Xbox 360 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!

The idiot box has had its time. These games do its job better.

 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.

You know the type: spiky hair, sad eyes, too many belt buckles in his ensemble to count. You might meet one or two of these guys in fighting games, or starring in a Prince of Persia sequel; more often than not, you’ll see them wangsting their hearts out in a sprawling Japanese RPG epic.

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!

You know the type: spiky hair, sad eyes, too many belt buckles in his ensemble to count. You might meet one or two of these guys in fighting games, or starring in a Prince of Persia sequel; more often than not, you’ll see them wangsting their hearts out in a sprawling Japanese RPG epic.

Say hello to our brand-new TalkRadar template! Now each and every podcast has its own page, making it searchable and comment-able for our everlovin’ fanbase. This week we welcome Scott Butterworth from PlayStation: The Official Magazine, discuss dudes who look like chicks and answer more questions from the listeners.

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...