Based on "let's play" videos on YouTube, I was on the fence to buy another game that is similar to Alpha Centauri: Pandora. But then I read forums, and <span class="podkreslenie">this thread</span> made me reconsider. To sum up the thread: AI factions can change diplomatic status spontaneously, some (diplomatic) trade is based on % of faction's wealth (spend most of the savings, then offer same % from leftovers), and espionage sucks (can steal % of all the empire's money from small settlement at the border). From other thread: AI can create cities in strange places, like between player's cities where AI's city does not have room to grow (cities can be multi-hex) and can be serious annoyance for player.

Does Alpha Centauri have such problems? Does it have any serious problems other than helluva menu trees?

Alpha Centauri is absolutely brilliant!

what i would say is its biggest flaw is the AI, mainly because of it's tendency to collapse into a pile of jelly at the first sign of a serious invasion from the player.

You can 'entice' the AI into giving you some good battles by doing a bit of losing and when it smells blood in the water, that is when it really shines!

The only significant unit screw up is the most powerful and final chasis is a flying unit it should have as many attacks as it does turns in order to be better than helicopters (and some ground vehicles) otherwise, there is no point to it, seriously!

There is quite a splendid system of government options set up to this game but then on closer examination you will be disappointed to find it is mostly pointless, leaving very few 'intelligent' options. "here is a glass of lemonade, but wait, you have to drink it with this glass of vomit, and this glass of dogshit". Of course you will say no to the lemonade, as you will to most of the government options in the game.

I've got Alpha Centauri and played it few hours by now. No regrets so far. One more turn...

Alpha Centauri is fantastic especially the personalities, the behaviors of the different faction leaders and what they stand for (everyone seems to utterly dislike Miriam).

I haven't played Beyond Earth yet but it would be a wasted opportunity if the game developers didn't program an advanced artificial intelligence to challenge players the way the A.I. worked in Alpha Centauri.