Tecmo Koei's latest beat 'em up Hokuto Musou—also known as Fist of the North Star 'round these parts—went all "Ya-ta-ta-ta-ta!" on its Japanese rivals this week, with the PlayStation 3 version of the game pummeling competition, sales-wise.
The latest Musou-style brand of big brawling game is sitting pretty at the top of the Media Create sales charts, flexing its oversized pecs at last week's winner Yakuza 4. That gives the PS3 a rare first and second place showing in the country, a streak quickly broken by Nintendo, with Pokemon Ranger, New Super Mario Bros. Wii and Tomodachi Collection rounding out the top five.
Just after that is Kratos' latest adventure and the Xbox 360 version of Hokuto Musou. The rest of the top 30 games for the week of March 22 to 28 are an eclectic mix of platforms, genre and the occasional otaku-pandering fare.
01. Fist of the North Star (PS3) - 385,000 / NEW
02. Yakuza 4 (PS3) - 83,000 / 467,000
03. Pokemon Ranger: Hikari no Kiseki (DS) - 51,000 / 327,000
04. New Super Mario Bros. Wii (Wii) - 51,000 / 3,575,000
05. Tomodachi Collection (DS) - 44,000 / 3,032,000
06. God of War III (PS3) - 43,000 / NEW
07. Fist of the North Star (Xbox 360) - 30,000
08. Gundam Assault Survive (PSP) - 27,000 / 118,000
09. Wii Fit Plus (Wii) - 21,000 / 1,782,000
10. Saki Portable (PSP) - 20,000 / NEW
11. Pro Yakyuu Famista DS 2010 (DS)
12. Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G (the Best) (PSP)
13. Chaos;Head - Love Chu*Chu! (Xbox 360)
14. Wii Sports Resort (Wii)
15. Dragon Quest IX (DS)
16. God of War Trilogy (PS3)
17. God Eater (PSP)
18. New Super Mario Bros. (DS)
19. Dynasty Warriors Multi Raid 2 (PSP)
20. Yuusha no Kuse ni Namaikida Or 3D (PSP)
21. Crayon Shin-Chan: Obaka Daininden - Susume! Kasukabe Ninja Tai! (DS)
22. The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks (DS)
23. Mario Kart Wii (Wii)
24. Prinny 2: Toukou Yuugi! Akatsuki no pants Daisakusenss!! (PSP)
25. Kenka Bancho 4 (PSP)
26. VitaminZ Revolution (PSP)
27. Seitokai no Ichizon: DS-suru Seitokai (DS)
28. Dragon Quest VI (DS)
29. Battlefield: Bad Company 2 (PS3)
30. PachiPara 15: Super Umi Monogatari in Okinawa 2 (PS3)