8 Eyes

You clear castle stages while controlling both your hero and a falcon companion that can attack from angles you can’t reach. The game rewards deliberate movement, because enemies and traps punish rushing. When you start using the bird like a tool—not just a weapon—the levels open up.

An ancient evil has returned, and eight powerful jewels are the only hope to stop it.

In 8 Eyes, players take on the role of Orin, a lone warrior chosen to reclaim the eight sacred jewels stolen by the Dark Overlord. Guided by his loyal falcon Cutrus, Orin must travel across distant lands, battle monstrous guardians, and survive treacherous castles filled with traps, enemies, and deadly precision jumps.

Dark, challenging, and relentless, 8 Eyes delivers a gothic action-adventure where survival demands patience, timing, and mastery.

8 Eyes is a side-scrolling action platformer with a heavy emphasis on precision, pattern recognition, and careful progression.

Core Mechanics
Sword-based melee combat

Fixed jump arcs with limited mid-air control

Enemy patterns that punish reckless movement

Castle-based level progression

Orin’s movement is deliberate and weighty. Every jump must be committed to. Every enemy encounter requires spacing and timing. The game rarely forgives mistakes.

Cutrus the Falcon
One of 8 Eyes’ most unique features is Cutrus, Orin’s falcon companion.

Cutrus can be sent forward to attack enemies

Certain puzzles and encounters are designed around dual attacks

Proper timing between Orin and Cutrus is essential

This mechanic adds strategic depth but also increases difficulty, as mismanaging Cutrus can leave Orin exposed.

Castle Structure
The game is divided into eight castles, each guarding one of the stolen jewels. Castles vary in:

Enemy behavior

Platform layouts

Environmental hazards

Boss mechanics

Some castles are more vertical, others more combat-heavy, forcing players to adapt rather than rely on memorization alone.

Long ago, the Dark Overlord was sealed away by eight magical jewels. Now free once more, he has scattered those jewels across the land, guarded by powerful minions.

Orin’s quest is solitary and bleak. Each castle feels isolated, hostile, and oppressive. There are no towns, no allies, and no safe spaces—only forward progress or death.

The story is sparse but effective, using atmosphere and challenge to communicate despair, danger, and determination. Victory feels earned because the world never wants you to succeed.

Released in 1988 for the NES, 8 Eyes was developed by Thinking Rabbit, a studio better known for puzzle games. This made 8 Eyes a notable departure—an attempt at a darker, more demanding action title.

The game is frequently compared to Castlevania, due to its gothic tone, deliberate pacing, and castle-focused structure. However, 8 Eyes leans more heavily into difficulty and mechanical restraint, making it feel harsher and more methodical.

Thinking Rabbit – Developer
A studio primarily known for puzzle games, making 8 Eyes a unique entry in their catalog.

Taxan – Publisher
Released several distinctive and challenging NES titles during the late 1980s.