The Monster Hunter brand is big in Japan. Big enough to support an adorable, gameplay changing spin-off in the form of MonHun Nikki: Poka Poka Ailu Mura. It's Japan's biggest game right now.
The PlayStation Portable game moved more than a quarter million copies in its debut week in Japan, according to sales tracker Media Create. MonHun Nikki: Poka Poka Ailu Mura is something like a blend of regular Monster Hunter and Animal Crossing. It also has hooks into Monster Hunter 2nd and Monster Hunter 3, which might help explain its big numbers.
Another PSP game joins MonHun Nikki at the top of the list, Namco's Ace Combat: Joint Assault with adventure game Hakuoki: Zuisouroku Portable rounding out the new top ten additions to the chart.
For the bestselling games in Japan for the week of August 23 to 29, here you go.
01. MonHun Nikki: Poka Poka Ailu Mura (PSP) - 256,000 / NEW
02. Ace Combat: Joint Assault (PSP) - 58,000 / NEW
03. Wii Party (Wii) - 55,000 / 860,000
04. Another Century's Episode: R (PS3) - 28,000 / 248,000
05. Hakuoki: Zuisouroku Portable (PSP) - 24,000 / NEW
06. Inazuma Eleven 3: Sekai e no Chousen!! Bomber / Spark (DS) - 13,000 / 811,000
07. Super Mario Galaxy 2 (Wii) - 12,000 / 796,000
08. Egokoro Kyoushitsu DS (DS) - 10,000 / 149,000
09. Tales of Phantasia: Narikiri Dungeon X (PSP) - 9,000 / 162,000
10. Sengoku Basara 3 (PS3) - 9,000 / 361,000
11. Nisenochigiri (PSP)
12. Tomodachi Collection (DS)
13. Hatsune Miku: Project Diva 2nd (PSP)
14. Taiko no Tatsujin DS: Dororon! Youkai Daikessen!! (DS)
15. Dragon Quest Monsters: Battle Road Victory (Wii)
16. Wii Fit Plus (Wii)
17. Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G (the Best) (PSP)
18. Chou Jigen Game: Neptune (PS3)
19. Tetris Party Premium (DS)
20. Mario Kart Wii (Wii)
21. Bokujou Monogatari: Futago no Mura (DS)
22. New Super Mario Bros. Wii (Wii)
23. Jikkyou Power Pro Baseball 2010 (PSP)
24. Fire Emblem: Shin Monshou no Nazo Hikari to Kage no Eiyuu (DS)
25. Corpse Party: Blood Covered - Repeated Fear (PSP)
26. New Super Mario Bros. (DS)
27. Kamen Rider Battle: Ganbaride Card Battle Taisen (DS)
28. Heart Catch PreCure! Oshare Collection (DS)
29. Pokemon HeartGold / SoulSilver (DS)
30. Jikkyou Power Pro Baseball 2010 (PS3)