8: Cannon Fodder

Number 8
(232 points)
Cannon Fodder
1994: 2 (59.4)
1995: 4 (77.6)
1996: 6 (95.0)

It's very telling indeed that Cannon Fodder appeared in the same list as its sequel in 1995, yet that could only squeeze in at number 100, while its predecessor was riding high. Was this first game that much better?

War is hell, and Cannon Fodder tries to get that message across despite its cute graphics. You are given a team of recruits and the task is generally to kill all the soldiers in a given area. You have machine guns, grenades and rockets, and occasionally a vehicle or two to ride around. Your men are very fragile, however, and the smallest impact with bullets or shrapnel will be the end of them, and you'll have to rely on yet more willing soldiers from the ever-growing queue, as ever more gravestones populate the hill next to you.

I played Cannon Fodder quite a bit back in the day, and despite its simple charms, it's still a fun blast to come back to. Is it really that good to be placed so high in the list? Hard to say, though it's still a very smooth and nervy game even now.

Recommended TOSEC disk(s):
Cannon Fodder (1993)(Virgin)(Disk 1 of 3)[cr FLT]
Cannon Fodder (1993)(Virgin)(Disk 2 of 3)[cr FLT]
Cannon Fodder (1993)(Virgin)(Disk 3 of 3)[cr FLT]
Cannon Fodder (1993)(Virgin)[!][Amiga-CD32] (CD32)