Japanese Software Charts: NieR Leads RPG Charge

Several new entries help spice up the Japanese Software Chart this week (19th - 25th April 2010, courtesy Media Create), as the PS3 and PSP both benefit from a mixture of action-RPG titles. Top of the tree is Square Enix's NieR – the PlayStation 3 version comfortably shoots to #1 while the Xbox 360 settles outside the Top 10 at #11.

1 NieR Replicant – Square Enix (PS3) – 60,174 / NEW
2 New Super Mario Bros. Wii – Nintendo (Wii) – 28,757
3 Tokyo Mono Harashi: Karasu no Mori Gakuen Kitan – Atlus (PSP) – 21,953 / NEW
4 Tomodachi Collection – Nintendo (DS) – 19,681
5 Ys: Oath of Felghana – Falcom (PSP) – 16,167 / NEW
6 Pro Yakyuu Spirits 2010 – Konami (PSP) – 15,607
7 Wii Fit Plus – Nintendo (Wii) – 15,217
8 Mario Kart Wii – Nintendo (Wii) – 13,671
9 The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Game of the Year Edition – Bethesda (PS3) – 12,479 / NEW
10 Pokemon Ranger: Tracks of Light – Pokemon Company (DS) – 12,408

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

NieR is not along in his role-playing assault of the chart. Tokyo Mono Harashi: Karasu no Mori Gakuen Kitan performs well in its debut week, jumping to #3 just behind New Super Mario Bros. Wii. Ys: Oath of Felghana launches on the PSP to over 16,000 unit sales which allows it to hit #5 in the Top 10. Even Western RPG Elder Scrolls: Oblivion gets involved, with the Game of the Year Edition in at #9.

The new releases shake up a bunch of non-movers from past weeks. Tomodachi Collection falls down a few places, while only the PSP version of Pro Yakyuu Spirits 2010 remains in the Top 10. The big surprise is Mario Kart Wii, which has somehow exploded in sales and jumped back up to #8. Japan, eh?