Graphics are, to some degree, subjective; I far prefer the DS graphics to the console versions. Much prettier, inn my opinion, amd much easier to see and use.
As for the game itself, as someone who has played every version since Civ 1, Civ Rev DS was my favorite until Civ Rev 2 came out for iOS (and Android?). It's NOT Civ Lite; it's an experience that can best be understood as the first game developed by Sid Meier personally since Civ 1. It's a much more streamlined experience than, say Civ 5, but it's its own entity, with its own strategies, skill sets, and experiences.
For $5, it would be criminal to pass up.