UK Sales Chart, Week Ending October 1st

The UK game release schedules have ratcheted up another level in the build-up to Christmas, with a large number of releases all performing largely to expectations. As predicted, soccer simulator FIFA 06 has entered straight in at number one, becoming the fifth fastest-selling UK PlayStation 2 game of all time in the process. However, the title’s real test will follow the release of Pro Evolution Soccer 5 (based on the already foreign-released World Soccer Winning Eleven 9) on the 21st. After receiving superior review scores to FIFA for a number of years, the series has been steadily increasing in popularity in the UK, to the point where it stands a chance of outselling Electronic Arts' title for the first time this year. Elsewhere in the charts, Far Cry: Instincts has opened extremely well for an Xbox-only title in the UK, while Barbarian Invasion becomes the third PC expansion pack in the top ten – previously an even more unusual sight in the UK sales charts. Meanwhile, Burnout Legends has made up for the lack of any other PSP titles in the top twenty by continuing to perform extremely strongly. Conflict: Global Storm and Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks have both performed relatively well, although it is unclear whether their lower entries should be attributed to the typically overcrowded UK release schedules or failing interest in the parent franchises. Outside the top ten, Advance Wars: Dual Strike has entered at number twelve, while the critically queried retro compilation Sonic Gems Collection has, once again, proved the British love for Sonic the Hedgehog by entering as high as number fifteen.

Official UK Leisure Software Charts (c) ELSPA compiled by Chart-Track