A LOOK AT 2D ACTION RPGS

Are we talking top down, or sideview? Or maybe that arcade view (where it is sideview but you can move up and down in a limited manner, like Golden Axe)?

If I had the time and patience and the wherewithal, I would totally make a 2D sidescrolling action RPG. I'd love to play an RPG game with, say, Super Smash Bros's engine.

I like the SoM style or Zelda style of ARPG. I like swinging a sword around and cutting things like grass and hurting enemies. Its fun, it's combat on the main map.

What I think is fun and what I'm trying to focus on in my game is the environment. Fire propagation, and other environmental things can be cool additions that help you use your skills in a creative way.

I like to think of weakness as a strength. As in, you play a character who has no super powers, who has little in the way of strong skills, but has a creative mind and a knack for using the environment to his advantage. Its things like this that adds more immersion, and makes it fun for me.

I didn't quite answer the question. It may seem I'm doing very well, as because I'm not using RPG maker. I've been using Sphere, but that's still not going to make it easy. I use Sphere because I can script the system to my liking. I think you could do this in VX or XP given if you know Ruby.

It doesn't matter which way you slice this pie, ARPG's are the hardest to do, but are easier in a more malleable game maker. Plus, you'll need a good grasp on technical game design skills. ARPG's are designed top-down, while most other RPG's are designed bottom-up, for example.

Kirby Super Star is one of my favorite games because you can play through it fast but then go back for all the extra treasures and stuff (as well as the eating for powers mechanic).

But yea, you'd be better off with an engine like Game Maker or something for a Kirby game, because it's less of an RPG and more of a platformer.

2d action is fun as is getting stronger as you proceed. That should cover most of what there is to it.