This game is certainly more difficult than most games you find here, however it is not overly hard and by the second game you should be able to develop solid strategies to win consistently.
It is not Risk! except that there is a map broken into territories, so it could just as well be Axis and Allies (closer actually), or Advanced Civ.
Well worth the trial, not sure the replay value would get me to purchase this one as I managed 4 complete games in the hour and was able to run roughshod over the AI in about 6 minutes in the last 2 games.