The example of this closest to my heart has always been Pharaoh, an amazing game from 2000, which looks a huge amount better than it's spiritual successor, released in 2004, Immortal Cities: Children of the Nile.

http://image.buildinggame.net/screenshot-cleopatra-game-buil... http://cf.shacknews.com/shack_images/sshots/immortalcities/1...