Cannon Fodder [WIP]

Fodder Reborn

When Cannon Fodder hit the shelves in 1993, it wasn’t just another game - it was an instant cult classic. Rightly so, it's a cool mix of action, strategy, and a dollop of dark humour thrown in for good measure. I loved the game and even had the Atari Jaguar version, which played better than I expected using a pad.

The game has us commanding a tiny squadron of soldiers, leading them through jungles, deserts, and snowfields, looking for enemies to blast to smithereens. We could use machine guns and grenades, blowing up little huts and generally running around like the A-Team, killing everything. So much fun!

I was thrilled when Cannon Fodder eventually arrived on the ST. However, this joy was short-lived as it became evident that we had been saddled with a lazy port without proper horizontal scrolling. For me, this has always been a bitter pill to swallow for over three decades. I’m not interested in excuses; a bad workman always blames his tools. Confusingly, this was the same person who gave us Sensible Soccer. Wow!

Fast forward three+ decades, and we finally have a proper Cannon Fodder with horizontal scrolling thanks to Krzysztof (kTz) Jarzyna of Retro Blitter Team (you need an Atari STe or an ST w/Blitter). No need to rub your eyes in disbelief, as it's true - no more jarring screen flips! Now, the battlefield scrolls as your squad advances. So, Cannon Fodder is fully playable without the need to look over our shoulders at the Amiga fanboys. Not only that, but Hospes will soon improve the intro's graphics and feature background music!!

I'd like to tip my (virtual) hat to Krzysztof, as he's obviously worked hard hacking away at the code to improve it. It's still a WIP (I believe), but after all these years, we have a fully playable game. That makes me very happy!! So gear up, as we’re finally entering battle in a version the Atari always deserved!!

Here are loads of links to the new game, along with loads of other cool stuff...

• Retro Blitter Team's Cannon Fodder is available for download (*WIP*).
• This ultra-sexy new version has been added to my list of Enhanced Games. Check it out.
• Fancy something different from war? How about skiing with Whipper Snapper Race?
• I couldn't finish without mentioning this classic Golden Dawn intro!!
• kTz and Hospes are featured on Demozoo.

Update - I've made a new video with the background audio on.

I made a little video, just to show the horizontal scrolling.

If in doubt, lob a grenade as quickly as possible!!

Finally, after decades, I'm actually playing through Cannon Fodder!

Shall I risk wading across the water or look for a better route?

The desert proves tough with hidden traps, so don't get blown up!

The Dukes of Hazzard comes to the world of Cannon Fodder!!

Very tough now, especially with guys off-screen accurately firing at me!

Ultima IV

And so it begins...

I've been lucky the last few years and enjoyed a number of great games like Cosmos Chronicles, Times of Lore, Shadow Sorcerer, Questron II, Phantasie, and more (but not Knightmare!). So, I went on the lookout for something new (to me), and Ultima IV struck a chord, as it's not something that's been played before. Plus, the storyline was very different, and I fancied a game that would last for the long term.

This won't be a walkthrough or anything silly like that; I simply wanted to enjoy the journey. So, I'm approaching Ultima IV as I would have done back in 1988: armed with the original map (albeit an online copy - thanks AL), my notebook, and a willingness to get muddled and lost. I'll be looking forward to learning how Britannia works, as I'm completely new to it. However, only as I write this am I wondering why I'm not beginning with the first game (well, Ultima II for the ST). Yep, I'm just very awkward.

So what is the storyline? Well, this was quite a shocking moment, as there doesn't seem to be a big bad baddie to slay - or at least die trying. Nope, Ultima IV is set after the defeat of Exodus (from the third game). Peace has returned to Britannia, but I fear that Lord British isn't totally happy, as monsters still roam the land and darkness resides in people's hearts (as always). So, we have been summoned to become a good example for all, to prove ourselves worthy of a far greater title. You guessed it, that Avatar malarky.

I gotta admit, I was shocked by this alternative storyline objective. Britannia isn't saved by the clang of swords, but by the spirit; our goal is to master the Eight Virtues through exploration and wisdom. Yikes, this journey kinda worries this old melee warrior, but it also appears quite compelling, too. I'm all in!

The legendary opening sequence of Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar...

Day one...

So, I dug out PP's version of Ultima IV, as it supports installation on the hard drive and saves don't require a floppy. It's brilliant and highly recommended over any cracked menu disk. My first few hours have been a mixture of wonder, excitement and complete bewilderment. The interface is straightforward enough, presenting Britannia from an overhead perspective, while the controls remind me a little of Questron II. Initially, I thought the command-driven approach was a bit over the top, but that was simply me being a knob. Need to open a door? Press O. Ready a weapon? Press R. Wanna attack something? Press A. /etc/etc...

Emerging from the castle, I found myself outside in the fresh air after finally figuring out how to escape using ladders and doors. I went for a wander and immediately loved the environment and the way enemies appeared rather than materialising out of thin air. This makes Britannia feel more realistic, like a living place rather than a collection of random encounters. Exploration is a cinch and enjoyable, but I stayed close to his castle because I didn't fully understand the fundamentals of survival. i.e., health, food, recovery, and so on. Plus, I could see a skeleton getting closer. What should I do? Run back inside or stand and fight?

Of course, I fought! And this part of the game reminded me a lot of Cosmos Chronicles (or should that be the other way around, lol). Of course, fights are turn-based, but the action flows quickly enough that encounters feel exciting as you scurry to ready a weapon. These battles are superbly thought out and a lot of fun - especially as the music changes, which enhances the atmosphere. More so with a Roland MT-32!!

At this moment, I'm staying close to the safety of Castle Britannia and a town called Britain (great names). I don't wish to travel far in case I get poisoned by a snake, jumped on by monsters when camping, run out of food, and so on. I need to grind, earn some XP and get more gold to afford supplies such as food, weaponry, armour, and so on. I expect this grind will last a while before I feel comfortable. Also, I should consider forming a party, as it's lonely atm. Yep, I haven't even scratched a millimetre off its surface.

I have no plans for future updates, but you never know. Follow my progress on X (Twitter) by using this tagged link. I'm going to enjoy this adventure! Hey, are there any fans out there? Silly question, right?

Oh, and I'm playing using real hardware, so there are no nice screenshots coming...

Yep, I recently acquired a Roland MT-32. Beautiful music!

So I'm still quite new here. Hence, heading out into the dangerous world alone.

Gotta love the characters you meet. I need a spicy woman!

A little later on, someone was selling a horse. So, I bought it. No idea why!