Atlus’ role-playing game Persona 4 has enjoyed the best debut ever for the series in the latest Japanese sales charts, with the PlayStation 2 title entering straight in at number one with 193,000 unit sales.
A spin-off from the Shin Megami Tensei series (although no longer marketed as such in Japan) the franchise shares the same mix of contemporary setting, mature themes and supernatural elements.
Beyond the success of Persona 4 though the rest of the top thirty continues to experience relatively below average sales, with the second placed Wii Fit totaling just 30,000 units for the week.
The second highest new entry is the latest in the Densetsu no Stafy series from Nintendo, though the new Nintendo DS platform game has seen its slowest debut so far for the series, at only 29,000 units.
The third highest release of the week though will be seen as a great success for Capcom, with sales of 21,000 units. The new Wii version of what is known in the West as Resident Evil Zero features no new functionality or motion sensing controls over the GameCube version.
The final two releases in the top ten are Nintendo DS visual novel Hanayori Danshi: Koi Seyo Onago from Konami at number eight with 20,000 units sold and Nintendo DS action adventure Gegege No Kitarou: Youkai Daigekisen from Namco Bandai at number nine with 16,000 units sold.
Outside of the top ten Nintendo DS beat ‘em-up Custom Beat Battle: Draglade 2 from Namco Bandai enters at number nineteen, Takara Tomy’s Naruto Shippuuden: Saikyou Ninja Daikesshuu - Gekitou! Naruto vs. Sasuke on Nintendo DS debuts at number twenty-one and Eidos’ Kane & Lynch: Dead Men on PlayStation 3 (published in Japan by Spike) appears at number twenty-three.
Not surprised in the slightest about having its best debut ever. And I think the Shin Megami Tensei name itself has become a sleeper hit in itself in the west which is likely the only reason why its still slapped on the cover for us.
