I like the game, but because it combines strategy and action based fight sequences, like my favorate game of all time,
Star Control 1.
One small correction to the review, fights above the planet do not take place in 3D. The graphics are 3D, (who's aren't nowadays) but the gameplay is decidedly 2D. A 3D RTS would look like
homeworld, which was cool and whatnot, but unpopular owning to the challenge of wrapping your head around it.