8 Eyes on the NES is one of those weird, ambitious action-adventure games that feels like Castlevania if it had a bird companion mechanic. You play as Orin, a falconer on a mission to reclaim eight mystical jewels from power-hungry dukes in a post-nuclear wasteland. The twist? Your falcon, Cutrus, is basically a second character—either controlled by a friend in co-op or by you alone, which gets chaotic fast.

The castles are brutal, filled with mutants, skeletons, and traps that’ll wreck you if you don’t coordinate with your bird. Cutrus can scout ahead, grab items, or attack, but switching between him and Orin mid-combat takes some getting used to. I remember getting stuck early on because I kept forgetting to use the falcon properly—turns out you need him to progress in some areas.

It’s got that classic NES difficulty where every jump feels like a gamble, but there’s something satisfying about finally clearing a castle after a dozen tries. The two-player mode is fun if you’ve got a patient friend, though good luck convincing them to play as the bird forever. Definitely a cult favorite for masochists and retro fans who like their games janky but full of personality.