I am probably one of the biggest fans of the Master Of Orion series. This title was a disgrace to the genre. They totally reworked the game mechanics, changed the story. Even if this game was not part of the Master Of Orion series, and was a stand alone sci fi game... it still reeks of horribleness that will stain your soul and keep you from entering heaven.
If you like disappointment, go ahead and purchase this abomination of programming. It is not even made by the same people who brought you the first two Master of Orion games. The original games were made by Microprose. Hasbro bought the company and gutted it, and infrogames designed this third one.
The game itself is extremely buggy, the AI is shifty at best. your better off purchasing the first two MOO's and forgetting this one ever existed.