I enjoyed the hell out of it myself. It's a toss up for me as to whether the first or second was the better one. EE3 was a disaster and should not be mentioned.
As with all civilization-advancement games, you are too busy racing to get to the next age to really enjoy the current one in to the fullest, but if you don't mind that, EE2 can be great fun.
“The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.”
- Mahatma Gandhi