Japan Software Charts: Gotta Range 'Em All

Pokemon breathes some activity into the Japanese software charts this week (1st - 7th March 2010, courtesy Media Create), as a new entry in the Ranger series storms ahead to the top spot and selling more than 100,000 units more than its nearest challenger, .hack//Link.

1 Pokemon Ranger: Tracks of Light – Pokemon Company (DS) – 160,532
2 .hack//Link – Namco Bandai (PSP) – 60,487
3 Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies – Square Enix (DS) – 40,797
4 New Super Mario Bros. Wii – Nintendo (Wii) – 40,685
5 Kenka Banchou 4: Ichinen Sensou – Spike (PSP) – 36,515
6 Tomodachi Collection – Nintendo (DS) – 35,208
7 Nobunga's Ambition: Tendou – Koei (PS3) – 32,964
8 God Eater – Namco Bandai (PSP) – 28,945
9 Wii Fit Plus – Nintendo (Wii) – 25,926
10 Resident Evil 5: Gold Edition – Capcom (PS3) – 23,537

(Note: Chart position is first, then game name, publisher, format and sales for this week)

Besides Pokemon Ranger: Tracks of Light, sales are pretty humdrum for every game in the chart this week. This is in spite of a re-release of Dragon Quest IX (which reaches Ultimate Hits status), the aforementioned .hack//Link and a new Koei PS3 game being fresh on the shelf.

Nobunga's Ambition: Tendou performs well at #7 and is a boost to the PS3, but the week is very much dominated by handheld games. Tomodachi Collection makes a comeback to 6th position after dropping to #8 last week.

Previous #1, Kenka Banchou 4, slips to 5th while Resident Evil 5: Gold Edition clings onto the bottom of the top 10. Nintendo long-tails Wii Fit Plus and New Super Mario Bros. Wii remain unchanged.