no more 40+ spies.
I have played through this game four times now and have not felt the least bit disappointed or bored.
There is one item that is missing that should be in the game. When marines attack a planet there is no fight simulation. The units just disappear from the screen as they die. They also left out the view of the enemy marine armor, which was very helpful in MOO2.
All in all, this is a great game and I highly recommend it. Just don't try to find MOO2 here, you won't.