FreeCol Colonization Reviews

At version .9.4 with 1.0.0 being complete copy of colonization.
www.listal.com/game/sid-meiers-colonization-30829 OLD
www.listal.com/game/civilization-iv-colonization-windows-xp NEW
Has much more than the original (#players, multiplay) but alot more like the original than the remake.

Compared to most TBS the gameplay is alot more broad. What i mean is combat units have 4 stats (move attack def skill?) while exploration, trade and trade resource obtainment play much larger roles. Micromanagement exists in the form of resource shuffling but is reduced by the separation of gameplay and trade routes auto ai. This game is much more luck based than most especially the lost ruins which can net huge gains for the lucky.

Wikipedia:
Changes from Sid Meier's Colonization
In addition to updated graphics engine and a multiplayer segment, Civilization IV: Colonization has many new gameplay mechanics. When starting the game, in addition to choosing a starting European nation, a player chooses between two governors, each with different advantages.[11] In addition, national borders is a gameplay concept taken from Civilization IV. This means that rivals cannot pass into each other's land unless they have an open borders agreement — or they have declared war.

Unlike the original game, nations cannot recruit the same founding fathers. Each founding father is recruited by one and only one nation/player. Moreover, founding fathers will only join nations with certain criteria, namely a certain level of "points" obtained in various categories (political, military, exploration, religion, and trade).[12]

After the player declares independence, players draft a constitution determining the government style of their independent nation. For example, if a nation chooses a monarchical system, then it can still trade with Europe during the war for independence.[13]

Additionally, there are no longer any Loyalist victories.