25 Years Later, a Foundational Early Internet Franchise Is Finally Going Back to Basics

Do you remember the old Flash-powered website Neopets? Because I do. In the early 2000s, as a kid, I logged on to see my virtual pets, play minigames, and participate in an all-encompassing story that was taking over the website and the fictional realm of Neopia. First, Neopets released a comic strip depicting pirates fighting against mermaid-like pets. Players could then join either faction, enlisting in battle against pirates or mermaids to earn prizes such as trophies or chatroom avatars. For a kid who wasn't allowed to own a console growing up, this was my Final Fantasy. Neopets is now…