Cannon Fodder 3 sees another 90’s title that is planning a comeback and it surely delivers keeping close to the roots of the original game with a nice little revamp. It is a tactical action/strategy game brought to you by Game Factory Interactive but originally developed by Russian PC game specialist Burut CT. The game is only available in the UK from GamersGate.co.uk after rumours it was only to be sold in Russia were stamped out when Codemasters, who created the original Cannon Fodder series had first refusal on the game launch but withdrew its interest from the new sequel.
The story is only a simple one that doesn’t really need much following, some of the world’s biggest military powers have joined together to establish world peace and create a new world order, however terrorists stand in your way. Your objective as in the previous Cannon Fodders is to wipe out this terrorist menace, using the squad of soldiers that you control to kill the bad guys while trying to remain alive but what fate awaits your soldiers? Will they receive a General’s Star or a Bed of Honour? Well that is down to you!
. I really enjoyed playing this game because where new sequels have come out and developers have tried to overcomplicate things, the developers of Cannon Fodder 3 have kept the game nice and simple sticking to the foundations which made the first Cannon Fodder games a big success. That isn’t to say that it hasn’t been improved though. The new sequel see’s lots of new features added to the game which enhances it beyond its original such as introducing 8 types of controllable machinery and 17 types of weaponry, including tactical nuclear strikes and carpet bombings. In addition the game introduces a day and night cycle as well as weather effects which give each level that takes place in numerous locations across the world such as North America, Russia and even in Outer Space a fresh new feel to the game.
The tutorial of the game was also very basic but then so are the controls so it is very easy to pick up and get going and everything you need to know is covered, if not initially in the tutorial it will be mentioned in the missions like when you first have to use grenades. The game also has many other positive elements about it, like the fact that your troops are enhanced the longer they are in combat as their ranks rise, and if they are unlucky and meet their doom the tombstones appear on the main menu of the game which is more than likely when you get to battle with unique bosses. But help is available everywhere, blowing up crates and enemy supplies allows you to find special bonuses such as grenades and armour. There are also achievements available throughout the game for meeting certain challenges and targets which makes the game a little more rewarding.
I also like the visual style of the game, it hasn’t tried to make the game realistic and bring to life the horrific images of war, and instead the graphics are cartoony, vibrant and point out how silly war really is. Shooting terrorists can cause them to burst out and send blood splattering across the ground while the heavier armoury can make buildings explode in spectacular fashion.
However I do have one problem with the game and that is the missions are a bit repetitive as they all revolve around blowing up a target of some sort, finding information or rescuing a hostage and the structure always seems to be the same. I understand these are some of the main problems in a war but it could try to introduce some kind of side story and secondary objectives that you need to complete to reach your final destination.
Overall I really enjoyed this game but I am a sucker for strategy games of all forms so it was inevitable that I’d enjoy it. I really enjoyed the gameplay and the graphics made the game fun and enjoyable as well as it’s nice to have a war game that doesn’t take it too seriously. That being said I couldn’t play it for hours on end without having to take a break now and then due to the repetitive nature of the missions.
System Requirements:
- Windows XP (SP2) / Vista (SP1) / Windows 7
- Pentium IV 2.4 GHz / AMD Athlon 2500+ (2.8 GHz/2800+ For Vista / Windows 7)
- 1 GB RAM (1.5 GB for Vista / Windows 7)
- 1 GB free HDD space
- GeForce 7800GTX/ATI RADEON X1800 XT
- DirectX 9.0c
- DirectX-compatible sound card
Disclaimer:All scores given within our reviews are based on the artist’s personal opinion; this should in no way impede your decision to purchase the game.
