The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy Embraces Fan-Favorite Tropes Without Being Danganronpa 4

Just recently, I wrapped up my first playthrough of “Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony,” marking the end of my journey through a franchise that’s captivated me since its resurgence during the 2020 lockdown. This timing couldn’t be more perfect, as it provided a fresh perspective going into the demo for “The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy,” showcased at this month’s Steam Next Fest. With Kodaka’s renowned works still vivid in my memory, I ventured into this latest creation.

Following the launch of Danganronpa V3 in 2017, Kazutaka Kodaka and other former Spike Chunsoft creatives established Too Kyo Games. Their projects have often been heralded as spiritual successors to Danganronpa, though not always hitting the mark. Titles like “World’s End Club” and “Master Detective Archives: Rain Code” have resonated with Danganronpa fans, yet diverged on key aspects—one lacks the notorious killing game, while the other eschews the school life setting.

Naturally, “The Hundred Line” invites similar expectations. Playing its demo, I found that it leans into familiar Danganronpa vibes more than any previous Too Kyo venture. The music and sound cues are reminiscent enough to verge on being borrowed, and the art style—with its uniquely crafted characters—evokes that same comfortable yet uncanny déjà vu, like getting acquainted with distant relatives at a family gathering.

The experience begins with a strong sense of déjà vu, launching into a series of animated scenes that echo Danganronpa’s narrative beats. A typical teen and his not-quite-girlfriend find themselves on a bizarre adventure, culminating in the protagonist awakening in a peculiar classroom with an unsettling cartoon mascot at the helm.

Too Kyo plays with anticipation, toying with the idea of a deadly showdown—only to pivot to a strategy game where characters cooperate to fend off malevolent robots and bizarre creatures, averting the kind of calamities that loom in the backdrop of Danganronpa’s universe.

As someone who’s recently taken a liking to turn-based combat, I may not be the most seasoned critic of strategy games, but I can appreciate how “The Hundred Line” presents an intriguing puzzle without venturing into groundbreaking territory. It seems to serve as an accessible foray for visual novel enthusiasts rather than seasoned strategy gamers.

The demo spans the first week of gameplay, concluding on a cliffhanger—a nod to fans of Kodaka’s previous endeavors. However, it doesn’t hint at a stealth return to the killing game formula but rather embraces its new strategy genre identity. Having just navigated Kodaka’s extensive farewell to Danganronpa, I hope the game maintains its distinct path, especially given Too Kyo’s amicable ties with Spike Chunsoft. If Danganronpa 4 emerges, it will likely bear that name in full.

While diving into “The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy” with hopes of a Danganronpa experience might not be fair, the game is keenly aware of its spiritual beginnings. It promises to deliver the quirky characters and wild narratives fans love, without being bound to the old gameplay formula.

What I’ve seen so far strikes an enticing balance between fresh innovation and a nostalgia-driven journey. Whether it leans more toward new horizons or familiar comforts remains to be seen. For a release coming in 2025, its message—highlighting unity over conflict—feels particularly apt, perhaps more of an evolution than a departure from its roots.

The demo is now up for grabs on Steam, with the full release slated for April 24th on both Windows and Nintendo Switch. A neat perk for PC players is that progress made in the demo will carry over to the full game.