With immersive gameplay and a long lifespan, this game will draw you in, provided you have the time.
Let's start with the biggest failing of this game: the visuals. To be blunt, they really suck. Were this game released in 2005, they would be pretty good. Not excellent, but pretty good. A five year difference isn't what I am looking for. However, this qualm takes down only 0.5 points. After all, Ocarina and Duke 3D are still fun to play after all these years, right?
My next complaint about this game is that it's difficult to get into. While there is a starting quest to help you out, it's still not enough to get you started. Pretty much, it's a recruiting tutorial with a couple of cute little battles thrown in there for good measure. This gets a full 1.5 points taken off. Once you get the immersion going, however, there's no going back.
This game will dominate your life. You'll always want to come back for more. In the car, you'll be saying to yourself, "Did I garrison enough troops in that city?" Or maybe, "Should I hire more mercenaries, or just build from the ground up to save money?" Or, when you're just starting, "Should I buy that shiny polearm I've had my eyes on, or should I save up for that iron helmet?" If you manage to get into it, you'll stay in it for awhile.
It's a tough game, especially if you don't have an inkling of what to do, where to go, or what to buy for whom. But don't worry; if you keep recruiting and fighting, it will invariably get easier.
All in all, this is a great game, especially if you have a lot of free time.