First GTASA, now X-Wing and Tie Fighter, with somewhat better graphics? What did I do to deserve these wondrous toys?

I think F3 got the 1950s better than any other version of the game. From all accounts and what I've read, the American culture of the 1950s was an over-bearing, forced, and goofy experience, in reaction.

Feeling an incredible urge to become Abraham Drinkin, in Chinese Stealth Armor.

Oh man, your first paragraph ... felt very similar, minus the love for FNV.

Outstanding treatment of the opening of Fallout 3. That was exactly how I felt ... and how the game sucked me into it.

Speaking of Beyond Earth and Civ 5 and Religions ...

Civ 5 has remnants of Civ 4 mechanics in it, from what I've told. They were probably used by modders to create the Civ 4 diplomatic features, which I use and love.

That's intriguing. Definitely not the take I expected.

I noticed it had the same setup for difficulty as Civ 5. Then I thought about how the AI tends to only zerg-rush with wars in 5. Is there anything about the AI hostility that is somewhat smarter than it usually displays itself from 5?

I really liked DC's Metro. Was surprised to see that it resembled the game's interiors (minus the rubble) more than I expected.

That's a cool idea.

There was a Choose Your Own Adventure book that took on this very concept, from what I remember. It was this one - http://www.amazon.com/Through-Black-…

I've noticed that about AI-controlled Hiawatha. The AI seems to thrive with both the Iroquois and America.

Says the guy clothed in a bath towel and a shawl!

You're right, he can turn on a dime, just like Napoleon. That actually happened to me in the last run I did. He was super friendly at first because I had 2 Civs between me and him on the same land mass. And I didn't say a peep when he started swallowing City States. But after he burned a neighbor Civ's lands…

Some men just want to watch the world burn!

Isabella, when she fails to form a religion, isn't too awful. But she's a total cancer when she gets the religion. She'll foist those Missionaries and Great Prophets all day, every day. Telling her to stop does nothing. Even if she says she'll cut it out, 5 turns later, there's her shitminions, turding up your…

Personal favorite is America.

When in a bind, pay guys like Attila to fight your foes. He's a great mercenary when he's not nearby, exactly like you said.

It's weird, because very few people like playing as Hiawatha ... but when the AI runs the Iroquois, they seem to do quite well for themselves.