By a happy twist of fate, I wrapped up my inaugural playthrough of “Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony” earlier this month. This milestone means I’ve now tackled the main storyline of a sweeping multimedia franchise that gripped me hard during the 2020 pandemic lockdowns and hasn’t let go since. Coincidentally, this timing aligned with my dive into the demo for “The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy” at this month’s Steam Next Fest. Having recently absorbed the conclusion to Kazutaka Kodaka’s iconic work, I was well-prepped for what his new endeavor had to offer.
Kodaka, along with several notable ex-Spike Chunsoft talents, launched Too Kyo Games around the time “V3” debuted in 2017. Since then, many of their projects have been tagged by fans as spiritual successors to Danganronpa, though not by name. “World’s End Club” in 2020 and “Master Detective Archives: Rain Code” in 2023 sparked mild letdowns in some fans, given their significant departures from Danganronpa’s formula—specifically, no murder games in “World’s End Club” and the absence of school life elements in “Rain Code”.
Enter “The Hundred Line,” which is undoubtedly inviting similar comparisons, with its demo leaning into those connections even more assertively than any previous Too Kyo titles. Several musical themes and audio cues will sound instantly recognizable to Danganronpa fans, toeing the line of feeling reused, not to mention an art style and a roster of characters that evoke a comforting yet surreal sense of familiarity—much like meeting your friend’s distant relatives at a wedding.
The game’s opening scene, spanning a fully animated and voice-acted half-hour, might feel eerily familiar, especially if you are accustomed to Danganronpa’s visual novel format. An ordinary teenager, alongside his decidedly-not-girlfriend, finds his school day upended by mischief, ultimately waking up in an unfamiliar classroom surrounded by strangers and facing a bizarre mascot figure. Too Kyo plays with audience expectations here, featuring a fervent character keen on a survival scenario, only to subvert those expectations as the narrative veers away from the death game trope.
“The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy” distinguishes itself as a turn-based strategy game, where cooperation is key to defeating robots and monstrous adversaries—a refreshing turn from the murder mystery backdrop of Danganronpa. As a newcomer to turn-based combat, I’m not as confident in evaluating the strategic depth of The Hundred Line. Nonetheless, while it certainly challenges my strategic thinking, it doesn’t break new ground, a reasonable expectation when developers branch into uncharted gameplay territory. It’s likely, however, to serve as a gateway strategy game for fans of narrative-driven games.
The demo spans seven in-game days, concluding with a cliffhanger that veteran fans will likely appreciate. Despite this, I sense no hidden agenda to secretly resurrect the murder mystery genre from its Danganronpa roots. Frankly, I’d rather see it blaze a new path. Kodaka’s recent work was his valiant effort to justify leaving the franchise’s repetitive formula, unless, of course, he decides to return to it. Given Too Kyo’s positive rapport with Spike Chunsoft, it’s possible we’ll see a bona fide Danganronpa 4 if it ever comes to fruition.
Going into “The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy” with hopes for another Danganronpa may set unrealistic expectations. Nonetheless, the game shows it knows what fans adored about Danganronpa with its quirky characters and thrilling plots, yet without the constraints of previous gameplay styles. From what I’ve seen, the game excellently balances novelty with a nod to nostalgia, making me eager to see the full release. Plus, there’s something timely about a sequel to the Danganronpa spirit emerging in 2025 that reminds us of the importance of unity rather than division—a fresh spin on a beloved theme.
You can try “The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy” demo on Steam now, with the full game launching on April 24th for Windows and Nintendo Switch. And for PC gamers, good news: your progress from the demo carries over into the final version.
