The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy Is The Ultimate “What If” Game

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By the start of 2025, I thought I was done with stories involving multiple timelines. Over the last ten years, the Marvel Cinematic Universe really popularized this idea from comic books, using it to create movies filled with exciting cameos, impressive effects, and storylines that seemed messy at first but eventually connected for a big finale.

The idea of multiple universes isn’t new to movies and television, but it’s become incredibly popular, especially after Marvel started using it. When done well, stories like Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and Everything Everywhere All at Once are deeply moving explorations of relationships, showing characters confronting alternate versions of their lives and coming to terms with their past decisions. However, repeating this concept too often can diminish its emotional power.

I hadn’t been very interested in this type of game until I played The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy. It seems straightforward at first, but it unexpectedly branches into a complex story with many different endings. Your choices really matter, and the game cleverly shows events from various viewpoints, balancing humor and heartfelt moments. It’s a really creative and impressive game from the developers.

I got into the world of visual novels after a Nintendo eShop sale in July, which led me to play both the Danganronpa and AI: Somnium Files games. That experience really got me excited for this new game, a huge project combining the creators of both series, and boasting an impressive 100 different endings.

I initially thought the idea sounded too time-consuming – I already spend so much time playing games for work. I figured I should focus on newer, popular titles first. However, I was surprised by how much I enjoyed the chaotic and dark world of Danganronpa. It was the AI: Somnium Files series, though, that really showed me what The Hundred Line could offer.

I was immediately drawn into both games because they start with a classic detective story. But things quickly get interesting! The story doesn’t stay simple – my choices actually mattered, sending me down different paths. They even have a flowchart that lets me jump between these timelines, which was super helpful when one path got blocked. There’s a ‘true’ ending, sure, but honestly, I was way more captivated by seeing how different choices would play out, how it affected the characters, and unlocking all the alternative endings. It was really compelling to see all the ‘what ifs’!

Playing The Hundred Line feels a lot like experiencing the Danganronpa games. You control Takumi Sumino, one of fifteen high school students sent to the Last Defense Academy to save humanity from an invasion. The game unfolds over 100 days – a timeframe common to the Danganronpa series. Like those games, The Hundred Line mixes storytelling with gameplay, but instead of investigations and trials, you’ll engage in strategy RPG battles and build relationships with your fellow students.

Reaching day 100 isn’t the true ending – it’s more like the end of the introduction. From that point on, the game shifts dramatically, becoming similar to titles like AI: The Somnium Files and other games by developer Kotaro Uchikoshi (such as Zero Escape: Virtue’s Last Reward and Zero Time Dilemma). Your goal then becomes exploring different timelines and ‘what if’ scenarios, with the choices you make leading to the game’s 100 possible endings.

In an interview with Bloomberg, Danganronpa’s lead designer, Kazutaka Kodaka, explained that the writers had a lot of creative freedom with the characters, allowing them to explore everything from humorous storylines to even turning everyone into zombies. As the game’s story branches out, this becomes clearer – characters change their personalities, and the game’s direction can significantly deviate from the initial plan for the 100-day timeline.

Choice-based stories usually lock you onto a specific path based on your decisions, and those choices affect the rest of the game. Recent games like Dispatch have revived the style popularized by Telltale Games, created by some of the original developers. These games often show messages like “this character will remember that,” but while your choices can matter, the overall story often follows a predetermined course. Ultimately, the major events are usually set in stone, no matter what you choose.

The Hundred Line offers a constantly unfolding experience, full of unexpected twists and turns. It feels like a glimpse into the developers’ creative process – a chance to see all their ideas come to life. You’ll wonder ‘what if’ about character fates and how even small choices can dramatically impact others. The game lets you explore these possibilities firsthand, revealing the consequences of your decisions. While there’s a definitive ending that resolves the initial mysteries, the real joy comes from discovering the many unique and branching storylines.

The Hundred Line brilliantly demonstrates how video games, with their interactive nature, are perfectly suited for telling stories that involve multiple timelines. It’s rare to see such creative vision from developers, and this game reminded me of the power of this storytelling technique, even making me reflect on my own life choices. Thinking back, 2025 marked ten years since my first published article – an opportunity that arose from responding to a request in a Facebook group. A simple decision, really. Had I ignored that message, I likely would have continued studying graphic design and my life would have taken a completely different path, with video games remaining just a hobby. It’s amazing how a seemingly insignificant message can completely change the course of your life.

The more I reflect on the year in games, the more I realize there’s simply too much great content to experience in one lifetime. Games with huge amounts of content, like those with 100 different endings, require a massive time investment, and that can be intimidating. However, I don’t regret the time I spent preparing for and exploring these expansive games. They’re a testament to ambition and skill, showcasing what’s possible in the gaming world. They also remind me how quickly life can change, often without us even noticing.

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2026-01-02 00:10