The story of Soldiers of Fortune begins in Victorian England, where a time traveler from the future was stranded. His knowledge of advanced technologies was shared with the Royal Society, led by Baron Fortesque, who used this information to create an artificial intelligence called the Chaos Engine. However, the AI rebelled and took control, turning Britain into a war zone filled with mad machines.
The game Soldiers of Fortune is a run-and-gun overhead shooter, similar to Gauntlet, but set in an open environment with bridges and other features. The gameplay involves navigating 16 levels, divided into four groups of four, each with its own challenges. The visuals are characterized by a metallic and blue style.
Players can choose from six characters, each with unique strengths and weaknesses, as well as different starting prices. In two-player mode, players work together, but in one-player games, the computer controls an AI that assists the player character, opening doors, picking up power-ups, and fighting enemies on its own.