Yes, it really is that bad. It's not addictive at all. The only thing that I got a kick out of was naval battles (that's right). For some reason, everything seems tedious. For instance, you move an army, it doesn't go in the right spot, and you're just sort of stuck there w/ all these multicolored lines around you (I suppose if you haven't played it this doesn't make sense). I concur it's just not that fun, and the AI is absurd, not to mention the bugs which expose CA's difficulties. To think I used to admire the British.

I do like population limits, however.