'My Tainted Life' is the first chapter in what looks to be an adventure story not unlike many of the RPG video games that it draws inspiration from. It follows a runaway prince-priest who, a wielder of healing magic, is trying to escape his role as the army's heal bot to go and experience the freedom of the world. It's gives some realism to the video-game-y aspects of healing and how valuable that skill would be in a society to the point that those that could wield it would be locked up and used for the sheer benefit they provide to the rest of the community at large. It's an intriguing line of reasoning that said persons would be looked at less than people and more as tools as they are denied their ability to lead a life that they could choose.
The story follows the prince-priest, Manfrey, as he's on the verge of running away from the city, and in doing so will be labeled a deserter, and bounty pages would be placed around to guarantee his return. However, before Manfrey can get too far, he's immediately tracked down by Chris/Moon Blade/the general of the army/one of the highest leveled characters in the city to bring him back. Chris is what you would call a tool, in a figurative and literal sense, which follows orders and doesn't question anything about it, and is bringing back Manfrey because he was ordered to by his prince brother. Of course, Chris hides his power-level until a powerful tainted mob shows up to start wrecking the place, and then suddenly there's the big clash of ideals between Manfrey and Chris. What's more important, the use that one can bring to their community by playing their designated role or is it better for the individual to decide how best to use their own talents for the greater good? Obviously, Manfrey is going to use his healing powers where he can, as he easily gives up his cover so he can help the citizens and guards who defended the tavern against an attack, but Chris says that being on the front lines is not where he should be and instead just leave the fighting to the fighters and healing to the healers. They never really come to an agreement, and they really shouldn't cause this is just the opening chapter, and it seems to want to lead into a fuller exploration into an RPG level story for this fighter-priest's journey into becoming a paladin.
The presentation is extremely high quality, as expected from Team Eclipse, they've got so many good artists, musicians, programmers and designers that it's so polished, even for a month creation. The UI and loading screens are all fantasy themed, all the backgrounds are evocative, and even the special moment CGs really give weight in the story where it's needed. The healing kisses, the duel and the big fight against the tainted monster, all painted with amazing quality. Sound design is great. Character sprites are great, love the border-less style. Really, there's hardly anything to complain about when it comes to the actual visual and immersive experience with this one. The writing is good, it's carries the plot along well. It'll change view points a few times which, going from the prince, to the blacksmith, and back to the prince, which can be a bit disorienting, but I understand why it was done, so that the reader can understand how Chris was able to find him so quickly, but part of me wonders if that extra scene was needed, as perhaps the introduction of Chris as coming off as this undercover adventurer with a hidden agenda would've been more impactful, if we didn't already know who he was when Manfrey first meets him. While I love the idea that a stronger healing spell includes kisses on the cheek and the mouth, the way that the story seemed to then lean into the lovey-dovey section with Manfrey and Chris, the laying and cuddling afterwards and the affectionate talk between them, seems to come out of left field. A bit too early in the story to be alluding towards a romantic connection, when up to that point, Chris has been emotionally detached and Manfrey has all but been annoyed and distrustful of Chris lying to him and wanting to take away his freedom. The way that the story will continue as the start of this adventuring party, now with a healer and a fighter, it does give promise for what new fun characters and potential party members will be joining, as well as just how they'll be taking on this larger threat of 'the tainted' across their land.
As for the folklore theme, the story is very fantasy-rpg game based, so it's influenced by several of the hallmarks of the genre. Fantasy fights with tainted monsters, magical powers for healing and offense, a status based hierarchy, etc. It doesn't really try to frame the story using any specific folklore, nor does it try to introduce a custom piece of folklore for the setting, so this story definitely feels more like a personal project that happened to aligns somewhat with the theme, and that's fine by me. As long as it spurs the creation of a new VN, then I'm happy, even though I'd probably rate it lower on that particular measure. I don't know how creative I would call this, as it's doesn't seem to be breaking new ground, and I'm not mad at it for taking a tried and true set up and doing their own spin on it. All the assets to make this are of very high quality, and in that there is inherent creativity, but the combined product is a sum of it's parts.
Overall, another really high quality and polished entry into the game jam from Team Eclipse. It's a real skill that they're able to complete such visual novels while managing such a large team and not somehow end up with feature bloat or mismanaged efforts. Scope management is also something that I applaud because especially with the idea of having a much larger novel in mind and only completing a single chapter, it's tough, because the chapter has to have a small arc of it's own, while still letting the story have room to grow. Plus, it does do a good job in introducing all the new concepts and characters to the readers in an efficient and meaningful way. It is still just a chapter, so I tend to err on the side of caution as it can be easy to throw a bunch of ideas into early chapters and leave it unfinished so as to never have to worry about resolving any of the introduced ideas. So I only hope that when this story is continued, these elements are kept in mind. Fun read!