The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy Embraces Beloved Tropes Without Being Danganronpa 4

Earlier this month, I wrapped up my first playthrough of Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony. This marks the completion of my journey through a riveting multimedia universe that captivated me back during the pandemic lockdowns of 2020, when the series enjoyed a resurgence. This timing coincided perfectly with the start of my adventure into The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy’s demo during Steam Next Fest. With every twist and turn of the co-creator Kazutaka Kodaka’s intricate tales still fresh, I was eager to dive into his latest creation.

Around the time of Danganronpa V3’s release in 2017, Kodaka and several former Spike Chunsoft colleagues founded Too Kyo Games. The studio has since released various titles that fans often speculate could be spiritual successors to Danganronpa. This kept hopes alive, though some felt a tinge of disappointment with games like World’s End Club in 2020 and Master Detective Archives: Rain Code in 2023. Both echoed Danganronpa’s essence yet veered off on distinct paths—World’s End Club without its signature death game, and Rain Code sans the familiar school setting.

Now, The Hundred Line finds itself under the spotlight, drawing inevitable comparisons once more. From the demo, it’s clear that this game leans into its connection to Danganronpa more than any other Too Kyo project. Musical motifs and sound cues echo back to those familiar with the Danganronpa series, invoking nostalgia. The art style and character designs evoke a sense of strange familiarity, like bumping into distant cousins at a family gathering.

In the game’s introductory segment, the narrative unfolds through a series of fully-animated and voiced cutscenes that might feel slightly eerie to those accustomed to Danganronpa’s visual novel delivery. We meet our mundane teenage protagonist and his complicated not-quite-girlfriend on their way to school, only for their normal day to spiral into chaos. Our hero awakens in an unfamiliar classroom, surrounded by strangers and confronted by a bizarre cartoon mascot in charge.

The developers at Too Kyo toy with expectations in clever fashion. A character intriguingly expresses anticipation for a deadly survival challenge, only for the game to pivot towards a turn-based strategy. Here, the characters must unite against evil robots and terrifying monsters to stave off disaster. This shift isn’t just a divergence—it’s a beacon of thematic evolution.

As a newcomer to turn-based combat, I may not be the most seasoned strategist, but I couldn’t help but notice the intriguing strategic puzzles this game offers. It’s not revolutionary in mechanics but stands as a solid entry into strategy gaming for visual novel enthusiasts venturing into a new realm.

The demo spans the first week in-game, concluding on a tantalizing cliffhanger, sure to please those familiar with the team’s previous work. I doubt it masks an intent to revisit Danganronpa’s notorious killing game format anytime soon. Kodaka’s recent epic was reason enough to declare that Danganronpa’s trope has run its course—for now. Should the beloved series make its comeback, it’ll likely do so under its own familiar name.

If you’re approaching The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy hoping to relive Danganronpa, it’s time to recalibrate those expectations. Yet, the game acknowledges what made Danganronpa such a hit—engaging characters and unpredictable plots. The freedom from the original’s restrictive formula seems to afford Too Kyo creative room to explore, without losing their signature peculiar charm.

From what I’ve experienced, this game masterfully dances between fresh innovation and an affectionate nod to its roots. Predicting which aspect will dominate the final product is anyone’s guess, but I’m ready for the journey. As thoughts turn to 2025, this pseudo-sequel hints at a coming together, a timely reminder of the strength found in unity over division—a theme that resonates now more than ever.

Interested in checking it out? The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy demo is up on Steam, with the full release slated for April 24th on Windows and Nintendo Switch. And, for PC gamers, the demo’s progress carries into the full game, making the transition seamless.