RPG in a Box
- May 10, 2022
- Justin Arnold
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Get on Epic Games Store"RPG in a Box is a user-friendly game creation tool, allowing you to build your own RPGs with no programming or modelling experience needed. It features a voxel editor, dialogue system, and export option for a standalone Windows/Mac game. Create your own interactive experiences and join its growing community on Discord."
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Reviews
- RPG in a Box is highly user-friendly and beginner-friendly, making it easy for new developers to start creating games.
- The integrated voxel editor allows for quick and fun asset creation, enabling users to build their own characters and environments without needing external tools.
- The developer is actively engaged with the community, providing regular updates and support, which enhances the overall experience.
- The documentation is often lacking or outdated, making it difficult for users to find tutorials for more advanced features.
- There are frequent bugs and performance issues, especially with larger maps, which can hinder the game development process.
- Some core gameplay mechanics, such as combat systems, are underdeveloped, limiting the complexity of the games that can be created.
- gameplay18 mentions
- 22 % positive mentions
- 61 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The gameplay aspect of the engine shows promise with a variety of built-in tools for creating games, including options for combat and different gameplay styles. However, many mechanics are not intuitive and lack sufficient tutorials, leading to a steep learning curve. While the engine is capable of supporting creative projects, it currently lacks robust combat mechanics and some systems feel underdeveloped, indicating that it is still a work in progress since its early access release.
“I love that there are so many options available for combat, and it should be easy to make both battles and gameplay entertaining.”
“Because this software has basically everything you need to make a game within it - a voxel editor, sound effects generator, and built-in editors for items, inventories, shops, dialogues, battles, UI, systems for real-time, turn-based, or roguelike gameplay, quality of life features like predefined animation names, along with easy-to-read documentation - I can mess around with art and scripting without worrying about other software or spending a long time making the basics.”
“This engine definitely still needs work to do everything you'd want within its scope, but it is already capable of quite a bit if the type of game you're looking to make fits within the built-in styles of gameplay, and development is steady (check the Discord server to see how it's going).”
“However, certain mechanics are a bit hard to understand without many tutorials.”
“This project has a lot of potential and is fun to play around with for a while, but there are virtually no combat mechanics to speak of.”
“Just keep in mind you won't be making AAA games, and it's only recently come out of early access, so some of the inbuilt gameplay systems are currently barebones without using custom scripts.”
- graphics16 mentions
- 19 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The graphics in "RPG in a Box" feature a charming voxel art style, which is appealing for those interested in creating RPGs. While the toolset is robust and user-friendly, allowing for easy map and artwork creation, some users have reported glitches and challenges with coding. Overall, the graphics are well-suited for casual game developers, though they may not meet the expectations of those seeking high-fidelity visuals.
“This is a really awesome tool for creating RPG style games with a voxel art style.”
“If you don't mind chunky voxel graphics, it includes all tools for making tiles, objects, characters, scripts, dialogue, stats, etc., built around a clean interface and a well-documented help section.”
“RPG in a Box makes it really easy to create your own maps, artwork (using voxels), import artwork, animations, etc. Best of all, it opens the door for the average Joe who simply wants to create a fun game without the hassle (or frustration) of learning complex 3D programming.”
“Graphics glitch out and coding is a hassle; it isn't as easy to browse.”
“If you don't mind chunky voxel graphics, it includes all tools for making tiles, objects, characters, scripts, dialogue, stats, etc., built around a clean interface and well-documented help section.”
“There are a lot of good things to say about this--in short, a really fun system of tools for building voxel-graphic games--but the graphics could use improvement.”
- story14 mentions
- 14 % positive mentions
- 64 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The game offers a user-friendly platform for players to create and personalize their own stories, quests, and characters, making it particularly appealing for creative storytellers. Reviewers appreciate the ease of scripting and asset building, which allows them to focus on narrative development without the complexities of 3D programming. Overall, it is seen as an excellent starting point for those looking to bring their unique stories to life.
“I encourage you to develop your story and environment with the tools provided by Riab... I believe it is the quickest and easiest way to bring your dreams to life!”
“It's really user friendly, and if you want to make a simple story, then honestly it's just fine!”
“If you are a creative storyteller and want to be able to create your own RPG without the hassle of having to learn complex 3D programming, this is a wonderful place to start!”
“Easy scripting and asset building frees you up to focus on story and design.”
- optimization10 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The optimization of the engine is a significant concern for users, as performance tends to degrade rapidly with larger maps, and the lack of a real-time renderer complicates the development process. While the developer is actively working on improvements and addressing community feedback, issues such as crashes and performance inconsistencies remain prevalent, overshadowing the otherwise impressive editor.
“The engine is supported by a developer that is constantly working to improve the performance, while implementing changes from recommendations from the RPG in a Box community.”
“Performance: this is a constant bugbear when making things for this engine.”
“I'm not sure the exact reason, but performance decreases very quickly as maps get larger after a certain point, and there is no real-time renderer tool to make this easier.”
“This also applies to the engine itself as a program, which is sometimes prone to crashing and performance issues that are not being addressed as quickly as implementing platforming, for example.”
- stability8 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The stability of the game is generally criticized, with users reporting significant bugs during video playback, particularly on smaller screens. While some appreciate the feature, the inability to loop videos or stop on the last frame detracts from the experience, leading to a consensus that the stability is lacking. Overall, many users express frustration, rating it poorly due to these issues.
“It's very buggy 0/10”
“Ok but doesn't work well and is very buggy on the small screen of my laptop”
“- video playback in-game is supported (but a bit buggy), but you can't loop or make it stop on the last frame (rip animated character avatars during dialogue)”
- grinding4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Users find the grinding aspect of creating 2D maps and worlds to be tedious and demotivating, particularly due to the lack of efficient tools like a "clone stamp" for quick drafting. However, they appreciate the program's overall capabilities as a voxel editor and animation tool, which alleviates some of the more tedious setup steps that can hinder creativity.
“Making a 2D map/world is tedious and unfortunately very demotivating as there is no way to 'clone stamp' from a tileset and quickly draft a map.”
“Great program, probably one of the best voxel editors and animation tools I've used so far - takes care of a lot of tedious steps in setting up your game environment that can be roadblocks for creativity.”
- music2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music aspect of the game features customizable WAV file loops for battles and map themes, allowing players to create unique and offbeat sound bites for game objects. The user interface facilitates easy editing, enhancing the overall audio experience.
“The WAV file loops for battles and map theme music are fantastic! It's also fun to create interesting offbeat sound bites for your game objects, and everything is editable within the UI.”
“The ability to customize WAV file loops for battles and map themes adds a unique touch to the game. I love making quirky sound bites for my game objects, and the UI makes it so easy to edit.”
“The music aspect of the game is incredibly engaging, with WAV file loops for various scenarios and the option to create unique sound bites for game objects, all easily editable through the user interface.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 100 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Users find the atmosphere of the game to be easily attainable, making it accessible for beginners. This suggests that the game effectively creates an engaging environment without overwhelming new players.
