A BIG Disappointment! :(
First of all, I thought this was a Sid Meier game, not a Stronghold knockoff from Firefly. I love historical simulations, but I could just never get into the Stronghold series (and I've bought them all and really tried to do so). Even after I realized that this was indeed a Firefly game, I tried hard to forget Stronghold and really like Civ City:Rome for what it is by itself. But, truth be told, this really IS just a knockoff of Stronghold ... with Romans instead.
Gameplay is EXACTLY like the Gamespot reviewer said, including the wild economic swings and lack of feedback/information. And the inability to be able to accurately click on a citizen or building at certain common resolutions without literally guessing where to put your mouse is inexcusable. This stuff really detracts from what is already only a marginally entertaining game. And it hurts me to say that about a Firaxis game. :(
All I can say is hold your breath for Caesar 4 (out in September hopefully) and pass on this one. I still can't believe Firaxis attached their name to this clunker. Come on Sid, what's going on? :p