My Favorite
I got this just the other day despite the bunch of negative reviews about the messed up gameplay. I have to say I disagree with most of those reviews. Yes you do not have access to what most would call the obvious genetic selections or upgrades for your starting pops. Yes they do not have the fastest growth rate. But that supports a specific playstyle. This challenges you do adopt a new strategy. The mechanics work similar to that of a machine empire, and its not that hard to deal with the slower growth rate (just use cloning vats and med clinics). I love the art work and the play on words for the advisor. The ship models are sweet. I will say the special gene traits for them aren't super crazy or useful, they can lower your dependency on refineries of a specific type but that's about it.

The amount of stuff that changed with 2.0 is completely batshit crazy. It's like a whole new game!

One I'm having a lot of fun with. Expansion is faster and more dynamic now, you can build up a fleet in no time with a shipyard-specced starbase, and you can decommission them, change them around, and fast-retool your economy too.

I don't care too much about Raiders, though I did have one rather cataclysmic mongol horde situation once. The colossus ships are more just for fun I think than practicality.

But man, they sure did shake things up, and I'm having tons of fun with it.