Cannon Fodder (video game)

Sensible Software

Company type	Video game developer
Industry	Video games
Founded	1986 (1986)
Founder	Jon Hare, Chris Yates
Headquarters	United Kingdom
Key people	Jon Hare (creator of Cannon Fodder)
Products	Cannon Fodder, Sensible Soccer, Mega Lo Mania

Cannon Fodder is a shoot 'em up title created by Sensible Software and released by Virgin Interactive Entertainment for the Amiga platform in 1993. Virgin later adapted the game for several systems, including MS-DOS, Atari ST, Acorn Archimedes, Atari Jaguar, Mega Drive, SNES, and 3DO. The game’s military setting blends fast-paced shooting with squad-level tactical management, tasking players with leading troops through missions against enemy infantry, vehicles, and fortified positions.

The title adopts a darkly comedic style aimed at delivering an anti-war message, a theme recognized by some critics. Nevertheless, it encountered disapproval from sources such as the Daily Star and certain public figures. Despite this controversy, Cannon Fodder achieved extensive critical praise, frequently earning scores above 90% in Amiga-focused publications. Notably, Amiga Action gave it an exceptional rating and declared it the top game of the year. The game was succeeded by Cannon Fodder 2 in 1994.

Gameplay

Cannon Fodder is an action game with a military motif that merges elements of strategy and shoot 'em up gameplay. Players command a squad of up to six soldiers equipped with machine guns capable of instantly eliminating enemy foot soldiers. Though initially outgunning foes, the player's units remain vulnerable as enemy strength escalates. Adversaries include infantry, as well as vehicles such as Jeeps, tanks, helicopters, and missile turrets. Players must destroy enemy structures that spawn soldiers using limited secondary weapons like grenades and rockets, which are replenished through supply crates. These crates can be detonated remotely to minimize risk but doing so may exhaust available ammunition.

The game offers 24 missions comprising 72 levels set in varied environments—jungle, snowfields, deserts—each featuring distinct terrain and vehicles such as igloos and snowmobiles. Players navigate hazards like rivers that impede movement and prevent firing, along with quicksand, mines, and traps. The point-and-click control scheme emphasizes careful squad positioning and splitting forces to mitigate threats posed by numerically superior enemies.

Development

Developed by Sensible Software, a leading independent Amiga studio known for titles like Sensible Soccer, Cannon Fodder was created by a compact team of six working in a modest office space. The project built upon the strategic foundation of Mega Lo Mania, incorporating direct action gameplay while maintaining mouse-driven controls rare in shoot 'em ups.

From the outset, the developers focused on implementing an overhead camera perspective combined with smooth scrolling. Programming tasks were divided among team members who conducted extensive play-testing to discard less effective ideas and polish core mechanics. A standout feature was the realistic homing missile behavior. The rural settings took inspiration from Emmerdale Farm. Early builds included more intricate systems and unique soldier attributes but were simplified to accelerate gameplay pace.

An innovative aspect involved assigning names to each soldier and displaying personalized gravestones between levels to highlight war's human toll. Jon Hare, the creator, described the game as an anti-war commentary intended to provoke reflection on the futility of conflict. This thematic direction represented a departure from Sensible Software’s usual non-violent titles.

Development commenced in early 1991 but was temporarily halted due to other commitments. Originally part of a four-game agreement with Mirrorsoft—which dissolved following Robert Maxwell's death—the project eventually secured publishing through Virgin in May 1993 owing to their straightforward approach. Before its release, elements from Cannon Fodder were incorporated into Sensible Soccer to produce Sensible Soccer Meets Bulldog Blighty, a wartime-themed variation where the ball was replaced by a timed grenade, showcasing the blend of strategy and action within a military context characteristic of the game.

Critical reception

Amiga Action declared it the standout game of the year, favorably likening it to Sensible Soccer and asserting its superiority in every regard. Amiga Computing commended both the theme music and gameplay, labeling it "one of the most enjoyable and playable" titles. Despite some notably difficult missions, Amiga Down Under emphasized its strong entertainment appeal. Amiga Format highlighted its compelling nature, impressive visuals, sound quality, and described it as "arguably the most anti-war game" to appear in recent times.

The reviewer from Amiga Power lauded the soundtrack, sound effects, and user-friendly controls but noted that the absence of a multiplayer mode prevented a flawless rating. The game was ranked sixth among the magazine’s all-time best. AUI also mentioned the lack of multiplayer as a minor drawback but deemed it insignificant compared to the overall enjoyment. CU Amiga praised its audio design and challenging gameplay despite missing command options. The One characterized it as "pure, unfiltered brilliance," highlighting its humor and gameplay quality.

Sales figures reported by Amiga Format exceeded 100,000 units. The Jaguar edition received mixed reactions regarding controls and graphics from GamePro, though its sound and strategic depth were praised. Reviewers from Electronic Gaming Monthly criticized the small character sprites but appreciated its addictive gameplay and humor, awarding it Best Atari Jaguar Game of 1995. Next Generation dubbed it the finest Jaguar title ever released.

The 3DO iteration garnered similarly favorable reviews from Electronic Gaming Monthly, Next Generation, and GamePro, with critics noting its accessibility for players across different skill levels. The PC version earned praise from Next Generation for its effective fusion of strategy and action elements.

Accolades

In 2004, readers of Retro Gamer voted it the 61st greatest retro game. It was featured in a 2011 list by The Daily Telegraph highlighting top violent video games, recognized for its dark humor and enjoyable play despite controversy. That same year, Wirtualna Polska ranked it as the fifth best Amiga title. In 1995, Total! placed it 31st among SNES games, applauding its distinctive perspective and classic status. Also in 1995, Mega Zone included it in their Top 50 Games In History, describing it as an "outstanding war game." In 1996, GamesMaster positioned the Amiga version at number 52 in their Top 100 Games of All Time.

Controversy

The combination of war-themed satire with imagery resembling remembrance poppies drew criticism from the Daily Star, which quoted members of the Royal British Legion and several MPs condemning it as offensive and "monstrous." Virgin Interactive initially defended the use of the poppy as an anti-war symbol, though critics dismissed this explanation as mere publicity.

Amiga Power became embroiled in controversy when plans were made to feature poppy imagery on an Armistice Day issue cover; following public backlash and a contentious editorial comment, the magazine issued an apology while upholding editorial independence. Ultimately, the game's packaging replaced the poppy with a soldier illustration, although the poppy remained visible during gameplay. Additional legal concerns led to further modifications on magazine covers.

Despite these disputes, commentators such as Stuart Campbell and various reviewers praised the game’s ironic anti-war message. Contemporary critiques acknowledged its thoughtful commentary on war’s futility, with some later media recognizing nuances overlooked by initial detractors. The controversy generated significant publicity that proved advantageous for Virgin Interactive’s marketing strategy.

See also

• Cannon Fodder 2
• Cannon Fodder 3
• Syndicate – a squad-based tactical shooter with strategic elements released around the same time