The Hundred Line -Last Defense Academy- Review – High Octane Style

The Hundred Line -Last Defense Academy- ReviewThe Hundred Line -Last Defense Academy- is many things, some of them easier to discuss in this review than others. It’s a turn-based strategy game with tower defense mechanics. It’s a narrative-driven adventure game written by two of the greats.

Mostly, though, it’s a wildly unpredictable thrill ride from start to finish.Kotaro Uchikoshi and Kazutaka Kodaka are two names that went down in gaming history. Uchikoshi has crafted a variety of mind-bending adventure games, including AI: The Somnium Files, and Kodaka is the mind behind Danganronpa.



Together, they’ve crafted something so much more than the sum of its parts.In this game, players take on the role of Takumi Sumino, an ordinary boy dragged into an extraordinary war. We went into more detail on the early story during our Preview of The Hundred Line -Last Defense Academy-.

Suffice to say that Takumi and several other teens find themselves stuck in the titular Last Defense Academy.The enigmatic Sirei grants them the disturbing power Hemoanima and charges them with saving the planet from invaders. They must defend the academy for 100 days before they’ll be allowed to go home.

If they die in the process, they’ll be revived. But drafting kids is never a good idea, and Takumi has to think fast if he wants his new friends to stay focused–or sane.The Anime Horrors of WarThe Hundred Line -Last Defense Academy- is, to put it bluntly, a trip.

It takes place over the course of 100 days and markets itself as having 100 endings. Every couple of days, the game throws a new plot twist at you. This makes for a very entertaining experience, if one that’s incredibly difficult to describe without spoilers.

This title combines the tension of Danganronpa, the mystery of AI: The Somnium Files, and the surreal narrative of Ever 17. Every decision you make is haunted by the clock constantly counting down. Takumi is always operating under a time limit and the stakes are always sky-high.

The tone switches wildly between dark comedy, slice of life, and a surprisingly brutal portrayal of the consequences of child soldiers. Every character plays off an archetype, but there’s enough uniqueness there to help them stand out. The whole narrative is one of complex, messy characters doing their best to find a reason to survive—and, beyond that, a reason to keep fighting.

I would love to go into more detail, but unfortunately, basically every plot development is a spoiler. Suffice to say that this game was made to be played and replayed. And trust me, the replay value is solid.

The Hundred Line -Last Defense Academy- is a Wild and Unpredictable RideThe Hundred Line -Last Defense Academy- is a stylish and multifaceted game. It switches between combat and non-combat sequences. In both, this title does a very job of wrapping its game mechanics into its narrative.

From Takumi’s Grades unlocking new options to tutorials being built into the initial playthrough, the game is very good at getting you invested.During battle, players have a certain number of characters to move and command. All while swarms of enemies close in from various directions.

Managing Action Points by killing specific invaders or conserving them from previous turns is key. Each character has unique attacks and abilities that reward certain playstyles..

. and punish others.Outside of battle, Takumi can gather resources, socialize with other students, or perform activities.

Sometimes, the narrative requires him to go on an Exploration or craft a specific item to advance. The game offers a Safety mode for those who dislike tower defense, but it’s honestly not that difficult. However, the focus on assembling different parties and facing different gimmicks in each major battle kept me from getting bored.

Persuasion Missions challenge you to argue down other characters and convince them to do something. The result is a real-time puzzle sequence where Takumi must choose the right response. Sometimes, this means waiting until the right response unlocks.

Getting the timing right can be irritating, but you can resume the sequence from checkpoints.Teenage WastelandThe Hundred Line -Last Defense Academy- is, in many ways, a game about the ethics of war. Like any good Uchikoshi title, the characters themselves are having the debate.

And like any good Kodaka title, they’re going absolutely bonkers while debating.I really love how stylish this game is. From its slick soundtrack to its incredibly memorable character designs to the sleek battlefields, it’s fantastic.

And I genuinely love the creature designs. They’re a love letter to tokusatsu cinema while still being striking in their own right. That polish sets off the pain and messy anguish of the narrative excellently.

The cast spends a lot of time arguing over whether they should fight and what, if anything, is worth fighting for. Characters fight over information like dogs over a bone. They may be a rag-tag bunch of misfits, but they often outright refuse to talk, much less team up.

None of these kids know how to de-escalate a situation. And they’re all heavily armed.This title is not entirely perfect.

The adventure game elements look a little goofy, the characters can be quite archetypal, and the humor gets quite crass. But the game’s wild plot twists, intense character dynamics, and sheer style hold it together.All in all, The Hundred Line -Last Defense Academy- is an experience you shouldn’t miss, even if you dislike tower defense.

This is an experience every bit as wild and gleefully fun as anything else its creators have made. Give it a shot.***Switch code provided by the publisher***The post The Hundred Line -Last Defense Academy- Review – High Octane Style appeared first on COGconnected.

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