Cannon Fodder (video game)

Cannon Fodder
Amiga cover art
Developer(s)Sensible Software
Publisher(s)Virgin Interactive Entertainment
Designer(s)Jon Hare
Programmer(s)Jools Jameson
Artist(s)Stoo Cambridge
Composer(s)Richard Joseph
Allister Brimble (SNES, Mega Drive, Jaguar)
SeriesCannon Fodder
EngineSensible Soccer (modified)
Platform(s)Amiga, Amiga CD32, Atari ST, MS-DOS, Acorn Archimedes, 3DO, Atari Jaguar, Mega Drive, SNES, Game Boy Color
ReleaseDecember 3, 1993: Amiga
1994: SNES
January 1995: Mega Drive
1995: Jaguar, 3DO
Game Boy Color
  • UK: November 24, 2000
  • NA: December 20, 2000
Genre(s)Shoot 'em up
Mode(s)Single-player

Cannon Fodder is a shoot 'em up developed by Sensible Software and published by Virgin Interactive Entertainment for the Amiga in 1993. Virgin ported the game to MS-DOS, the Atari ST and the Acorn Archimedes, as well as the Atari Jaguar, Mega Drive, SNES and 3DO. The game is military-themed and based on shooting action with squad-based tactics. The player directs troops through numerous missions, battling enemy infantry, vehicles and installations.

Cannon Fodder has a darkly humorous tone which commentators variously praised and condemned. Its creators intended it to convey an anti-war message, which some reviewers recognised, but the Daily Star and a number of public figures derided the game. Other reviewers highly praised the game, which widely achieved scores of over 90% in Amiga magazines. Amiga Action awarded it an unprecedented score, calling it the best game of the year.