@realman543 "Basically the same game" appears to be pretty accurate.
Though you do have to make more choices; extractors cost logistic slots now, but also you get more of them to offset that. (Also you don't get extractors at the start, they're a tier 1-3 tech, instead planets give all three resources by default, well depending on planet type. Extractors are closer to refineries because refineries are now for "exotics" which are loosely the replacement for command points.)