As a big fan of the Danganronpa franchise, I was intrigued by The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy, thanks to the involvement of Kazutaka Kodaka. I avoided most info on the game to be as surprised as possible by it, which worked out well, as playing the first 29 in-game days constantly provided me with shocks and excitement in a way few games have, to the point that I’m champing at the bit to find out what happens next.
The strongest aspect of this adventure/tactical role-playing game hybrid is its wild roster of characters – something that Danganronpa also thrived at providing, Similarly, this eclectic group of teens is full of personality and quirks, making it easy to get invested in their fates. Both the visual novel and combat segments stand out from one another with their unique perspectives and weapons, and there are a few characters whose mysterious intentions I’m still curious about after day 29.
Credit: Aniplex
In The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy, these youngsters have to battle hordes of invading monsters to protect the school they’ve mysteriously woken up in, with the fate of the world depending on their efforts (or at least that’s according to this game’s sketchy mascot character, Sirei.) There’s little trust between Sirei and the crew, which makes for an intriguing dynamic as a good chunk of the cast refuses to fight for someone they can’t trust, leading you to convince some in a funny little minigame segment.
Combat in The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy is a blast filled with tense strategy. In a unique twist, they can die as many times as necessary on the battlefield, thanks to a handy revival machine, which adds a grim layer to the whole affair. Dying can even be beneficial, as it boosts the special attack-connected Voltage bar. Dead fighters come back between waves of foes, so it’s worthwhile to factor dying into your strategy at times.
Credit: Aniplex
Each character has their own badass weapon with which to take on the invaders, which is accessed by stabbing themselves with a blade to unleash a flood of blood all over them. It’s very over-the-top and I love the extremity of it, and it’s cool to see the different combat styles each protagonist has. There’s a perfect level of challenge to the combat too, as I always felt like I was being tested but never hopelessly overwhelmed by regular combat. You can also spend your free time improving your attacks and stats, which is handy for keeping your team in tip-top shape.
There’s also a board game feature to The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy, as you can explore outside the academy as though it were a tabletop game. This provides you with resources for crafting gifts and weapon upgrades, as well as battles and key items earned through navigating the board. It’s a minor feature but is fun to mess around with, as it provides additional lore to the world around you while breaking up the combat and visual novel segments.
Credit: Aniplex
The one aspect that seems less fleshed out thus far in The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy is the social part. Though you can talk to characters in your free time or create gifts for them, they only have so many dialogue lines that can be repeated, unlike something like Danganronpa where you can get tantalizing backstory details by hanging out with the cast. I hope the latter part of the game goes a bit deeper into these interactions, as they’re a bit more shallow than I expected.
I can’t wait to play the rest of The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy, with its April 24 release on the horizon. The story, characters, and gameplay are all exciting enough to have me on edge, and while there’s room for some improvement, I couldn’t be more excited to see what happens next to this cast of strange but appealing characters in their battle to save the world.
