During Nintendo's latest Direct showcase, the incredibly promising The Hundred Line -Last Defence Academy- was revealed from developer Too Kyo Games and publisher Aniplex.
Born via a collaboration between Danganronpa series writer Kazutaka Kodaka and Zero Escape creator Kotaro Uchikoshi, the game is set to launch in 2025, but according to an interview with Famitsu (thanks, Automaton), it seems the project had some difficulties progressing, eventually putting Too Kyoo Games in debt.
Development on the project apparently began shortly after the formation of Too Kyo Games back in 2017, but after a publishing deal fell through, radical changes were made to the game. What had initially started as an 'indie-scale' project now required significantly more investement.
As such, before landing with Aniplex, Too Kyo Games took out a loan to assist in the game's development, and since Too Kyo members could not amass the required capital via the sale of shares, the studio plunged into debt. Aniplex was fortunately willing to work with the team regardless, though Too Kyo Games is reportedly still in debt to this day.
It's a good thing, then, that it looks pretty darn good. Blending strategy RPG elements with the classic visual novel interactions from the Danganronpa series, we can't wait to find out more as we move ever closer to its release in 2025.
Let's remind ourselves of the premise:
"Introducing a new game from the creators of the Danganronpa series! Takumi Sumino lived an unremarkable life until he was forced to transfer to the Last Defense Academy. His mission: Protect the school from mysterious enemies known as School Invaders for 100 days. As Takumi, delve into the enigmatic truth of the school alongside 15 of his companions, each looking to reclaim their lost everyday lives. Explore the school, prepare for battles with your friends and then engage the invading creatures in strategic RPG battles."
What do you think of The Hundred Line so far? Will you be picking it up? Let us know with a comment.
[source famitsu.com, via automaton-media.com]
Comments 39
Hope this turns things around for them.
I'm super excited for this one. Danganronpa and Zero Escape are two of my favourite series, so this is a no brainer.
Love the art and really enjoyed Zero Escape but I feel like going in debt is going to be an uphill battle for them. I don't know for sure how profitable their titles tend do be. Hopefully this can be the "Fire Emblem Awakening" moment for them
Hope they recover from their problems, but honestly I am not too sure on the game. Looks like an exact copy of Danganronpa with battle mechanics that no one asked for and that don't look interesting at all instead of the great deduction based stuff that came to be associated with the series.
Betting the farm on themselves huh? Geez, now I feel guilted into buying a copy on general principal.
I want it on first impressions.
«I will also have an English dubbing ready for release.»
Okay, but do not forget about the dual audio option too!
I'm gonna go buy this at launch to support them. I love the premise and gameplay structure. Shame that games like this and Unicorn Overlord cause developers to go broke.
Ouch, hope it will sell well enough for them to recover, I've already done my part since this is one of the games shown during the Direct I've preordered physically and (slightly) discounted from my usual retailer - have no reason to doubt it will be good considering both Kodaka and Uchikoshi's previous games based on what I've heard and the ones I've played myself (unfortunately not including the Danganronpa and Somnium Files respectively, really should play my Switch copies of them when I have the time)!
@ZeldaLord "exact copy" doing back breaking lifts there
Unfortunate, but hopefully it sells well and pays off for them. This was one of the top 3 or 4 announcements for me from the Direct, will definitely be buying this one when it's out. Looks fantastic. Seen plenty of enthusiasm around for it among people and communities I frequent, hope that's a good sign. Keen to see more from the game nearer the time!
Massive Uchikoshi fan here. Not as big on Kodaka tbh. Will buy this if Uchikoshi is heavily involved. Got to keep the lights on at Too Kyoo games!!
I really enjoy the games these guys put out and this new game will be day one. Nintendo seem to have a good partnership with them so maybe that debt could be cleared with an acquisition 😉.
I'm usually pretty keen to check out anything they make so I'll do my bit and buy a copy at launch. Game looks pretty crazy, was probably the most interesting announcement of the Direct for me.
Kind of makes me feel bad that despite being a huge Danganronpa and Uchikoshi fan my immediate response was kind of just disinterest. Might look into it eventually but the tower defense stuff really puts me off of it, feels like much like Zanki Zero I'll just never bother with it.
Yikes, and this one didn't look that good to me.
And the last game they did together wasn't great.
Still I believe in Uchikoshi's power to craft a great narrative. So let's go!
TooKyo games have stayed on my radar, having completed World’s End Club & Raincode. Even though both are pretty flawed games, I still enjoyed my time and they have a lot of originality. Hundred Line is shaping up similarly and I’ll definitely consider getting into this as well.
