The Most Underrated ’90s Game Has the Best Gameplay in Video Game History

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The gaming landscape was quite different in the 1990s, particularly in the early years. Games weren’t as widely recognized or respected as they are today, and with the internet still in its early stages, many popular titles quickly faded into obscurity. This has resulted in the ’90s being full of fantastic, lesser-known games – true hidden gems.

A great example of this is the game Cannon Fodder, originally created for the Amiga in 1993, but later released on systems like the Atari Jaguar and SNES. It remains a really enjoyable game, and its simple gameplay makes it worth checking out for today’s gamers.

Cannon Fodder Had a Controversial History

Cannon Fodder was created by Sensible Software, a company that sadly no longer exists. They were famous for popular sports games like Sensible Soccer and Sensible Golf. Unlike most of their family-friendly titles, Cannon Fodder was a darkly humorous military shooter with an underlying message against war.

So, the game’s original cover art caused a bit of a stir. It featured a poppy, which, as a UK gamer, I know is a really important symbol for remembering soldiers who died in wars. A lot of British newspapers and politicians weren’t happy about it, so the developers, Sensible Software, ended up changing it to just a regular flower to avoid the controversy.

Despite a few small updates, Cannon Fodder kept its characteristic dry wit. The game famously declared, in both its tagline and the opening credits song, that “War Has Never Been So Much Fun.”

Like Sensible Soccer, Cannon Fodder uses a similar game engine, which explains why it’s easier to control than many other shooting games from that time. The game features 24 missions, and each mission is made up of one to six different levels, adding up to a total of 72 unique levels.

Each stage is full of dangers, such as traps, and is guarded by numerous enemy soldiers. Players can collect weapons dropped by enemies, which unlocks stronger attacks and helps them conquer the challenges in Cannon Fodder.

Cannon Fodder Is a Forgotten Anti-War Game

While Cannon Fodder isn’t known for its complex story, it clearly conveys a message about the realities of war. This message is highlighted by a poem on the original game box, and later versions included even more satirical content.

In Cannon Fodder, you play as an army tasked with taking down El Presidente, the ruthless dictator of an enemy South American country. Your mission is to attack and remove him from power before he can carry out his dangerous plans.

The first four soldiers in the original Amiga game – Jops, Jools, Stoo, and RJ – were named as a tribute to the developers who created Cannon Fodder. When the game was released on other platforms, a new opening scene was added featuring five different characters: Slice, Ice, Crusher, Bambi, and Daisy.

The show depicts soldiers being defeated in silly and over-the-top ways, such as freezing in the Arctic or being comically beheaded by a helicopter. While not genuinely violent, these scenes highlight the game’s playful and disrespectful take on war.

Cannon Fodder Had Limited Success Outside Britain

Cannon Fodder was very popular in Europe, particularly in the UK, where it was a top-selling Amiga game in 1993. Its success led to the creation of several expansion packs and sequels.

A year after the original game, Cannon Fodder 2 was released, putting players in command of an army fighting aliens. Almost twenty years later, Cannon Fodder 3 attempted to recapture the feel of the first game, but its message about the horrors of war was weakened because the series had become more popular.

Despite being popular in Europe, Cannon Fodder didn’t gain much recognition elsewhere, and has largely been forgotten over time. However, the game still feels surprisingly modern, and its easy-to-learn yet captivating gameplay remains enjoyable even today.

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2025-11-30 04:44