The Hundred Line Review: 100 Endings, 170 Hours, and No True Conclusion
After spending over 170 hours in The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy, the latest title from Too Kyo Games (the minds behind Danganronpa and Zero Escape), I can safely say this is one of the most unusual and content-heavy visual novel/tactical RPG hybrids I’ve played—though not without its flaws.
What Is The Hundred Line?
The story starts with 15 students waking up in a mysterious school called the “Last Defense Academy.” They are told they must defend the school for 100 days from unknown invaders who seek to wipe out humanity.
The gameplay is split into two parts. The first is a visual novel structure, where you progress the story day by day—similar to how Persona works. Each in-game day brings new dialogue, events, and decisions.
The second part is a defensive battle system. In each fight, your main objective is to protect a generator that powers the school’s barrier. If enemies destroy it, the game is over. You manage Action Points (AP) each turn, which limits how many characters can move or act—making strategy and planning essential, especially when 15 characters are on the field but you only have 4 AP.
The Hundred Line Tem mesmo 100 Finais?
Yes—it absolutely does. But here’s how it works: the game contains 21 unique story routes, and each one includes multiple possible endings. For example, one route focuses entirely on romance. In that path, you can date different characters and reach one of 8 different romance endings.
So rather than 100 completely distinct stories, The Hundred Line offers branching conclusions within each route.
Honestly? Probably not for most people. I completed all 100 endings myself and found that while some routes and conclusions were fantastic, others felt flat or even pointless.
One of my personal favorites was the “Comedy Route”—I laughed a lot, but it turns out many players hated it. On the flip side, some of the most acclaimed endings didn’t impress me much. So it really depends on your taste.
If you enjoy certain characters or are curious about particular plot lines, picking specific routes might be the best way to enjoy the game without burning out.
No—and that’s probably the game’s biggest weakness. Despite what some online posts may claim, there is no definitive “true” ending in The Hundred Line. Instead, different routes provide bits and pieces of the overarching mystery. Some offer lore, plot twists, or character backstories, but none of them tie everything together.
The developers clearly intended for players to choose their own ending, but after so much time invested, the lack of a conclusive finale feels like a missed opportunity.
If you don’t want to spend 170 hours unlocking every ending, here are the routes you should play if you want to uncover the game’s major secrets:
- Eva Route
- Rebellion Route
- Goodbye Eito Route
- Last Defense Academy 2nd Scenario Route
- Retsnom Route
- Killing Game Route
- Mystery Route
- Slasher Route
- Box of Calamity Route
- S.F. Route
The game does an excellent job presenting intriguing mysteries and compelling character arcs. There are several shocking reveals scattered across the routes, and the world-building is impressive. However, the repetitive battles and lack of a satisfying conclusion might leave some players disappointed.
I genuinely enjoyed The Hundred Line, even if I don’t think the full 100-ending experience is necessary for everyone. Some routes are just for laughs, while others deliver emotional or philosophical twists. Still, it’s a unique experiment that shows how far narrative-driven games can go.
MY Final Score: 3 out of 5
