Here is a paraphrase of the review in Game Informer. Hurry and read it, cause I have to take it down in 48 hours so as not to get sued for copyright infringement.
People with children possess the ability to unflinchingly watch their offspring butcher Beethoven at a piano recital or deliver lines in a school play with a grace that evenJake Lloyd could exceed. It is with this sense of paternal pride that I began to play my own RPG "Totally Breakfast." But the swell in my heart turned into a knot as I awkwardly plodded thorough the world I had spent so much time creating, wincing nearly every step of the way and simply feeling ashamed.
Yes, RPG Maker 3 allows you to make a game with your bare hands, but it fails to inspire the forgiveness necessary to play it. After hours upon hours of typing in dialogue, laying out cities, and scripting events, what is the fruit of your labor? PSone calibur graphics(which is admittedly a step up from the last iteration), terrible controls, and a battle system that chugs more than Lee Marvin at a Whiskey Party.
Even more troubling is this: In the time it takes to create any sort of viable or interesting content in RPG Maker, you could play through a real game. Instead of messing with tools and settling for ancient visuals, you could actually be experiencing current technology, sophisticated storytelling, and main characters who don't talk like they just filled their pants.
I cannot deny the sheer entertainment of this game as a hobby project; between the slew of characters, monsters, and items, there is enough here to keep you occupied for days. Furthermore, some people will undoubtedly appreciate the opportunity to "own" their gaming experience. So if ownership is important to you, then congratulations - you own garbage.
BOTTOM LINE: 6.5
Concept - Provide the tools to create a game no one will ever play.
Graphics - Smokin' compared to its predecessors, and awful when compared to its peers.
Sound - The in-game music is passable, but the melody that plays endlessly in editor mode is downright terrible.
Playability - Even with a fairly intuitive interface, you absolutely NEED to have a USB keyboard to get anything done.
Entertainment - The process of creating the game is captivating and fun. The game itself blows.
Replay Value - Moderately high.
SECOND OPINION: 7.25
When compared to the colossal task of trying to design a game on the earlier RPG Maker games, this third installment is a piece of cake. In fact, while putting together a workable RPG is certainly still challenging, this one is genuinely usable most of the time. I liked the variety of character models, and the general ease of placing objects in the environment. Scripting dialogue was a simple affair, but good luck balancing battles. At least now you'll know how hard that task is for real RPG designers. While the graphics and animations definitely look several years old, the move to 3D works surprisingly well. Aspiring designers could do much worse than taking the time to try this out, but only if you can head in with great patience and a willingness to learn
People with children possess the ability to unflinchingly watch their offspring butcher Beethoven at a piano recital or deliver lines in a school play with a grace that evenJake Lloyd could exceed. It is with this sense of paternal pride that I began to play my own RPG "Totally Breakfast." But the swell in my heart turned into a knot as I awkwardly plodded thorough the world I had spent so much time creating, wincing nearly every step of the way and simply feeling ashamed.
Yes, RPG Maker 3 allows you to make a game with your bare hands, but it fails to inspire the forgiveness necessary to play it. After hours upon hours of typing in dialogue, laying out cities, and scripting events, what is the fruit of your labor? PSone calibur graphics(which is admittedly a step up from the last iteration), terrible controls, and a battle system that chugs more than Lee Marvin at a Whiskey Party.
Even more troubling is this: In the time it takes to create any sort of viable or interesting content in RPG Maker, you could play through a real game. Instead of messing with tools and settling for ancient visuals, you could actually be experiencing current technology, sophisticated storytelling, and main characters who don't talk like they just filled their pants.
I cannot deny the sheer entertainment of this game as a hobby project; between the slew of characters, monsters, and items, there is enough here to keep you occupied for days. Furthermore, some people will undoubtedly appreciate the opportunity to "own" their gaming experience. So if ownership is important to you, then congratulations - you own garbage.
BOTTOM LINE: 6.5
Concept - Provide the tools to create a game no one will ever play.
Graphics - Smokin' compared to its predecessors, and awful when compared to its peers.
Sound - The in-game music is passable, but the melody that plays endlessly in editor mode is downright terrible.
Playability - Even with a fairly intuitive interface, you absolutely NEED to have a USB keyboard to get anything done.
Entertainment - The process of creating the game is captivating and fun. The game itself blows.
Replay Value - Moderately high.
SECOND OPINION: 7.25
When compared to the colossal task of trying to design a game on the earlier RPG Maker games, this third installment is a piece of cake. In fact, while putting together a workable RPG is certainly still challenging, this one is genuinely usable most of the time. I liked the variety of character models, and the general ease of placing objects in the environment. Scripting dialogue was a simple affair, but good luck balancing battles. At least now you'll know how hard that task is for real RPG designers. While the graphics and animations definitely look several years old, the move to 3D works surprisingly well. Aspiring designers could do much worse than taking the time to try this out, but only if you can head in with great patience and a willingness to learn
When school starts and I have to be away for so long, I am going to cry 
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