NeoPets Puzzle Adventure - hands-on

For more Capcom coverage, check ourCaptivate Landing Page.

Wait a second, don't run away! Yes we know, the Neopets name might sting like poisoned gasoline but hear us out. You like Puzzle Quest, right? You like going on quests, busting gems to gain mana for spells, buying items and all that fantasy crap that made an already addictive game downright irresistible, right? Thought so. And that's exactly why you're going to like Neopets Puzzle Adventure - it's from the same developer and they're essentially making PQ2, only now it's emulating Othello instead of Bejeweled.

If you don't know how to playOthello(aka, Reversi), well, go learn. It's important. It's like knowing how to ride a bike or play chess, so we shouldn't have to explain. Just know that it's simple to learn, difficult to master and made even better by mystery tiles that charge your board-altering powers. Choose your Neopet (gender, color, one of 12 species) and then hit the world map in search of quests, treasure and battles, all of which are settled by games of Othello. Along the way you'll find pets (yes, pets to your Neopets, so pet pets) that you train and use as you would spells in Puzzle Quest. Training is done by simple minigames like match-memory or Othello puzzles that only have one correct answer. Later battles take place on crazy-shaped boards that the Othello gods would balk at, like triangle and rainbow formations.

Items are found and created via a cooking minigame where you blend recipes together. There are more than 300 items, 150 quests and 30 random awards for success so while we were initially frowning at the idea of covering a Neopets game, this one totally defied our expectations. It literally was the surprise of the show, with several editors walking in with a grimace, then walking out with a smile.

Hey, it's no RE5 or Street Fighter IV, but it's going to be fun. And that's the most we could ask for.

Jun 3, 2008

Brett Elston

A fomer Executive Editor at GamesRadar, Brett also contributed content to many other Future gaming publications including Nintendo Power, PC Gamer and Official Xbox Magazine. Brett has worked at Capcom in several senior roles, is an experienced podcaster, and now works as a Senior Manager of Content Communications at PlayStation SIE. 

Latest in Puzzle
the last campfire screenshot showing the protagonist talking to a giant frog
Can't wait for the No Man's Sky dev's new game Light No Fire? Well, its latest and much smaller game is $1.49 in the Steam Spring Sale 2025
Stamp PSP
A 16-year-old pitch for a newly discovered first-party PSP game has me mourning the death of PlayStation's Japan Studio all over again
Once Upon a Puppet
The emotional journey behind indie adventure Once Upon a Puppet reinvents puzzle-platforming through a magical, theatrical lens
Key art for Katamari Damacy Rolling LIVE showing the Prince rolling a Katamari as the King of All Cosmos sits at a livestreaming setup.
The first all-new Katamari Damacy game in almost 8 years is trapped in Apple Arcade jail, and I can only hope it follows in Hello Kitty Island Adventure's footsteps to eventually escape
Elsewhere Electric appearing in the Future Games Show Spring Showcase 2025
Elsewhere Electric is a co-op puzzle game with a twist: one player is in VR while the other plays on mobile
Once Upon a Puppet appearing in the Future Games Show Spring Showcase 2025
A magical theatrical journey awaits in Once Upon a Puppet, where strings hold more than puppets
Latest in Features
Naoe kills a target with a black and white filter over the camera highlighting the red of blood spray in Assassin's Creed Shadows, with an On The Radar orange frame
Assassin's Creed Shadows "has a little bit of Tarantino flavor", but its real secret ingredient is intrigue: "It's almost like you're watching an episode of Shogun"
Helldivers 2 Borderline Justice Warbond helldiver using hoverpack to shoot down with hunting rifle
Talking points from the Game Developers Conference 2025 and how they could impact the future of gaming
Flexispot E7 Plus with plant, monitor, soundbar, and controller on top next to white wall lighting.
Gaming desks vs regular desks: which surface should you buy?
Google Pixel 9a smartphones on a beige background
One Google Pixel 9a feature could make it a better gaming phone than most budget mainstream models
Yasuke and Naoe ready to fight on the Assassin's Creed Shadows On The Radar thumbnail
On The Radar: Assassin's Creed Shadows coverage hub
Captain Planet #1
Captain Planet is back after 33 years with a "sexy" makeover and a message that's as important as ever: "Reality has gotten a lot less subtle"