Danganronpa is one of my all-time favorite visual novels, so when I heard about The Hundred Line -Last Defense Academy-, I was beyond excited. Seeing Kotaro Uchikoshi and Kazutaka Kodaka teaming up again for a new game in the genre felt like something special—different, yet familiar. While it is not a traditional visual novel, it mixes the best parts of Danganronpa—mainly the characters and storytelling—with a new gameplay twist: tactical RPG combat.
The story starts off simple. You play as Takumi Sumino, a regular teenager living peacefully in the Tokyo Residential Complex—until one day, monsters suddenly attack the world. Much like the Persona series, there is a plot twist where the main character gains powers through sacrifice. In Takumi’s case, he stabs himself to unlock these abilities. This is just the prologue, which introduces the tactical gameplay. After the first monster battle, Takumi wakes up in a new location called Last Defense Academy. Here, he meets other characters, each with their own distinct personality. There are over a dozen students in the academy, and they’re all guided by a lead character named Sirei, whose personality and role feel very similar to Monokuma.
Having played all the Danganronpa games, I noticed a lot of subtle callbacks to the series. For example, the classic audio cue “Ding Dong Bing Bong” shows up here too. The character art is well done and sometimes gives me déjà vu, reminding me of the Danganronpa games. The story is split into two types of gameplay: visual novel-style segments that focus on story progression and character interaction, and tactical RPG battles where you fight monsters and defend the academy over 100 in-game days. There are actually 100 different endings based on your choices, and while seeing all of them is a big task, even going through half feels like a journey worth taking.
What I liked most about the story is that it does not reveal everything upfront. Sirei is quite the character, and as we spend more time with him, it becomes clear that not everything he says can be trusted. The mystery unfolds slowly, and it is up to us to dig deeper into the narrative to figure out what is really going on. While the main goal is to survive the academy for 100 days against outside threats, there is a lot of hidden depth that you will miss if you only focus on the surface-level objectives.
In typical Kotaro Uchikoshi fashion, there are unexpected plot twists that catch you completely off guard. The game features an excellent cast of characters, each with their own personality traits—for example, someone who lacks confidence in themselves, or someone so overconfident that they throw themselves into danger without hesitation. Then there are students who come off as completely unhinged, or others who are overly energetic and loud when faced with pressure. This creates a diverse and interesting lineup of characters. Credit to the artists here—they really capture each character’s personality well. While a few characters may feel familiar if you have played Danganronpa, that is not necessarily a bad thing.
Last Defense Academy is not just about waiting for the next battle to happen. During Takumi’s free time, there are things to do between fights. You can interact with other characters, and there is even a social link-style system that lets you build bonds with teammates. These bonds can open up new story paths or unlock skills for your characters. You can grow these relationships by crafting gifts or making choices in dialogue that match a character’s point of view.
The game starts off with only a few activities available, but more options gradually unlock as the story progresses. One of these is the ability to go outside the school and explore the ruined wastelands. Since the fate of the world rests on the shoulders of the Last Defense Academy students, stepping out during quieter moments feels like a much-needed break. Out there, you can run into random encounters or scavenge for resources. You can also discover new bits of lore, which help expand the story and tie everything together. This part of the game introduces a different kind of gameplay loop. Instead of playing it like a tactical RPG, this section feels more like a board game. The goal is to reach the next checkpoint while making choices based on the spaces ahead—some of which can lead to rewards, while others might set you back. Once you’ve reached a checkpoint, you can return on a different day and fast travel to continue from there.
Time management is important here, just like in the Persona games. I did not mind the clear influence from Atlus’ iconic JRPG—it fits well. The story starts off light and has some funny moments, but it can get unexpectedly dark as it goes on. As I mentioned earlier, the game offers great replay value. There are said to be 100 endings, though I personally would not go out of my way to unlock every single one. You can go through the game at your own pace and return later if you want more. I was satisfied after my second playthrough, but I could tell there was still a lot I had missed.
The tactical RPG parts are fun, even if they are not the most addictive aspect of the game. They use an AP point system, and each character brings something different to the table—like a berserker, a support healer, or a fast-moving fighter. There is also an option to sacrifice a character to unleash a powerful attack. If you are used to tactical RPGs, like Tactics Ogre, the battles will not be too tough. But if you are mainly a visual novel player, these fights might take some getting used to.
All in all, The Hundred Line -Last Defense Academy- is easily one of the best titles from Too Kyo Games, and it deserves to be remembered as such. It blends a mix of different gameplay styles and, while it clearly draws inspiration from well-known genre leaders, it shapes those ideas into something that stands on its own. I highly recommend it to fans of the genre, or anyone who enjoys the work of Kotaro Uchikoshi and Kazutaka Kodaka. I can confidently say—you will not be disappointed.
The Hundred Line -Last Defense Academy- Game Information
- Price: $59.99
- Publisher: Aniplex
- Developer: Too Kyo Games
- Platform: PC (Reviewed)
- Disclaimer: A review code was given by the publisher
