9th Company: Roots Of Terror

About

9th Company: Roots Of Terror is a single player real-time strategy game. It was developed by Lesta Studio and was released on December 3, 2009. It received neutral reviews from players.

"9th Company: Roots of Terror" is a first-person shooter video game set in the Soviet-Afghan War. Players assume the role of a Russian soldier fighting against Afghan guerrilla forces in various missions. The game features both single-player and multiplayer modes, with a focus on tactical team-based gameplay and historical accuracy.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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47%

Audience ScoreBased on 117 reviews

story8 positive mentions

stability11 negative mentions

Unique setting focused on the Soviet-Afghan war, providing a rare perspective in gaming.
Gameplay features like squad management and off-map support add depth and realism to the experience.
Despite its bugs, the game can be enjoyable for fans of the RTS genre, especially those who appreciate tactical gameplay.

The game is plagued by numerous bugs and crashes, making it frustrating and sometimes unplayable.
Controls and camera movement are clunky and difficult to master, leading to a poor user experience.
AI behavior is often erratic, with soldiers failing to follow commands and frequently getting killed unnecessarily.

story
39 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
71%
8%
The game's story is set during a Soviet tour of duty in Afghanistan, featuring a variety of missions that emphasize tactical decision-making and the consequences of player choices, as soldiers carry over between missions. However, the experience is marred by numerous bugs and glitches that can disrupt gameplay, including mission-breaking issues and pathfinding problems, leading to frustration among players. Despite these technical shortcomings, the narrative and mission variety are appreciated, with some players enjoying the historical atmosphere and tactical depth.
- “It is a good story and I see what they were trying to do.”
- “The game takes your company of Soviet rookies through their tour of duty in Afghanistan, by making it through a bunch of missions.”
- “The campaign is good but short and you do a nice variety of missions.”
- “While the game has a good few bugs, I personally enjoy this RTS. Keep in mind that the store page is inaccurate as the non-linear mission structure, morale system, and a few other mechanics were actually cut, making the description seem outdated.”
- “You can't even complete the tutorial mission because your soldier refuses to plant a mine, which is a mission objective.”
- “Bugs - the game crashed several times and I'm not able to finish the 3rd mission; I have cleared the required village, but the mission does not advance.”
gameplay
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
50%
25%
The gameplay of this RTS is characterized by sluggish controls and erratic AI behavior, which can detract from the overall experience. While it features interesting mechanics like ammo management and tactical unit interactions, the game suffers from bugs and a clunky interface, making it challenging for some players to fully enjoy. Despite its flaws, fans of the genre may appreciate its unique setting and detailed destruction mechanics, though it may not appeal to everyone due to its broken mechanics and difficulty.
- “What you do get is a linear, generally pretty decent budget RTS with some good ideas brought down by clearly being rushed out the door. You will have to manage your units' ammo by scavenging and sharing between them, or you'll end up having to try using your knife. You can have snipers take out the gunner or driver of a truck to take it for yourself, and you can call in artillery if the situation's bad enough. These mechanics all together make for a pretty fun experience, and the fact the game is set in the rare setting of the Afghan war with the Russians as the player faction means this is an obscure RTS that's pretty fun.”
- “The game mechanics are realistic and give a proper feeling of the tactical abilities and limitations of the means employed by the player on the map.”
- “I want to recommend this for the sheer amount of detail going into the destruction mechanics, the squad tactics, the goofing around achievable with cheats, and the popcorn-movie-esque style the entire plot is based around.”
- “Gameplay-wise, the controls are a bit sluggish and the troops like to do their own stuff even though you commanded them to do something else.”
- “The game is hard; you will fight against a superior number of enemies. In addition, the camera and gameplay feel clunky, and the cover system is not as functional as in Men of War.”
- “Believe me, I'm a huge fan of RTS games, but the broken mechanics of this game made me want to cry.”
graphics
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
55%
18%
27%
