Help me decide if Unity is right for me?

Unity Engine
1

Hello everyone!

I am trying to make a 2D tactical turn based strategy rpg (think Final Fantasy Tactics Advance). I am deciding between this engine and RPG Maker MV which is currently on sale. I have some background in a C based language for robotics and I know some java. RPG Maker MV uses Javascript for anyone wondering. I would have to learn the syntax but I understand the logic behind it all. I’ve never made a game before in my life so if Unity is just too daunting then I think it would be better for me to go with MV.

Here are the things I need to know;

  1. How much support is there for 2D games on Unity? All the tutorials I have seen have been butt ugly and I was wondering if there was any particular reason for that?
  2. How easy is it to build the framework for a 2D rpg (items, skill trees, stats, special item effects, etc.)?
  3. Would it be possible to have a typical up-down-left-right type game when exploring but when battle commences it swaps to an isometric view?
  4. How much would the skills learn from creating this translate into making a 2D action rpg type game (think Bastion)?
  5. How much will all of this cost me? Unity is free but the asset store is kinda pricy. RPG Maker MV is like 80$, 50$ on sale right now and probably even less for steam summer sale and has a great community that will give you scripts for free.

If anyone could help me out I would appreciate it greatly, bonus appreciation if you can do a pro/con of MV and Unity!

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If you want to just dive in and work on this RPG of yours, go with RPG Maker MV.

In order to get anywhere near the level you’ll need to be with Unity to make that sort of game, you’ll need to invest quite a lot of time (> Months) working on smaller learning projects.

Comes down to whether or not you’re just doing this as a fun little, one-off hobby project (RPG Maker MV), or you are looking to do “serious” game development (Unity).

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I would like to say it would be a serious game development but it is more likely to be a hobby project

4
  1. Unity has solid 2D support. Do tutorials need to be pretty for you to learn? The more simple a tutorial is, the easier it is for the learner to understand.
  2. There are some assets on the asset store that can potentially help advance the development of a 2D RPG. Or, if you decide to start from scratch, it will obviously take much longer, but it will all be custom code that will allow you to make your game exactly the way you want it to behave.
  3. This shouldn’t be a problem. You just have to script your game to do this.
  4. A majority of the skills you learn in developing this 2D RPG game will most likely translate extremely well into any other type of 2D game, including an Action RPG, like Bastion.
  5. If you believe in your project, the investment in a few Unity assets isn’t really a factor, I wouldn’t think. On the other hand, if you think RPG Maker MV has all of the features to make your game exactly how you want it, that solution definitely provides more value. The problem with going with these sorts of authoring tools is that it may not be flexible enough for your particular game design. The solution to finding that out is to download their free trial, and prototype as much of your game as you can within the trial period.
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