It was a big week for two very different video games in Japan. One, Konami's World Soccer Winning Eleven 2012 (a series you may know as Pro Evo), topped the charts overseas, selling more than a quarter million copies in its first week.
After debuting strongly in first place in Japan a couple weeks back, PlayStation 3 role-playing game Dark Souls has been defeated. Taking its first place position is another role-playing game, the latest in Falcom's Legend of Heroes line.
More than a quarter million masochists in Japan have snapped up a copy of Dark Souls for the PlayStation 3 , making From Software's punishing role-playing game the country's bestselling game.
Japan's love affair for all things Dragon Quest is clearly on display this week, as sales of the Dragon Quest Collection—or if you prefer its Japanese name Famicom & Super Famicom Dragon Quest I, II, III—crack a quarter million. Not too shabby!
One PlayStation 3 title just did some serious business in Japan. Tales of Xillia, the latest in Namco's long-running Tales of series, has already moved a half-million overseas. That's a pretty damn good start for a PS3 game.
Last week's software champ, Monster Hunter Portable 3rd HD Ver., had to settle for a second place showing in Japan this week, thanks to the warm reception of the latest Vanillaware and Marvelous Entertainment game Grand Knights History.
Japan loves it some Monster Hunter. Take the latest version, the PSP to PlayStation 3 port—or if you prefer "PSP Remaster"—Monster Hunter Portable 3rd HD Version. It's Japan's hottest game right now.
Disney's Epic Mickey made its (rather late) to the Wii in Japan last week, debuting in the top ten, but not in the top five. Another adorable mascot, Nintendo's Kirby, fared much better overseas.
WIi game Rhythm Heaven Wii (Minna no Rhythm Tengoku in Japan) is still the bestselling game in Japan, according to the people at Media Create. But Namco Bandai's Queen's Gate came closest to beating that with its suggestive, girl-on-girl role-playing brawler.
The delightful Rhythm Heaven series has come to the Wii—in Japan, at least—arriving to divine reception from the Nintendo loving masses. Rhythm Heaven Wii (aka Minna no Rhythm Tengoku) is Japan's bestselling game.
High-definition, big headed baseball is currently the hottest thing in Japanese video games. Konami's latest cartoonish baseball sim, Jikkyou Powerful Pro Yakyuu 2011, is the country's number one game.
Japan's hottest game right now is not made in Japan, which doesn't happen often. Maybe more surprising is that four of the top 10 games on the country's bestseller list weren't made in Japan either.
Remakes! Japanese gamers love 'em, with further evidence to prove that theory in the form of Namco Bandai's Tales of the Abyss. That Nintendo 3DS remake of the PlayStation 2 title is currently Japan's bestselling game.
What's selling well in Japan these days? The likes of Meruru no Atelier: Arland no Renkinjutsushi 3, Steins;Gate and a new Gundam game for the PlayStation Portable. I know. Exciting, right?
Japan's bestselling video game right now may be a PlayStation Portable title—Level 5's Cardboard Senki—but The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D wasn't far behind, helping to put the Nintendo 3DS back into first place this week.
Last week, the latest entry in Sega's popular Yakuza series hit Japan after suffering a brief delay. It was the country's bestselling game by a huge margin, killing the other new zombie-filled game on the market. But there was some not so good news for Sega's newest gangster game.
It was a better week for games for Nintendo hardware in Japan, as two new releases, One Piece Unlimited Cruise SP for Nintendo 3DS and Pandora's Tower for Wii, charted high in the land where those platforms are now doing so-so sales.
A game about stripping the clothes off of vampires in otaku haven Akihabara is Japan's bestselling game right now, the curious and cleverly titled Akiba's Strip for PSP. That game easily beat the new Dead or Alive and Valve's Portal 2 overseas.
Now that Japan's game release schedule is back on, well, schedule, what are Japanese video game fans spending their hard-earned yen on? Dragon Quest Monsters Joker 2 Professional for one thing. Haruhi Suzumiya games for two more.
With Japan celebrating Golden Week, there wasn't much activity in the country in terms of new releases. In fact, in the list of top twenty bestselling games in Japan, there was nothing new represented. But we soldier on!
