Just played this one for the first (and second, and third) time tonight and had a blast! Excellent game balance, which I've come to expect from Rio Grande products, but where its predecessors (San Juan and Puerto Rico) had acceptable, but unexceptional graphic work, here the artwork is exceptional. I'm a sucker for good Science fiction art, and this definitely qualifies, and adds a healthy dose of mood setting to the game.

Overall, a slightly more complex version of (the well-known and excellent) San Juan, with some altered dynamics that make for a fast flow. Haven't tried it in two-player, so I don't know if the game balance will hold up. Maybe I'll update this after Christmas :)