I've played the game for almost 200 hours (Rome 2 has a little more), and I can say with confidence that it's worth the money and can take up more than one free evening.
For many, of course, watching the decline of their own empire, which they carefully and piece by piece built throughout the last game, capturing new territories, defending power in civil wars, etc., will be very sad. But bringing new, young, dreaming of greatness kingdoms to greatness and glory, on which the stories of the next centuries will rest, is much more interesting. Everything old will be burned to the ground, all the weak and those who have forgotten the heady taste of battle will be killed - the time has come for the strong to take what belonged to them by right. And for those who like to sow panic, destruction and chaos, there is also a lot of interesting things here.
After such a lyrical digression, I would like to say that for me personally the main advantages of this part are: finally the return of a full-fledged family tree with a bunch of excellent opportunities, the opportunity to truly “raze” cities. Of course, there are many other advantages, but you can read about them in more complete articles, but these two “features” are what Rome 2 was missing.
Of the disadvantages, of course, the system of paid DLC - but, on the other hand On the other hand, no one is forcing you to purchase them. Although, it is worth saying that most of them in this part are really worth the money - good and interesting factions with unique units and, what is even more distinctive from Rome 2, their own mini-campaigns.