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

Earlier this month, as luck would have it, I wrapped up my first playthrough of Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony. With this, I’ve finally completed the main story arc of a sprawling franchise that’s captivated me ever since its unexpected revival during the 2020 pandemic lockdowns. This timing couldn’t have been more perfect, as I dove into the demo for The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy at this month’s Steam Next Fest, with Kazutaka Kodaka’s iconic series still fresh in my mind.

Kazutaka Kodaka, alongside other former Spike Chunsoft members, launched an independent studio, Too Kyo Games, not long after V3’s release in 2017. Since then, their new games have ignited speculation among fans, who hoped they might spiritually be the next Danganronpa installment. This anticipation led to some level of disappointment with both World’s End Club in 2020 and Master Detective Archives: Rain Code in 2023. While those titles share many elements with Danganronpa, they veer off in significant ways—World’s End Club skips the killing game entirely, while Rain Code omits the school life setting.

Naturally, The Hundred Line is being compared to its predecessors. After playing the demo, it’s clear that it embraces these comparisons even more overtly than any of Too Kyo’s previous releases. Fans of Danganronpa will immediately recognize some musical themes and sound effects, almost akin to revisiting an old friend; not to mention, the art style and character archetypes evoke a sense of familiar yet slightly surreal déjà vu, akin to meeting distant relatives at a family gathering.

The opening sequence of the game doesn’t shy away from these comparisons either. The first 30 minutes play out through a series of fully animated, fully voiced cutscenes that feel surprisingly vibrant compared to Danganronpa’s more static visual novel format. The story kicks off with a cliché ordinary teenage boy and his ‘not-girlfriend’ being thrown into a series of bizarre events, climaxing with the protagonist awakening in a strange classroom, facing an unsettling cartoon mascot that’s taking charge.

Too Kyo doesn’t shy away from teasing fans with familiar scenarios either. There’s even a character who excitedly speculates they might be heading towards a battle royale setup. However, this is where the narrative parts ways with its inspiration. The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy is, in fact, a turn-based strategy game where characters unite to combat malicious robots and unnerving creatures, actively working to prevent a global catastrophe—something typically lurking in the background of Danganronpa’s plot.

Having recently become fond of turn-based combat, I’m not entirely equipped to judge The Hundred Line strictly as a strategy game. However, I am no stranger to the genre, and the game presents intriguing strategic challenges without pushing the envelope too far, which is expected when a team known for narrative-driven experiences steps into new gameplay territory. It appears to be a promising entry-level strategy game for visual novel enthusiasts rather than the other way around.

The demo spans the first seven in-game days and concludes with a cliffhanger that I won’t spoil but that will likely satisfy fans familiar with the creators’ previous work. I don’t perceive The Hundred Line as secretly aiming to reboot the killing game concept under the guise of a different genre. Personally, I hope it remains true to its current form. After all, I’ve just completed Kodaka’s extensive justification for moving beyond Danganronpa unless he genuinely desires to revisit it. With Too Kyo’s still-strong ties with Spike Chunsoft, I would anticipate that Danganronpa 4, if it’s ever developed, will proudly bear its name.

Approaching The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy solely in search of a Danganronpa sequel might not do justice to either the game or yourself. Still, it’s evident that The Hundred Line appreciates what fans loved about Danganronpa and assures that Too Kyo still crafts the lovable quirks and chaotic stories we crave—albeit through a new gameplay style without the constraints of its predecessor’s rigid formula.

What I’ve encountered so far deftly balances being a fresh endeavor while paying homage to the past. I can’t predict which side will triumph in the full release, but I’m definitely along for the journey. In a way, it seems poetic for a sort-of-continuation of Danganronpa to emerge in 2025, underscoring the value of unity over division. It’s not so much overturning old tropes as it is a natural progression of them.

You can check out The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy demo on Steam, with the full game launching on April 24th for Windows and Nintendo Switch. PC players will especially appreciate that your progress in this demo carries over into the full release.