Monster Hunter Leads Japanese Charts Into 2011

Capcom's ever-popular Monster Hunter Freedom 3 led the Japanese sales charts into the new year during a week with very few new releases, reports tracking firm Media Create. For the week ended January 2, the monster slaying action RPG sold 283,931 units, and Nintendo titles Donkey Kong Country Returns and Wii Party rounded out the top three with 107,487 and 102,933 units sold, respectively. Namco Bandai saw two of its titles reach the top 10 this week, with its PSP dating sim AKB1/48: If I loved an Idol at number four, and Dynasty Warriors: Gundam 3 at number 10. Square Enix's Mario Sports Mix landed at number five, and The 3rd Birthday, the latest entry in the Parasite Eve series, hit number nine. Pokemon Black/White, one of 2010's post popular titles, dropped from number four to number six this week, and Level 5 titles Ni no Kuni: The Ebony Wizard and Inazuma Eleven 3: World Challenge!! The Ogre filled out the seventh and ninth spots in the top 10. While no new titles made top 10 this week, games such as Spike's Dangan-Ronpa and Square Enix's Kingdom Hearts: ReCoded made their debut in the upper 30s. Below is Media Create's top 20 sales chart for the week ended January 2, 2011.