Review: RPG Maker VX
RPG Maker VX is a powerful game creator that enables you to create role-playing games from scratch. They can be as simple or complex as you need them to be. The final result is usually role playing games that look and feel like SNES RPGs like Final Fantasy III, although if you have training in graphic design you can push the graphics to Chrono Trigger.
You don’t need programming experience, and many common commands have been simplified from previous versions, such as transferring to one map to another, shop keeper processing, and treasure chests.
Even with some simplified commands, you still are in effect programming (even though it’s called video game design). It is 100% necessary to check out the RPG Maker VX tutorials on rpgmakervx.net and rpgrevolution.com, and to practice-practice-practice making events, conditions, and maps.
Once you create your game, you can share it with others and get it critiqued, and/or sell it. Since you design the game balance, you can also have fun playing your own RPG or give it to your kids or friends.
There are no limits to your creativity. If you feel the existing battle system is limiting, community members have written scripts that import into the program (this is by design).
This is a program that truly requires sleepless nights or at least to work on it for an hour a day, and maybe you’d make a good game in a year. It does hit the creative section of your brain.
One thing that dampers the experience is that 1) you have to worry about copyright laws if you use other artists background music, graphics, or characters (but you are safe if you just use the default or create your own music and graphics); and 2) even the highest rated custom-made game in the community has some issues when compared to the Nintendo RPGs of the SNES era. Many completed games are cookie cut.
The hardest part is learning how to create “switches”, “conditional branches”, and “control variables”. Creating maps is a lot simpler than one would expect. Creating original, breath-taking maps, however, probably requires custom-made tilesets.
It could be argued that RPG Maker VX is a step-backwards to RPG Maker XP when it comes to default battle system, graphics, and map tile sets, but is much more user friendly and has more features.
I highly recommend it for aspiring video game designers or hobbyists. Unlike other game maker games, this is actually FUN, believe it or not. As long as you have patience to deal with the learning curve and play-testing (and have writing ability) you will really enjoy creating an RPG, even if it’s for your own personal use.
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