Cannon Fodder 2

Sensible Software

Industry	Video game development
Products	Cannon Fodder 2

Cannon Fodder 2: Once More unto the Breach, commonly referred to as Cannon Fodder 2, is an action-strategy shooter created by Sensible Software and released by Virgin Interactive for the Amiga and DOS platforms in November 1994. Serving as the follow-up to the acclaimed 1993 title Cannon Fodder, this installment merges tactical gameplay with fast-paced shooting, featuring a small squad navigating a time-travel narrative. Players command vulnerable soldiers who face overwhelming enemy numbers, relying heavily on strategic planning and powerful secondary armaments to defeat infantry units, vehicles, and fortified positions.

While preserving the core gameplay mechanics of its predecessor, the sequel introduces additional levels, new environments, and updated visuals. Developed under the guidance of former journalist Stuart Campbell, the missions present greater difficulty and require more sophisticated tactics, with many level names incorporating references to popular culture. Financial limitations constrained narrative expansion, causing some confusion among reviewers. Although critics appreciated the consistent gameplay and well-designed levels, they remarked on the absence of fresh mechanics or weaponry, likening it to an expansion pack. Overall reception was favorable but less enthusiastic compared to the original, with divided opinions on the revamped soundtrack and heightened challenge.

Synopsis

Cannon Fodder 2 is a military-themed action title that fuses strategic elements with shoot 'em up gameplay. Players oversee a team of up to four soldiers equipped with machine guns effective against foot soldiers but themselves susceptible to damage. Enemy forces escalate in strength over time and include armored vehicles and missile turrets. Structures that generate enemy reinforcements must be destroyed using limited secondary weapons such as grenades and rockets, which are replenished through supply drops. Effective management of these resources is vital for accomplishing objectives.

The game offers 24 missions segmented into phases, amounting to 72 levels set across varied backdrops including medieval eras, gangster-era Chicago, alien spacecraft, and extraterrestrial landscapes. Players encounter mines and traps while employing point-and-click controls typical of strategy titles. Given their numerical inferiority and fragility, careful squad deployment is essential, often requiring splitting units strategically. In alternate settings, heavy weaponry is visually substituted with thematic equivalents like battering rams or magic-wielding characters.

The storyline is minimal and primarily detailed in the manual; it follows soldiers involved in a Middle East conflict who are abducted by extraterrestrials to fight on an alien planet. Time travel transports them through medieval periods and Chicago environments.

Development

This sequel follows Cannon Fodder, which attracted criticism for its blend of war-themed humor and use of imagery resembling the remembrance poppy. The original game’s cover art featuring a poppy was replaced by a soldier figure in later editions, then by a hand grenade for Cannon Fodder 2. Amiga Power humorously noted this change reduced social controversy. The One magazine interpreted the introduction of historical and science fiction elements as an effort to sidestep previous criticisms. The involvement of Amiga Power was notable due to planned poppy usage and editor Stuart Campbell’s public commentary; Campbell subsequently joined Sensible Software as a programmer, with this sequel marking his first project.

A compact team of approximately four individuals—including novice level designer Campbell—developed the game utilizing the original engine. While Sensible Software had conceptualized the time-travel theme and settings, they lacked a detailed plot. Campbell authored an extensive novella describing aliens manipulating history to enslave humanity, with protagonists traveling through time to protect mankind. Virgin rejected this narrative as too expensive to implement, opting for a simplified story in the manual that omitted time-travel elements. Campbell viewed this as an example of a publisher prioritizing profit over creative development during the late Amiga era.

The decision to retain the existing engine limited opportunities for new gameplay features; therefore, Campbell concentrated on crafting more engaging levels featuring multiple pathways—some challenging obvious routes alongside easier hidden alternatives unlocked through exploration. He aimed for a more balanced difficulty progression by addressing issues from the original game, reducing frustrating water hazards, and designing shorter stages. Some missions proved overly difficult due to his relative inexperience and testing skills, though he maintained that level 8 from the original was more challenging overall. Many levels were named after song titles or lyrics (notably from The Jesus and Mary Chain), as well as references to popular culture such as game shows, Bugs Bunny, and classic video games.

Jon Hare believed altering the established formula would diminish enjoyment and value but later conceded that Sensible Software mishandled the project by entrusting design responsibilities to newcomer Campbell. He attributed this misstep to overextension in an attempt to capitalize on prior success. Hare eventually sold Sensible Software to Codemasters in 1999 and worked on a cancelled Cannon Fodder 3, which was ultimately released by Russia's Game Factory Interactive for PC in 2012.

Reception

Cannon Fodder 2 preserved the gameplay mechanics of its predecessor, earning acclaim for its "excellent control and playability." Nevertheless, critics pointed out the absence of a coherent storyline; Amiga Power remarked on the lack of an in-game rationale for the time-travel element, resulting in a disjointed narrative. Amiga User International dismissed the plot as "meaningless," and Amiga Computing described it as perplexing.

The sequel was significantly more challenging than the original. While Amiga Format viewed this increased difficulty with some ambivalence, The One condemned certain stages as "terrible" and aggravating. Amiga Computing flagged abrupt spikes in difficulty early on as troublesome. In contrast, Amiga Power valued the refined difficulty progression and intelligent level design that encouraged thoughtful strategies over straightforward approaches, highlighting levels such as Beirut, Mediaevil, and Chicago. Still, it felt the shifts in theme lacked overall unity.

Levels set on alien planets drew negative feedback; Amiga Computing criticized their color palettes, and although Amiga Power acknowledged solid gameplay mechanics, it found the visual style unappealing. Some reviewers appreciated the refreshed graphics but noted minimal evolution from the original title. CU Amiga characterized it as "the same game rebooted with updated visuals." The soundtrack received mixed reactions—praised by some but considered repetitive by others due to recycling music tracks from the first game without an option to mute them.

The absence of new weaponry was a common complaint; existing weapons were simply recolored to fit different environments without any functional changes. Several critics regarded the sequel more as an "expansion disk" rather than a full-fledged sequel—this view was echoed by The One, AUI, and Amiga Computing. Kieron Gillen later referred to it as a "partial sequel" or "stand-alone add-on." While some reviewers acknowledged that innovation was limited without altering fundamental gameplay, accusations of "laziness" (from The One) and "greed" (from AUI) were frequently voiced.

Despite achieving a 90% rating, Amiga Power questioned its worth relative to the original game, though CU Amiga recommended it. According to AUI, it was essential only for those lacking the first installment; otherwise, it offered little beyond new mission content. While Amiga Computing enjoyed the title, it noted excessive similarities prevented it from being considered a classic sequel. Summarizing these perspectives, The One suggested that fans desiring more of the original experience would find it enjoyable, but those expecting substantial innovation might feel let down.