Trade and diplomacy are very important to build a strong economy. Money is made by selling various items (such as tools and clothing) to other countries. There are a lot of minor nations who you need to woo by trading with and establishing an embassy in to make yourself their favorite trading nation.
If your defense minister tells you that another great power has a Navy or Army which is twice as powerful as yours you had better heed his advice and build up your Navy or Army.
Failure to do so may result in your early exit from the game as the other great powers will see you as weak and declare war on you.
New technology (such as dynamite) will become available as time progresses. Failure to keep up with the new technology will put you at a serious disadvantage (your wooden ships will be quickly dispatched by the new ironclads). The new technology also allows you to upgrade your mines, farms, ranches etc. so they produce more.
You are constantly challenged throughout the game to decide which direction to take. Should you build more railroads to bring in more food and resources to allow your capitol to expand or should you use the steel and lumber (required to build rail) to build more weapons and ships?
The interface is well organized and easy to use and understand. The graphics are dated but were good for their time. The sounds compliment the action (when you select the sawmill you hear a lumber saw, when the miner starts a mine you hear a pickax, when a soldier fires his gun you hear it).
Imperialism is an addicting game which will keep you into the wee hours with the “just one more turn” excuse used with other great games.
