RPG Maker MZ Review Summary

User-Friendly and Easy to Learn: The software is praised for its ease of use, intuitive interface, and comprehensive tutorials, making it accessible for beginners and those without programming knowledge.

Great for RPG Development: The software is highly regarded for creating RPG-style games, offering tools and features that cater specifically to RPG development.

Superior to Previous Versions: The software is considered an improvement over older versions like MV, with better performance, fewer limitations, and more advanced features.

Rich Plugin System: The software supports a wide array of plugins, including third-party options, which enhance its functionality and fix many shortcomings.

Strong Community Support: The software benefits from a large and supportive community, providing resources, plugins, and assistance to users.

High plugin costs and reliance: Many users find the prices of plugins to be too high and feel that the software relies too heavily on plugins, many of which are paid and not worth the cost.

Compatibility issues with MV: There are significant issues with plugin compatibility and project migration between MV and MZ, making transitions difficult and limiting the use of existing MV plugins.

Lack of native features: The software lacks many built-in features that users expect, requiring additional plugins and workarounds for basic functionality.

Steep learning curve: The software requires significant scripting knowledge and understanding of JavaScript, presenting a steep learning curve for new users.

Software limitations and constraints: Users find the software to be very limiting with several constraints that hinder the development process.

Extensive plugin support: The game engine supports a rich plugin system that allows for extended functionality and customization. Plugins can fix many shortcomings and add advanced features.

Beginner-friendly development: The engine is designed to be easy to use for beginners, allowing for game creation without advanced programming knowledge. It includes tutorials and a well-organized database.

Gameplay elements and editor: The reviews highlight various gameplay elements such as the character generator, tilesets, map editor, and plugin commands. These tools are essential for creating and customizing game content.

Turn-based combat system: The game features a turn-based combat system, which is a core mechanic for many RPGs. This includes both traditional turn-based and active time battle systems.

JavaScript support: The engine supports JavaScript for advanced features and original code, allowing for greater customization and functionality through scripting.

Stability and performance improvements: There is a demand for a more stable engine and better performance optimizations to enhance the overall experience.

Frequent crashes: The game experiences frequent crashes, which significantly impact the user experience and stability.

Resolution and upscaling issues: Players report various problems related to screen resolution options and upscaling, causing display issues.

Poor performance on Linux: The game has performance issues on Linux, including problems with running the game and menu/window issues.

Pixi engine upgrade issues: Upgrading the Pixi engine has introduced several bugs and performance problems.

MZ preferred for professionals: MZ is often recommended for professional and serious game developers due to its advanced features and incorporated plug-in functions.

Good for beginners and indie developers: The software is highly recommended for beginners, indie game developers, and those interested in creating 2D games due to its accessibility and ease of use.

MV for flexibility and cost: MV is suggested for those who want more flexibility with available plugins and are not willing to spend extra money or learn JavaScript.

Not recommended for those with older versions: If you already own another version of RPG Maker, upgrading might not be recommended unless you can get MZ at a steep discount.

Wait for sales: Many recommend waiting for a significant price drop before purchasing the software, as it is often not considered worth buying at full price.

Community fair range: $15.00 - $20.00.

Game completion: 1000.0h.

Endgame: 1000.0h.

The game has an initial learning curve and adjustment period, but once players get past this phase, they find it enjoyable and fun.

Reported time to anchor: 1h.

Friction: Laggy tutorial; Need to create new projects for each tutorial feature; Learning curve for new features.

Unlock drivers: Completing the tutorial; Familiarity with game mechanics.

Beginner Game Developer: Uses built-in tools and plugins to create simple games without deep coding knowledge. Motivation: Ease of use and accessibility for creating games. Stance: sale.

Veteran RPG Developer: Extensive use of plugins and scripts to create highly customized games. Motivation: Advanced customization and deep knowledge of the engine. Stance: no buy.

Creative Hobbyist: Focuses on creating enjoyable and functional games using built-in tools and some plugins. Motivation: Creative expression and sharing games with friends and family. Stance: sale.

Steam Deck: The analysis of user feedback reveals significant issues with the software's compatibility and support for Linux. Users frequently encounter difficulties in running the software on Linux, often requiring workarounds such as using Proton or Wine. The lack of native Linux support and the manual effort required for porting and deployment are major pain points. Additionally, the inability to export to Linux directly from the deployment options adds to the overall friction. These issues collectively result in a less-than-optimal user experience for Linux users.

Linux and Proton: The software faces significant compatibility and performance issues on Linux. Users report difficulties in running the software smoothly, often requiring extensive tweaks and workarounds. There is a notable lack of native Linux support, which was previously available in the older version (MV). Additionally, users express frustration over the software barely working on Linux and the absence of features like one-click export to Linux game versions.

Monetization: The user reviews for RPG Maker MZ highlight significant concerns regarding its monetization practices. The most frequent and impactful complaints revolve around the excessive and overpriced DLCs, which are often redundant or misleading. Users feel that essential content and tools are locked behind paywalls, making it necessary to spend a considerable amount of money to access basic features. Additionally, there are concerns about false advertising, as the game is marketed as accessible to everyone, but in reality, users need to purchase DLCs to create unique games. The overall sentiment is that the game's monetization practices are predatory and exploitative, detracting from the user experience.

Technical Improvements: Several technical improvements have been made, including resolving database issues, allowing MZ to run without Steam, and rewriting the underlying codebase.

Community and Support Resources: There are various community resources available for users, including QQ discussion groups for custom plugins and forums for further assistance.

Impact on Game Perception: Using RPG Maker MZ can change your perspective on video games, making you more aware of shortcuts and lazy efforts in other games.

Suggestions for Additional Materials: Users suggest adding basic game mapping materials, common tile materials, and more options for map functions and character movement modes.

High Cost of DLCs: The cost of purchasing all DLCs for RPG Maker MZ is noted to be very high, around 200,000 yen.