Question... given the strict limitations set on assets here, would 3D be viable under any circumstances?
To give an example, even a simple background rendered from a single static camera angle is going to incur a number of runtime-loaded assets: separate objects/props, multiple textures and different materials, etc., all things that could be drawn reasonably into a single background image if it were instead 2D. If a reasonable attempt was made to emulate what is presently allowed with drawn 2D assets--single camera angle limited to zooming/panning, mostly static background elements or a simple looped animation (nothing dramatic like time-of-day relighting, etc), and a sole character comprised of a single mesh with a looping idle animation and one gesture-- would this be acceptable?
I ask because 3D modeling and texturing is within my present range of abilities, but not drawing, and I would be working solo for this.
Additionally there is the smaller matter of simple sound effects associated with on screen text being rendered to the screen, aka "babbling", and whether or not these would count as GUI sounds or take up the single SFX slot. Thanks!