I've only tried this version so don't have a frame of reference to the other versions (although I've been playing FFH and FFH2 for a while)...I've tried only 3 of the races, Elohim, Lanun, and Grigori. I had no real prblems with the Lanun or the Grigori. The Elohim seem to be a problem...I can't seem to find a strategy that works, and am either stuck in last, or in the 1 game I was leading ( at least out of the discovered civs), everyone seem to target me for war, starting with the Malkims, who I had no negative relations with, and managed to move a large army across the map and then declare a surprise war...I thought it was a little odd considering they had to by-pass an evil civ just to get to me. I'm not sure wht the problem with the Elohim is, maybe it's just me, but I find them unplayable....Also, the Bannor are the first civ wiped out in every single game I've played.