Cannon Fodder 3

Lore & Background

Cannon Fodder 3 is the third installment in the Cannon Fodder series, following the commercially and critically successful Cannon Fodder (1993) and Cannon Fodder 2. The original games were created by Sensible Software led by Jon Hare, who later worked on abortive sequels for PlayStation 2 and PlayStation Portable, as well as a planned smartphone version. However, publisher Codemasters had acquired Sensible Software and its intellectual property. In 2008, Codemasters licensed Russian company Game Factory Interactive – previously involved in games such as The Precursors, Boiling Point: Road to Hell, and White Gold: War in Paradise – to develop Cannon Fodder 3. English-language media reported on the development in January 2011, with GFI initially permitted only to release the game in Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States. GFI published the game in Russia in December 2011, with both GFI and Burut CT variously reported as developers. Eurogamer later reported that Codemasters had reserved the option to publish in the UK but ultimately declined, allowing GFI to distribute the game outside Russia. The game was released via GamersGate in Europe and North America on 9 February 2012.

Reader's Guide

Cannon Fodder 3 received mixed reviews upon its release. Reviewers found the game enjoyable but limited and repetitive. The graphics and humour received both positive and negative criticism, while critics derided the poor English translations and technical problems. Richard Cobbet of PC Gamer UK noted that the game's forced 'precise and tactical' approach was 'far less satisfying' than earlier entries, citing the ease with which enemy weapons could destroy the player's soldiers and the arbitrary death from exploding barrels. He concluded the game was a 'poor substitute' for other action or strategy games but 'far from as bad as expected'. Liam Martin of Digital Spy praised the 'simple but effective' visual style and destructible environments, but found the game 'a little repetitive' with tedious level design and a lack of variety in objectives. Nathan Cocks of PC PowerPlay complained of tedium due to limited gameplay variety and the need for secondary weapons, as well as 'bargain basement production' with low-quality translations and bugs. Strategy Informer felt the game had updated and improved upon the original, noting better controls and more engaging mission goals, but criticized poor translations and perceived ethnic stereotypes. The game's significance lies in its status as a licensed sequel developed without the original creators, attempting to retain the series' antimilitarist message and destructible environments while attracting new players.

Did You Know?

• Cannon Fodder 3 was developed without the involvement of Jon Hare or Sensible Software, the creators of the original games.
• 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 criticized the game's poor English translations and technical problems, including bugs causing crashes and issues with spawning and using vehicles.
• The game features an extensively destructible environment and settings including the moon.