Whoah, true classic!
Hardly linear progress at the start of the game makes it really difficult for beginners. You just have to try everything and explore everything.
Later, game goes absolutely out of control - it's hardly possible to manage everything. And frequent attacks won't make it any easier.
However, ending is deep and pretty cool for a futuristic space sci-fi game, at the moment where all space sci-fi stories are really drained and fantasy is almost equal to total stupidity in these.
A bit realistic "what if-" story is always good.
tip: game music is in MOD format, it can be opened and even edited/remixed in almost any tracker. This space battle track is definetly worth it
tip 2: It may help - XP+DosBox combo users - if you try turning all the sound & music off. From setup program, of course
tip 3: There's mineral cheat/crack supplied with the game. However, it won't block money, which won't help you at the beginning of the game but later where technology needs great deal of minerals.
I'd prefer to use GameWiz32 or DOS's Game Wizard 32 instead, so all variables could be locked... like number of battleships you have
But then again, It's a great loss. It's better to have some old dusty 486 somewhere to play all these great oldschool games, starting with XCOM and ending with Reunion. Nowadays, at the age of GigaHertzes, you may get one for free, or even get paid to take the "rubbish" away.
An outstanding game.