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A Preview Session with Kazutaka Kodaka and Kotaro Uchikoshi

The 2025 Game Developers Conference was not just about understanding what’s new in the industry but also a chance to play some upcoming titles. During the week, I got to have an in-depth look into The Hundred Line -Last Defense Academy- with its creators, Kazutaka Kodaka and Kotaro Uchikoshi.

During a special session at GDC 2025, I got the chance to look at The Hundred Line -Last Defense Academy- battle system with Kazutaka Kodaka and Kotaro Uchikoshi. Here, I got to experience a more advanced version of the battle system. I also got the chance to learn more about the overall game itself from the masterminds behind it and what players could expect going in.

The Story of The Hundred Line

Takumi Sumino’s peaceful life in the Tokyo Residential Complex is shattered when monsters attack. To save himself and his best friend, a mysterious being named Sirei offers him the power to fight back. To accept, he must stab himself – unlocking special abilities and receiving a new uniform. After the attack, he awakens in Last Defense Academy alongside 14 others. There, he learns the truth about the outside world and the eerie flames surrounding the school. As part of the Special Defense Unit, they are tasked with battling the monsters for 100 days.

The Hundred Line -Last Defense Academy- unites Kazutaka Kodaka, creator of the Danganronpa series, and Kotaro Uchikoshi, creator of the Infinity series, to deliver a unique experience.

Playthrough of The Hundred Line

The demo released during Steam Next Fest provided a sample of the battle system. During GDC, I was shown a more advanced version that became available later in the game. This battle session has players defending the entire Last Defense Academy alongside every member of the Special Defense Unit. Instead of protecting a single barrier, players must defend multiple ones, and if any are destroyed, it’s game over.

Even though this version of the battle system presents its own challenges, the overall gameplay remains the same. The combat follows a turn-based system with a grid for movement and attacks. Players select a character, choose an action, position them on the grid, and then execute their move. The squad’s total Attack Points determine how often characters can act, allowing repeated use of the same character. Building up enough Voltage lets a character unleash a powerful special attack that deals massive damage.

Speaking with Kazutaka Kodaka and Kotaro Uchikoshi, both cited the Fire Emblem series as the inspiration for the gameplay mechanics. Like Fire Emblem, The Hundred Line -Last Defense Academy- features turn-based combat on a grid-based battlefield, where players strategically position characters, manage limited actions per turn, and unleash powerful abilities to overcome enemies. At the same time, they also cited the influence that the Dynasty Warriors series has had on the gameplay.

During my playthrough, I jumped into the same battle that was showcased during the demonstration. Here, I applied what I had learned from the demo along with the additional gameplay mechanics introduced in the presentation. While the standard battles had their challenges, this one truly put everything I had learned to the test. Defending multiple locations at once requires careful planning and strategic thinking. Overall, I was unable to complete the battle within the allotted time.

Behind The Hundred Line

The Hundred Line -Last Defense Academy- is a radical departure from what Kazutaka Kodaka and Kotaro Uchikoshi are known for, yet it remains a narrative-focused experience. The game strikes a balance between a visual novel and an action-oriented role-playing game. The narrative remains a key focus, exploring themes of war and hardship. At the same time, the story offers players a variety of narrative paths to follow.

Kodaka and Uchikoshi both noted that exploring the story is the aspect of the game they are most excited for players to experience. They look forward to players unraveling its many mysteries and twists.

Final Thoughts

The Hundred Line -Last Defense Academy- is set to launch on April 23rd for the PC and Nintendo Switch. Additional information about the game will be available the closer it gets to the launch date.

This article is part of our coverage of the 2025 Game Developers Conference. If you attended the event, please share your thoughts in the comment section below.

Disclaimer: GDC provided 8Bit/Digi with press passes for the event.