The engine you use doesn't matter except that you need to capable of using it. Starting with a small game is much more important so that you do something you can complete in a reasonable time which you seem to have already accepted.
I can always change things, and if an engine makes it easier for me than unity for example, I'm always willing to listen to suggestions, I've only used this engine for a long time fooling around with shaders, I appreciate any suggestion =)
