Cannon Fodder

Game review

Cannon Fodder, a game from 1993, offers a unique take on the war game genre, blending strategy and action with a touch of dark humor. The game's tagline, "War has never been so much fun," encapsulates its approach to the often grim subject of warfare, presenting it in a more lighthearted and accessible manner. This is an action-tactical game, but you have to think strategically - you can't do without a strategy in some levels.

You control a group of up to 5 soldiers, including the memorable character Jools, with whom you perform various tasks such as killing enemy soldiers, demolishing buildings and rescuing prisoners. You can also divide the group into parts and control them separately. Your soldiers also gain promotions that increase their experience and performance. You can use different vehicles like tanks to facilitate movement and destruction of enemies, which gives you a great advantage, but also has the disadvantage that if you stay in the vehicle while destroying it, it usually kills your soldiers as well.

Your arsenal of weapons includes a machine gun, grenades, rockets and more. The heavier weapons are then used, for example, to destroy buildings that are resistant to machine guns. But these larger caliber weapons have a limited amount of ammo, which you have to find in similar supply crates.

In the game, you have to go through 23 missions, which are further divided into 72 levels. The environment changes in different ways and you will move in, for example, jungle, desert and snow. Different terrain will also hinder or slow you down. You will have to swim across rivers from which you cannot shoot, you can drown in the mud, but you can also be surprised by various traps.

Despite its whimsical take on war, Cannon Fodder does not shy away from the realities of conflict. The game challenges players to strategically manage their troops, making tough decisions on the battlefield that affect their soldiers' survival. This blend of strategy, action, and the realities of war makes for an engaging gameplay experience.