Campaigns are meant to teach you the game. Start with the tutorial first. First read the user guide. The wheel replaced sliders. You might want to go into options to set the mouse to scroll to move off screen.
Use constructors to build shipyards.
Adjancencies it helps and matters what type of buildings you build together. The tooltips tell you what you need to know.
Now when it comes to planetary resource bonuses. Theres two the first one tells you the bonus you get for building on it. The second is for being adjancent to the space not the building which could have a different kind of bonus.
The colors are different.
Player achievements have replaced galactic achievements super projects and trade goods.
Their are now resources in space that helps you build things on planet and ship stuff.
Normal is now where noone gets unfair bonuses.