I was going to guess Smash Bros. based on your clue about it being part of a series people dreamed about, but then you said "3D".  You move on a 2D plane in SSB.  You cannot roll into the foreground or sidestep into the background.  I can see where you're coming from, but that clue really sucked :P

Back in the day, I researched the PS1 library quite a bit to look for games to pad out my PS2 library. My how things have changed since then...

No, I do understand what you mean, but it's more about the illusion of being 3D rather than it being actually 3D.  Like NSMB Wii uses some 3D rendered models, but you can only ever move left, right or up, never forwards or backwards.  That would be 2D to me.  Same with SSB.

But never mind, no harm done!

Since I have absolutely no patience whatsoever, I'll give a second hint.

Hint #1: "My #47 is a beloved follow-up to one of the most influential simulation games of all time, and featured all sorts of deadly natural disasters."

Hint #2: This game taught me the importance of taxes.

I was impressed you got it, actually.  Don't really know anyone else who has heard of the game, so kudos for that.

(And if you haven't played it yet, I thoroughly recommend it.  And if you have, more kudos to you!)

SimCity... 2000?  3000?  Unsure.  One of them.

I haven't played it, but I've heard about the Strike series, which led me to Future Cop. Looks like the game didn't perform very well, which is likely why so few have heard of it.

SimCity 2000 it is. People praise it for its depth and addicting city-building nature. I remember it for making me feel like God.

Nope. Kresnik already got it - SimCity 2000. PC version.

Everytime I see someone speak about SimCity 2000 I immediately think about the ingame-music and the phrase;

"SimCopter reporting heavy traffic..."

As that was a line I heard way too often!