I tried Ubi Connect version is the same, or very similar.

Differences are only technical - native 1440p support (font dont scale its still readable on 27 monitor, but not nice), some antialiasing, faster start not too much blinking when resolution is changed for menus etc.. and possibility to turn on autosave.

About difficulty, it needs some mod, i originally planed to install it for my small nephews as nice game for children something like farming simulator, with that difficulty its good for children.

Ok, i managed at least hold defense, but its weird strategy.. lots of demolishing.. and its really had to have enough wood and food (needed for coal and because clear water is in the play i was heavy using fishermans) at one time for it you need lots of real estate, so i have to build some tower some builds and demolishing towers.. too key areas.. because where is not tower enemy cant conquer it.. and lots of my building demolishing and rebuild is needed.

After than i able to build big towers full of soldiers, i tower you can have 3 bowman and 3 infantry.. at the start enemy every time took me couple of towers, but i was able to reclaim them.. and build some new, to hold the line - most curial is keep tower by mines. now im able slow by hit and run destroy enemy towers, build some builds and destroy towers to take new areas.. but i still hope that enemy would be stupid enough to attack by big force.

Picture upload is not working so here is Dropbox link to picture of my defense line:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/gqiosq6cawsujyl/S4_Main_2021_12_22_18_25_16_150.jpg?dl=0

Ok, now i face other problem.

When i build new defense line, i cant build only few towers until next enemy wave and its cant be strong enough so its always smashed.. and face enemy without towers is almost impossible.
Other problem is that you cant afaik attack on enemy building in progress so if enemy start to rebuild towers on conquered area.. i loose builds at boarder, i cant destroy tower after and rebuild building but its costly and repeating..

I suppose that i have to checking if enemy is building something.. and destroy defense tower behind it.. so newly build in progress is destroy before is finished.. and during this process i have to hope that i dont met during my attack big enemy army.. Because hit and run is not working, when enemy is engaged.. my troop refuse to fleet.. and are all killed..

Other problems are beds.. i dunno how exactly it works.. because some of my warriors where killed overtime.. i dunno how much beds i really need.. to know if could demoslish some residences and build some bigger or some other buildings instead of them..
I can see number of usused people and number of soldiers, but i dunno if carriers needs beds too or not and if people in builds arent counted to beds number or not?

Ok find solution, old and dirty slow movement of towers wall, because builds are cheap.. Not all strategy thing..

Ok, i finished it, after pushing my tower line to front of my area.. i could ignore enemy tower "attack".
After than i sealed some bottleneck where enemies atacked and it was fine.. i was still getting attacks from the left side of map at the end i discored that i was some enemy ship outside of map.. i though that is some sort of enemy teleport spell. I even destroyed that ship.. i dunno it matter and stop transports.. but 30 enemy soldiers near mining are is not nice, but a keept 10 towers there and its near to bottleneck, so it could be all in one line.

Conquering so easy.. with line i could ignore enemy and build base to perfection.. mine gold and build big army with best soldier, after that i was easy enemy really dont have good towers lines.. only from where these big groups of enemies from nowhere which i met 2 times.

Only 2 things im not able to do are:
1) Its possible somehow remvoe tree which is not in reach of woodcutter building?
2) How to make donkey working for anything else than pioneers, i read that i need market place, i have multiple of them, set targets, but donkeys are still staying in donkey house and do nothing..

As long as it is inside your borders you can set the work area of woodcutters. I use it a lot to clear areas I want to build.
- Just remember that it will kill your wood cutters efficiency.

How?
Update: Ah, i see, i completed it without it.. I used it just for checking building radius.. i also played most of time without pioneers which could be used for boards pushing to neutral territory..