8 Eyes

Lore & Background

8 Eyes was developed by Thinking Rabbit and released for the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1988 in Japan, and in 1989 in North America. The game features eight levels, each set in a different part of the world, with a soundtrack composed by Kenzou Kumei consisting of three pieces for each of the eight levels. It can be played by one or two players; in cooperative mode, one player controls the protagonist Orin the Falconer and the other controls his fighting falcon Cutrus. In single-player mode, the player has limited control of both characters simultaneously, which significantly increases the difficulty. The game has two distinct storylines depending on the version. In the English version, the game is set in a post-apocalyptic future. The Great King harnesses the power of eight jewels called the 8 Eyes, which were created from the energy of nuclear explosions. Eight power-hungry dukes steal the jewels and banish the King. The player controls Orin the Falconer and his falcon Cutrus, tasked with infiltrating the dukes' eight castles and retrieving the jewels. After recovery, the jewels must be returned to the Altar of Peace in a particular order. In the Japanese version, the story is set in a fictional European setting inspired by the Balkans. A research team sent by the British Museum is slaughtered by a group led by Ruth Grandier, a female bandit who claims to be a fallen child of Lucifer. The stolen artifacts conceal demonic secrets. The College of Arms sends Baronet Sir Julian James Bond, the greatest swordsman in England, along with his pet eagle Cutrus, to stop Ruth. The gameplay and graphical style are noticeably similar to Castlevania.

Reader's Guide

8 Eyes is a 1988 NES action platformer that stands out for its dual storylines and cooperative gameplay. The English version presents a post-apocalyptic narrative involving eight stolen jewels, while the Japanese version offers a historical horror tale set in the Balkans. The game allows players to tackle the first seven castles in any order, but each boss is vulnerable to only one specific sword, making the correct order important. Hints about the order are hidden throughout the game. After completing all eight castles, the player must return the jewels to the Altar of Peace in a specific order or lose the game.

The game received mediocre reviews upon release, with Power Play scoring it 60/100 and Electronic Gaming Monthly giving it 23/40. Despite this, it gained a cult following and was later re-released by Piko Interactive for Microsoft Windows via Steam on August 14, 2019, and on the Evercade as part of Piko Interactive Collection 1 on May 22, 2020. Its legacy lies in its unusual dual-story design, cooperative mode, and similarity to Castlevania, making it a notable entry in the NES library for retro gaming enthusiasts.

Did You Know?

• The game's soundtrack, composed by Kenzou Kumei, consists of three pieces for each of the eight levels.
• The English version is set in a post-apocalyptic future, while the Japanese version is set in a fictional European setting inspired by the Balkans.
• In both versions, the falcon/eagle is named Cutrus, not Cutlass.
• Piko Interactive acquired the rights to 8 Eyes and released it on Steam in 2019 and on the Evercade in 2020.

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