The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy Offers a Nostalgic Nod to Fan-Favorite Danganronpa Tropes

Earlier this month, I finally wrapped up my first playthrough of Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony, which means I’ve officially delved into the main storyline of this sprawling multimedia franchise that’s had me hooked ever since its resurgence during the 2020 lockdown. This timing couldn’t have been better as I dove into the demo for The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy at this month’s Steam Next Fest, with Kazutaka Kodaka’s most renowned creation still fresh in my mind.

Around the time V3 launched in 2017, Kodaka and some former Spike Chunsoft colleagues formed the independent studio, Too Kyo Games. They’ve since released several titles that people hoped would embody the spirit of a Danganronpa 4, at least in essence. However, fans experienced slight letdowns with World’s End Club in 2020 and Master Detective Archives: Rain Code in 2023. Both games had echoes of Danganronpa’s DNA but ultimately veered away: World’s End Club lacked a killing game, and Rain Code skipped the school life theme.

Now, The Hundred Line is naturally drawing similar comparisons, and after trying its demo, I’d say it leans into these parallels even more heavily than Too Kyo’s previous games. There are musical motifs and sound cues that will strike a familiar chord with Danganronpa fans—almost as though they’re being reused, alongside an art style and character archetypes that evoke that peculiar but comforting familiarity, like encountering a friend’s cousins at a wedding.

The ambiance of this demo’s first half-hour immediately calls to mind its influences, with a sequence of fully animated, fully voiced cutscenes that seem a little off if you’re used to Danganronpa’s more economical visual novel presentation. You follow an utterly average teenage boy and his not-really-my-girlfriend friend as they get sidetracked on their way to school, eventually leading to the protagonist awakening in a strange classroom surrounded by unknown peers and an unsettling mascot character running things.

Too Kyo cheekily plays into the audience’s expectations by including a group member who’s thrilled at the thought of a fight-to-the-death scenario unfolding. However, this is where The Hundred Line diverges: it’s a turn-based strategy where characters team up to battle ominous robots and bizarre monsters, stepping in to thwart world-ending chaos—a different angle from the usual Danganronpa backdrop.

Having recently embraced turn-based combat, I can talk about The Hundred Line’s connection to Danganronpa more than assess its strategic elements. While not a complete novice, I’ve encountered intriguing puzzles within, though nothing revolutionary—a common expectation when narrative-driven veterans venture into new gameplay territory. My guess? The Hundred Line might serve as an introductory strategy game for visual novel fans, rather than satisfying strategy game aficionados.

The demo spans the first seven in-game days and culminates in a cliffhanger I won’t spoil, but it should resonate with those familiar with the creators’ past projects. However, I don’t believe The Hundred Line is secretly poised to revive the killing game narrative under the guise of a new genre—nor do I wish it to be. Kodaka’s recent 60-hour case against endlessly replicating Danganronpa has been convincing enough; and given Too Kyo’s reportedly solid relationship with the IP holders at Spike Chunsoft, any future Danganronpa sequel will likely bear its well-known title.

Jumping into The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy purely seeking a Danganronpa successor might not be beneficial. The game acknowledges what fans loved about Danganronpa—quirky, yet endearing characters and outlandish plots—without being trapped in its gameplay mold, ultimately exploring new creative directions.

This preview has effectively maintained a balance between nostalgia and innovation. While unsure which aspect will prevail in its full release, I’m intrigued enough to remain along for the journey. It’s rather fitting for a tentative successor to Danganronpa debuting in 2025 to remind us that unity triumphs over division, perhaps evolving past its original tropes.

The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy demo is available on Steam now. The full game is slated for release on April 24th for Windows and Nintendo Switch, and PC players can carry over their demo progress to the full version.