DS Features

100. In previous years and previous features, that number was daunting. While we wanted you to know about – and get excited about – as many upcoming games as possible, reaching three digits was always a challenge that required a monumental, brain-scouring effort from every last GamesRadar editor.

Not this time… this time was easy. In fact, 2011 is shaping up to be such a fantastic, and fantastically full, year for videogames that the only real difficulty was limiting our list of most anticipated titles. 100 simply wasn't enough...

Once again, we begin our yearly celebration of all things great in gaming, the Platinum Chalices. For our sixth annual awards event, though, we’re doing things a little differently, posting the Chalices in three parts. So while you can still expect to see our “normal” Chalices later in the day, as well as our Game of the Year, we’re starting today off with our special and console-exclusive awards. If a game deserved a nod for doing something unique this year, or stood out as the best title to only be available on one platform, you’ll find it here.

Be sure to check back later this afternoon, as our Platinum Chalices continue!

 If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, fan games are the ultimate love letter. Unofficial sequels or remakes of existing game franchises created by ordinary gamers, they range from casual ROM hacks to full-out new games created from scratch.

The Week of Hate continues with our next “100 Reasons” video. This time, we score a 20 critical for double damage on the nerdiest of all genres. Save versus this, bitches!

While playing a bit of Spirit Tracks I bumped into a tiny old man named Niko, who’s apparently been a part of Link and Zelda’s watery quests since the Wind Waker days. After that revelation shook its way through my bones, I realized, oh hey, his name’s Niko… as in Niko Bellic!

26 more cases of "Oh, that's interesting" inside!

The adventure genre should probably get the award for best ghost pirate of all time (Monkey Island's LeChuck), but the award for most prolific use of both ghosts and pirates in a genre has to go to RPGs. RPGs were overdoing the pirate thing well before pirates were overdone as a general fad. And any RPG fan knows that it's not a real quest until you've encountered a ghost ship as either a dungeon or a boss. Naturally, these two mainstays overlap from time to time...

Since the first Tamagotchi exploded onto the virtual pet scene over ten years ago, these adorable aliens have politely evolved from rudimentary three-button toys to full-fledged videogame mascots.

We talk to Nobuaki Taguchi, localization manager for Namco Bandai, about the third and latest installment in the Corner Shop series, and find out why we should still care about sugary-sweet minigames and the virtues of Tamagotchi.

Let’s be honest, this film didn’t get the best reviews in the world, and maybe it can’t match the bombastically powerful camp value that the first Street Fighter film had, but Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li still piques our curiosity. What’s it really like? Some guy from Black Eyed Peas plays Vega? Just how hot is Kristin Kreuk in the lead role?

With the possible exception of unexplainable, extraordinary inspiration, the factors which define a game’s quality are roughly quantifiable. The success of a game, however, involves slightly more chance, as the variables are less precise. When is the best time to launch a new PS3 exclusive FPS? Is there a market for fighting games on the Wii? The Western audience likes Final Fantasy – shouldn’t it like other Japanese RPGs?

Looking for categories like Best PSP Driving Game? Greatest Achievement in Control Layout, Artistic? Eastern European Developer Most Worth Watching in 2011? Then our end-of-year awards might not be for you.

GamesRadar's Platinum Chalices are different. We're not interested in checking off a massively tedious list of genres, platforms and technical subdivisions… we'd much rather focus on the stuff that makes this hobby, you know, fun. And reward whichever games delivered the most of that stuff.

So if you're looking for the best fan service, most satisfying gore or greatest achievement in old-school kickassery in 2010, you've definitely come to the right celebration. Let's get it started…