I have played since civ gold. AC was awesome and has one thing that all the other civ games are lacking, customizable units. Not to forget to mention the planet buster.
I still play Civ IV quite often, the mods are great too. I remember getting it the day it was released, had to ask the clerk working at best buy, he had them stashed in the back. I see myself doing the same thing with this one.
Civ is one of the great games that is NEVER the same thing twice, AoE failed at that, always the same strategy required.