My local store has this game in as an open customer copy, so I was able to sit down and try before I buy. I agree with the previus review that suggested its a wee bit intimidating when you first look at it (they could of made the page numbers more legible).

At anyrate, the first round for 3 people took around 1.5h's, as you would expect with any new game and interuptions from around the shop.

Anyway its easyer to list what I like and dislike about the game than yak for ever.

Pro's
*The game has a time line and forces you to plan a head.
*There is many diffrent ways to win the game, and this leads to many diffrent ways to play.
*Once you have been threw a full round, its really just seeing 'what else can I do' as you continue your first game.
*The board is nice and shiny, and seems quite durable, happens to look like EVE-Maps 2d :)

Lowside:
* Needless to say the price may well put you off.
* I think quality counters is going a bit far, yes the cards are good, and most of the counters are very nice, however the 'home base' models are cheap and look it (you only have one each anyway). I hope they relise super detailed ones :) and ceramic counters :) as a delux upgrade.

Overall, its a game with quite a bit of re-playability, and handy when you have pals over. The game give you a feeling of progress right the way threw, and suits base builders, explorer's and PvP'ers alike, although I suspect you can not really win with out a mix. Did I mention the combat system? very clean and more intresting than I have 2 dice and you get 1... its almost like poker.

Overall I gave this 4 stars out of 5, because its well above average for this type of board game (ie: Warcraft, starcraft, doom.....board games), and you don't need to know Eve to enjoy it. It did not get 5 because, when you give 5 you can not go higher. (If I was to rate Risk 2150, it would get 3 (average) maybe 2.5 as its replay value is lower. This game has much more to offer at the same price.