9th Company: Roots Of Terror

About

"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 Play through the game's story or campaign solo

47%

Audience ScoreBased on 95 reviews

story8 positive mentions

stability9 negative mentions

Unique setting based on the Soviet-Afghan War, offering a rare perspective in RTS games.
Challenging gameplay that requires careful troop management and strategy, appealing to hardcore RTS fans.
Atmospheric graphics and sound design that enhance the immersion of the historical context.

Frequent bugs and crashes that disrupt gameplay, making it frustrating and sometimes unplayable.
Janky controls and poor AI behavior, leading to unresponsive troops and difficult command execution.
Lack of polish compared to Western RTS games, resulting in a clunky user interface and overall gameplay experience.

story
38 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
71%
8%
The game's story is set against a historical backdrop, following a Soviet company through their tour of duty in Afghanistan, featuring a variety of missions that emphasize tactical choices and soldier management. While the narrative and mission variety are appreciated, players frequently encounter bugs and glitches that disrupt gameplay, leading to frustration and the need to restart missions. Overall, the story is engaging but marred by technical issues that detract from the experience.
- “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non-linear mission structure, morale system, and a few other mechanics were actually cut, making the description seem outdated.”
- “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.”
- “There's a lot of effort put into the detail, but not enough in the actual mission.”
gameplay
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
45%
27%
The gameplay is characterized by sluggish controls and erratic AI behavior, which can detract from the overall experience. While the game features interesting mechanics such as ammo management and tactical unit positioning, it suffers from bugs and a clunky interface. Despite these issues, fans of RTS games, particularly those who enjoy titles like "Men of War," may find the unique setting and detailed destruction mechanics appealing.
- “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 so you can 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 thing 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.”
stability
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability is widely criticized, with numerous reports of bugs, glitches, and unoptimized performance significantly detracting from the overall experience. While some players find the missions engaging and the setting interesting, the persistent technical issues overshadow the game's potential, leading to a consensus that it is a "buggy mess" that could have been much better.
- “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.”
graphics
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The graphics are generally well-received, described as nice and acceptable for the game's genre, with good detail in uniforms and equipment. While not groundbreaking, they surpass many modern RTS games and effectively represent the characters from the source material. Overall, the visuals are considered a strong aspect of the game, despite some minor issues with camera and controls.
- “What I really loved about the game is the graphics and the details it has.”
- “The graphics are good, and the uniforms and equipment are expertly done.”
- “Graphics and effects are not breathtaking but are totally nice and acceptable and sufficient for this kind of game. Missions and enemies are tough, and the camera and controls are a little janky.”
- “It still has better graphics than many modern RTS games, no joke.”
- “Graphics do their job.”
atmosphere
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
The game's atmosphere is highly praised, drawing comparisons to titles like "Close Combat," "Men of War," and "Company of Heroes." Players appreciate the immersive historical setting of the 1970s, enhanced by features such as the Soviet anthem playing upon mission completion, which adds to the overall experience.
- “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.”
- “The game fails to capture the gritty atmosphere of the 1970s, making it feel more like a generic setting than a historical experience.”
- “While the intention was to evoke a sense of nostalgia, the atmosphere feels flat and uninspired, lacking the depth needed to immerse players.”
- “The attempts to create a tense atmosphere often fall short, leaving players feeling disconnected from the game's world.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
The game offers limited replay value due to its relatively short length, but its high customizability allows for fresh experiences with each playthrough, making it enjoyable to revisit every few 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.”
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 that 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.”
music
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The music in the game is generally well-received, enhancing the experience, while loading screens feature scenes from the Russian film "9th Company," adding a unique cinematic touch.
- “The music is quite good, really, and during the loading screens, you get to watch scenes from the Russian movie '9th Company'.”
humor
1 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 (see screenshot below).”
grinding
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Players have mixed feelings about the grinding aspect of troop management; while some find the constant vigilance over 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 any significant progress.”