Cannon Fodder 3

Lore & Background

Cannon Fodder 3 is the third installment in the Cannon Fodder series, following the original 1993 game and its prior sequel, both developed by Sensible Software led by Jon Hare. After Codemasters acquired Sensible Software and its intellectual property, the publisher licensed GFI in 2008 to develop a new entry. GFI, described as an 'unknown' or 'little-known' company, had previously been involved in games such as The Precursors, Boiling Point: Road to Hell, and White Gold: War in Paradise. English-language media reported on the development in January 2011, though GFI was initially permitted only to release the game in Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States. Codemasters reserved the option to publish in the UK but ultimately declined, allowing GFI to distribute the game more widely.

Reader's Guide

Cannon Fodder 3 combines action and strategy from an isometric perspective, with the player directing a small squad of soldiers against heavily outnumbering enemy terrorists. The control system, according to PC PowerPlay, is similar to twin-stick shooters, where the player controls one soldier while others follow. Soldiers are fragile but have health bars, and the player can split the squad or use vehicles and power-ups. The game features an extensively destructible environment and settings including the moon. Reviewers found the game enjoyable but limited and repetitive. Critics praised the cartoonish graphics and gory effects but derided poor English translations, technical problems, and tedious gameplay. The game includes an online cooperative mode for up to four players, though Strategy Informer noted this mode was unpopular. GFI's Oleg Lychaniy stated the developers aimed to retain the original's antimilitarist message and were most proud of the destructible environment.

Did You Know?

• Cannon Fodder 3 was developed without involvement from original creators Jon Hare and Sensible Software.
• The game was initially permitted only for release in Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States before Codemasters declined to publish it in the UK.
• Reviewers noted the game's interface includes windscreen wipers to clear images of soldiers' gory corpses.
• The game features an extensively destructible environment and settings including the moon.