8 Eyes

8 Eyes is a side-scrolling action platformer that blends sword fighting, exploration, and light puzzle-solving on the NES. Released in 1990, the game comes from Thinking Rabbit and was published by Taxan. Its setting is a ruined future where the world’s remaining power is tied to eight valuable jewels, and the player must travel through dangerous territories to recover them.

You play as Orin, a skilled fighter accompanied by a trained falcon. Orin’s sword is his main weapon, but the falcon is far more than a visual companion. It can be directed toward enemies, retrieve useful objects, and help reach targets that are difficult to handle from the ground. Learning when to attack with Orin and when to command the falcon is central to surviving the game’s tougher sections.

The eight stages can be approached in different orders, giving 8 Eyes a modest sense of choice as you decide which area to tackle next. Each location features its own hazards, enemies, platforming challenges, and a powerful guardian at the end. Careful movement matters, since the controls are built around deliberate sword swings, jumps, and positioning rather than frantic button-mashing.

Two-player support gives the game an unusual cooperative angle for its era. One player controls Orin while the other takes responsibility for the falcon, turning encounters and navigation into a shared exercise in timing. That mode can make familiar areas feel quite different.

With its bleak science-fantasy atmosphere, distinctive bird companion, and demanding but rewarding combat, 8 Eyes has a character all its own among NES action games. RetroCloud lets you play online on your browser and revisit this unusual Taxan release without needing the original cartridge.