Puzzle Quest Lite- Neopets Puzzle Adventure Reviewed

Like millions of other gamers, last year we become entranced by Puzzle Quest. The title synergistically blended Bejeweled with role-playing game elements, creating a diversion what was strangely addicting. For its encore, Infinite Interactive has crafted Neopets Puzzle Adventure, a title that merges the gameplay of Othello, with the creature collection typical of a Pokemon-inspired title. While Infinite took the helm for the PC and WII versions of the game, they passed off DS development to Griptonite Games. All versions are fundamentally similar, offering a puzzler suited for those too young to relish the complexities of Puzzle Quest.

Players start the game by choosing from one of twelve neopets, to become the player’s persona. For gamers not familiar with the international phenomenon, Neopets are anthromorphic creatures, outfitted with colorful attire. Customization is limited to choosing a color, and slight graphical variations to indicate gender. Once the protagonist is named, players may jump into a selection of three minigames, or venture to the game’s story mode. The game’s narrative centers around 150 small quests, each culminating in a battle.


                        Quick, can you spot the difference between the two Kacheecks. Yep, one has lipstick.

Challenges are settled on an eight by eight grid, where players take turns placing colored disks on the bottom screen. The game’s objective is to strategically place their blue colored pieces to surround the CPU’s red disks. Unlike chess or backgammon, the game’s two rules are delightfully simple. First, players must place a disk adjacent to a piece already on the board. Secondly, once a string of pieces are bookended, all the interior pieces are flipped. When the board becomes filled, the disks are tallied, and victory is granted to the player with the most pieces showing his/her color.

Battles are gripping, due to the frequent reversals of momentum. A single, skillful disk placement can quickly turn the direction of the game. Since, every piece gained is also a loss for the opposition; a losing player almost always has a chance at victory. The title supplements the central Othello gameplay further with the inclusion of neopets that have special abilities- some can flip any two disks of the gameboard, while others force the opponent to place their next piece in a designated location. Although these attributes kept the challenges interesting, they weren’t as organic as Puzzle Quest’s spells. By waiting to use the power of the neopet near the end of the challenge, the player is given a strong advantage.


                                                                           Defeat those filthy desert bandits!

While the Othello-inspired clashes were persistently gripping, we didn’t get a feeling that winning battles made our character any stronger or more skillfull. Instead, a victory allowed the linear story to progress, thereby granting us more neopets. Unlike PQ, there are no items for purchase the campaign mode, limited the strategic scope of the title. Apparently, the developers didn’t want to overwhelm its young audience with a multitude of statistics.

The title is graphically proficient, with well drawn characters, and intricate backgrounds. Challenges come to life with particle effects and fireworks that highlight key plays. As pretty as the graphics were, watching our avatar take twenty second strolls through the campaign map tried our patience. The treks usually punctuated trite conversations with NPC, exasperating the problem. We wish the dialogue was as carefully constructed as the game’s art.


                                                      Minigames offer a reprieve from the Othello battling.

Overall, Neopets Puzzle Adventure is a worthy successor to the Puzzle Quest lineage. The game adeptly combines Othello’s strategy with the collection of cuddly animals, creating a perfect time sink for the young gamer.  Variations in the game board layout and player abilities keep the game fresh through its numerous missions.

About Robert Allen

Since being a toddler, Robert Allen has been immersed in video games, anime, and tokusatsu. Currently, his days are spent teaching at two southern California colleges. But his evenings and weekends are filled with STGs, RPGs, and action titles and well at writing for Tech-Gaming since 2007.

42 comments

  1. I would have ignored this because of the neopets branding. Thanks for the review.

  2. Cool review. I loved Puzzle Quest. Played the shit outta that game.

  3. Looks a bit kiddie, but I love Othello.

  4. I might pick this up. I really liked PQ.

  5. ‘Santa’ is going to have to get this one for the kids.

  6. Wow, a decent kids game for the DS.

  7. Will TideGear play it. That’s the real question.

  8. Can an adult play it and not feel weird?

  9. What’s retail on this one. Please tell me $19.99, otherwise I’ll play PQ some more.

  10. I hear that!

  11. No way would I buy this. Too kiddie for me.

  12. I still dont understand the rules. I never played Othello, but I watched the play once 😉

  13. Did you guys try out the Wii version? I’d like to know how the controls are.

  14. I think its $30. if a 64 megabit cart.

  15. Great review.

  16. I liked your review better than the IGN one. Great job.

  17. I didn’t even heard about this coming out. I wonder if it will ever be on XBLA.

  18. PQ was gimped for the DS, is this game?

  19. You’ll learn quick.

  20. I ordered this one today.

  21. I wonder whats next for the developers. For the third gamer they better do themselves else beside mix a existing game with RPG lite elements.

  22. Yeah, it’s just way to cutesy for full price.

  23. I might have to try this one out. It sounds fun.

  24. How was it ‘gimped’?

  25. What no scientology mention? That sucks.

  26. So sugery it hurt my eyes.

  27. Yep, it’s 29.99

  28. I’ve seen some people call it Reversi/Go, it is all the same?

  29. I was playing this today while listening to Chinese Democracy. Good mix!

  30. I must live under a rock, Ive never heard of the Neopets.

  31. As a fan of reversi, I will end up getting this, cute animals be damned.

  32. I think neopets is all lowercase. FYI.

  33. Neopet with lipstick=female?

  34. I cant believe there are people who have never played this.

  35. My gamestop was sold out!

  36. Got this today, It’s good but not great. Its a bit repetitive for me.

  37. my lil bro mite like this..

  38. I’m actually considering this game now. I pretty much had it pegged as a cheap port wannabe, but if it’s as addictive as Puzzle Quest, I’m sold.

  39. Yeah this game looks.. alright. My sister would truly love this though.

  40. As long as it has similar gameplay to the recent puzzle quest, it should be a great game

  41. What are your favorite board games or other games for family time?