Can do!

Imperialism is one of my favorite games of all time. I have owned it since release, and I still play it at least once a year. There are multiple reasons for this...

First, the artwork is comprised largely of watercolor and pencil hand-drawn scans. The end result is that this game at 640x480 has aged better than almost any other game from the 90's save a few. There is some 3D modelling mixed in, but it's not done in any way that detracts from gameplay.

The music and GUI are brilliant. Where most historical games tend to rip a musical/GUI style from the era they cover and call it a day, Imperialism's score/GUI went a step further by attempting to place the player firmly within the role of an emperor/king/president/leader.

Lastly, gameplay makes the game. Imperialism is simply too elegant to be called a 4X game. Where most games clearly funnel the player towards military dominance, Imperialism at every turn makes the player realize the consequences of militarization without thought. Instead, diplomacy is the most powerful tool in developing your nation, followed by industry and trade.

At the same time, Imperialism is deviously simple. There are only a handful of options, but each one must be considered and implemented correctly if the player wants to truly dominate.

And possibly the best of all, Imperialism more accurately depicts the relationships between labor, industry, trade, transport, military, diplomacy, imperialism and exploitation, and other facets of government than any other game has come close to doing. Which is phenomenal when you consider how simplified this game is. But, after playing Imperialism, you come to see how mechanics like population and morale management are largely unrealistic in strategy games. This game carried me through my first semester American History class on those underlying fundamentals alone.

Imperialism is a game that just did it all right (except the bugs, which no longer exist (except perhaps the multiplayer bug which nobody will respond to my queries regarding)). If you can find a few like-minded folks, the multiplayer will blow your mind. The pace of the game really allows you to sit and strategize with allies (or lie to them), and mislead enemies. It's an experience like no other, and a game with no equal in the genre.

So buy it. If you don't like it, I'll buy you your next game. Which is silly, because you are gonna like it.