I do think that this title has an exciting premise, but I cannot enjoy the art style this studio uses. That detective game, and Danganropa have been in my peripheral for years… I wish this studio luck and perhaps a generous benefactor to help them continue to create
It's on my radar, but I wasn't too thrilled with the showing. I'm honestly just burnt out of games about highschoolers lol. It's why I skipped P3 Reload despite liking P5. That probably sounds dumb, I just dont care as much about that setting any longer. Just not for me anymore I guess. Still on my radar though, I'll see how it reviews.
Oof that’s rough. Here’s hoping the game succeeds.
For the first 30 seconds of this game’s trailer I couldn’t have cared less but as the trailer went on I became more and more interested. If it reviews well I might consider adding it to my stupidly large backlog
I hope it all works out for them. I really enjoyed both Danganronpa and Zero Escape, and I'm looking forward to this release too.
I'm just sad it isn't Raincode 2 xD
Still looks interesting though, will defo buy it!
@ZeldaLord I said the same! It felt way too Danganronpa-ish for my taste and will be a skip for me.
Shoot, this sounds bad for them. I wish there could have been a way for them to create their own IP in a safer way! Perhaps start with a smaller project and work their way up to a big 3D game? Danganronpa has never been my jam, but I certainly wish them all the luck they can get 😥
Day one here. Was abit cautious and cynical over Rain Code when they kept plastering the "Made by team Dangan" all over it.
I needn't have worred as it turned out a delight. Am now very looking forward to this and future projects from Too Kyoo.
Fairly sure the studio will make a nice chunk of change from the Rain Code + rerelease.
All eggs in the basket and then some is massively risky at any time, but this is during a period of high market instability and the tail end of the Switch where Nintendo is looking to squeeze out the last sales themselves before leading customers right to the new hotness. Wish I could help but the game looks like a huge pile of hard nope for me.
Guess this Last Defence game will be their company's Final Fantasy...
I'll be there day and date. Too Kyoo is one of the most interesting development studios in the industry.
@UltimateOtaku91 An acquisition would be preferable to bankruptcy, but I'd love to see a future where these developers are releasing their games across a range of platforms.
day one for me, and physical too, Rain Code was amazing, so High hopes for this game.
Unfortunate. I'll need to buy my copy of Rain Code quicker then to support them. I was hoping the price would go down for a physical code but it hasn't even Loop8 had it's discount and while $50 was too much then the full $80 and I could have got it cheap for around $20-30 now like Mario Rabbids Sparks of Hope it is telling sometimes of some prices.
Maybe it's also since it didn't have an anime/manga or other things behind it like Danganronpa had (no idea what support Zero Escape got of other media tie ins) or just the challenges of direction/whatever studio differences. Maybe the marketing even.
I wish them the best.
I got Disagea 7 recently for $37 and got Disagea 6 for $40. Besides 2 and 3 on Vita eshop months ago. The $50 pre-owned Danganronpa 1-2 Reload physical isn't much but I mean physical then the digital I mean sure it got discounted all the time but I wanted it physical and barely saw it. Sometimes I just go forget it and get it for a such a price if I barely see them even though I don't want to pay as much as I end up doing. To me $40 and under my currency or $28 or under is good enough for me.
I'll take a look at this. I like different things in gameplay and I never minded the artstyles from these days. I would like Conception 2 to go to Switch/PS4 but that is stuck on 3DS/Vita (no digital I can find in my region eshop for Vita I don't remember seeing it for 3DS, but own Conception 1 PS4 physical).
Make a good game and I'll buy it. I bought their new game and it was alright.
Always the good ones dealing with these high risk debt issues while the garbage ones can continue to pump out garbage because they are big enough.
I love Zero Escape, I love Danganronpa, but I am no fan of tactics RPG's. However, as Uchikoshi is attached to this game, I will support the heck out of it even if I may never even remove the shrink wrap from the box. Maybe if it has a 'n00b' mode so I can still enjoy the story. I really hope it sells well enough to save the studio.
Kind of a strange decision to go all-in on a strategy RPG game, they are very niche, and frankly just by looking at it, it did not immediately grab me. I will buy it and I have faith in them delivering a good game, but I just don't see it selling well...
My roommate and I are blasting thru the danganronpa series right now. I've already done my part for the company as we bought DR3 twice. If this game is solid we may play it as well depending on where our funds are at the time of release. She got excited when I sent her the trailer though, so that seems positive.
@Chlocean The Danganronpa games are owned by Spike Chunsoft so it isn't actually helping them. The only games they've put out thus far are Death Come True, World's End Club, and Rain Code.
@Lizuka O dams. didn't know that. That's kinda sad then. I'll still give em some love and get this game as soon as we're done.
@Ralizah this game better run well on Switch tbh.
I’ll maybe get it just to support the devs.
Leave A Comment
Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...