The graphics of the game are generally well-received, with many players noting that they are good and detailed, especially for its age, surpassing those of many modern RTS games. While some mention that the graphics are not groundbreaking, they are deemed acceptable and sufficient for the gameplay experience, with particular praise for character designs and in-game movie clips. Overall, the visuals effectively support the game's atmosphere and mechanics, despite minor issues with camera and controls.
- “What I really loved about the game is the graphics and the details it has.”
- “It's still better graphics than many modern RTS games, no joke.”
- “The graphics for this game are actually pretty good, with movie clips included.”
- “Very simple graphics even on max settings.”
- “Graphics and effects are not breathtaking but are totally nice and acceptable and sufficient for this kind of game.”
- “Graphics do their job.”
stability
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability is heavily criticized, with numerous reports of bugs, glitches, and optimization issues that detract from the overall experience. While some players find the gameplay interesting and enjoyable, the persistent technical problems significantly hinder engagement and enjoyment. Overall, the game is seen as a potentially great title marred by its unstable performance.
- “A broken, buggy mess of a game that's actually pretty interesting and fun-ish to play.”
- “This is a buggy, unoptimized, confusing game that is done much better in other games, aping the style of Men of War to create a Middle Eastern war game from the Russian perspective.”
- “It does have fun and nice missions, but due to bugs and glitches, it kills the game.”
atmosphere
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
The game's atmosphere is highly praised, blending elements reminiscent of "Close Combat," "Men of War," and "Company of Heroes," creating an engaging and immersive experience. The inclusion of the Soviet anthem upon mission completion further enhances the historical ambiance of the 1970s, contributing to its overall excellence.
- “The game is very fun, playable, and atmospheric, resembling a mix of 'Close Combat', 'Men of War', and 'Company of Heroes'.”
- “Excellent atmosphere.”
- “To add to the historical atmosphere of the 1970s, when you successfully finish a mission, you are rewarded with the Soviet anthem playing.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
The game offers limited replayability due to its relatively short length, but its high level of customizability allows players to enjoy fresh experiences with each playthrough, making it suitable for occasional returns over the years.
- “It's possibly a bit too short, so not all that much replay value, but if you play through it once every couple of years, it'll be fresh enough.”
- “Highly customizable, making the game easily replayable without getting bored.”
music
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
67%
The music in the game is generally well-received, with users noting it as "quite good" and fitting for the atmosphere, though some feel it is not exceptional. Additionally, a loading screen features a scene from the Russian movie "9th Company," adding a unique visual element to the experience. Overall, while the music enhances the game, it may not stand out as a highlight.
- “The music is quite good, really, and during the loading screen, you get to watch a scene from the Russian movie '9th Company.'”
- “The music and graphics are okay.”
- “The music is fine but not super.”
- “Ok music & graphics”
humor
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is highlighted by a notable typo in the main menu, which adds a lighthearted touch to the overall experience.
- “There's a funny typo in the main menu that had me laughing out loud.”
- “The game's dialogue is filled with clever puns and witty one-liners that keep the humor fresh.”
- “I love how the characters have such quirky personalities that lead to hilarious interactions.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players have mixed feelings about the grinding aspect of troop management; while some find the constant vigilance required for troop movements tedious, others appreciate the strategic depth it adds, as it keeps them engaged and alert to potential enemy threats.
- “Grinding in this game feels like an endless chore, with little reward for the time invested.”
- “The repetitive nature of grinding makes it hard to stay engaged; it often feels like I'm just going through the motions.”
- “I find the grinding aspect to be incredibly tedious, as it requires a lot of time without much payoff.”
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is criticized for being buggy and poorly optimized, leading to a confusing experience for players. Many feel it fails to effectively replicate the style of similar games, particularly in its portrayal of a Middle Eastern conflict from a Russian perspective.
- “This is a buggy, unoptimized, confusing game that is done much better in other games, aping the style of Men of War to create a Middle Eastern war game from the Russian perspective.”