Simply the best RTS ever made!
Its gameplay hooked me up as soon as I played it for the first time. The golden word for Populous is SIMPLICITY. There are only 7 types of units and no upgrades at all. Unlike any other RTS you don't need to stock up resources. There's only wood and mana for you to be able to cast spells. Huts give you Braves, Braves give you Mana, Mana gives you Spells to destroy your enemy.
The spells are amazing and add up a lot of strategy to the game. You have to focus on building, training troops and controling your Shaman (she's the one who casts all the spells).
When I found out about online gameplay in 2005 I just couldn't believe it. Been playing there ever since. Google "Populous Reincarnated" or go to popre.net
You won't regret it!