I think, if you're familiar with go, this is an uncharitable reading of the question. The victory condition in this game is very directly analogous to a not-uncommon source of (sometimes-game-deciding) violence in go--two nearby weak groups where connection means a decisive victory for whichever player achieves it.

Having not played Hex, I can't say whether it's strategically similar (although just from the first couple of chapters, there are definitely similar concepts of important shapes and ladder breakers).