Earlier this month, I wrapped up my first playthrough of Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony, marking the completion of the massive franchise that captivated my attention since its resurgence during the pandemic lockdowns in 2020. This timing felt serendipitous as I dove into the demo for The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy at the recent Steam Next Fest, with the conclusion of Kazutaka Kodaka’s most iconic series still fresh in my mind.
Back in 2017, Kodaka, along with some talented former Spike Chunsoft team members, founded Too Kyo Games just as Danganronpa V3 launched. Since then, their releases frequently spark whispers of a spiritual continuation of Danganronpa, though not by name. Both World’s End Club in 2020 and Master Detective Archives: Rain Code in 2023 deviated from the key elements fans expected. So when The Hundred Line emerged, it faced the same scrutiny, and having played the demo, I can say it embraces these comparisons more than any prior titles from Too Kyo.
The musical elements and sound effects in The Hundred Line are so reminiscent of Danganronpa that, as a fan, it’s hard not to feel like you’re hearing direct echoes. Add in the art style and character designs that evoke a familiar, albeit slightly bizarre, sense of déjà vu, as though meeting distant relatives at a family wedding.
The opening stretch of the game unfolds in a seamless sequence of animated, voiced cutscenes. For those accustomed to Danganronpa’s visual novel format, this might feel slightly off-kilter. Here, a perfectly ordinary teenager and his not-quite-girlfriend’s mundane school day is hilariously derailed by a series of unexpected events, culminating in him waking in a mysterious classroom, face-to-face with a quirky cartoon mascot in charge.
Amusingly, Too Kyo teases its audience’s expectations by including a character excitedly speculating about a battle royale scenario. But here, The Hundred Line takes a new turn. Instead of the grim proceedings Danganronpa is known for, it is a tactical strategy game where players collaborate to fend off evil robots and bizarre creatures, thwarting a potential apocalypse that forms the usual backdrop in Kodaka’s earlier works.
As someone relatively new to the joys of turn-based battles, I can’t claim to be an expert, but I find The Hundred Line intriguing in its strategic offerings. It doesn’t reinvent the wheel, which is expected as this narrative-driven team ventures into uncharted gameplay territory. In my opinion, it serves as a great introductory strategy game for visual novel fans rather than seasoned strategy veterans.
The demo lets players experience the first seven days of the game, culminating in a cliffhanger that I won’t spoil here. Gamers familiar with the studio’s past projects will likely appreciate it. It’s not subtly disguising a return to the iconic battle-to-the-death plots, and honestly, I hope it stays on this refreshing path. After playing through Kodaka’s 60-hour argument for not endlessly creating Danganronpa sequels, I trust that any future Danganronpa 4 would proudly carry its own name if it were to materialize.
The Hundred Line shouldn’t be approached as a Danganronpa sequel but rather as an extension, promising those quirky, endearing characters and crazy plots but set in a fresh gameplay realm. From what I’ve seen, it strikes a fascinating line between a brand-new venture and a nostalgic nod to familiar territory. As for which side prevails, I’m excited to see. Given the context, a project debuting in 2025 that channels themes of unity over division feels incredibly relevant. Perhaps this isn’t overturning well-loved tropes but evolving them into something timely and resonant.
The demo for The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy is currently available on Steam. The full version is set for release on April 24th for Windows and Nintendo Switch, and you can carry over your demo progress to the official launch. So if you’re a fan of either narrative-rich gaming or strategic challenges, it’s worth checking out!
