8 Eyes

"Despite first impressions, it's much more than just a Castlevania ripoff."

This is the only game that I know of to be made by the company that calls itself Thinking Rabbit, and that's something of a shame, because they could have kicked ass on the SNES. At first glance, 8 Eyes is a Castlevania copycat with a cool twist; you're accompanied by an attacking bird. Play the game for a while, though, and you'll soon realize how misleading this initial impression was. Despite similarities in graphics, this game has about as much in common with its Konami counterpart as beer and cheese.
The swordfighting hero Orin travels to several different countries in an attempt to recover some stolen jewels or something, but who really cares? Ernest Goes to Africa probably had a more complex storyline. The stages can be played in any order, but it's good to tackle the mazes like Germany and especially Africa first, since they can drive you absolutely nuts.
A wide array of enemies and bosses make each level pretty interesting, so you don't feel like you're seeing the same thing over and over. You can find some neat weapons, and scattered around are various Life Extends and Scrolls that give you clues to the final puzzle (which is a nasty one).
Of course, 8 Eyes brings more than its fair share of flaws to the table. The control is horribly stiff and awkward, making even simple leaps and battles something of a crisis. The completely insane degree of difficulty sucks the fun out faster than an Electrolux, too. You're given almost no invincibility time between hits, you have one life, the weapons use large amounts of power and just move too damn slow, and the bosses are near impossible. The control is really the point where this game falls and breaks its neck, though. It's so bad it makes everything ten times harder than it should be.
Not all is lost, however. Suit yourself up with a Genie and you're in for a good time. The graphics, while not comparable to Castlevania by any means, aren't bad at all and don't strain the eyes a bit. The music is also surprisingly decent for the early NES era, and there are several different tunes, as well. The password feature comes through as a nice addition, since this game frustrates easily and taking several breaks is a good idea. Only thing is, your sword doesn't seem to be any more powerful after you get jewels, even though the game tells you it is. It's no big deal, but come on, you need every bit of help.
If you have patience and don't mind getting used to the crappy control, 8 Eyes can be an experience rewarding to both you and your community. The two player mode with Cutrus can be some fun, too. If you find this at a friend's house, don't hesitate to beat him up and steal it.

Reviewer's Score: 7/10, Originally Posted: 06/02/00, Updated 02/22/01