Top Ten Games in Japan

This week's (7/14 - 7/21) top ten videogames in Japan, based on units sold, has some expected results along with a couple of surprises. Dino Crisis comes in at number one, which is not one of the surprises, since Japan has a big love affair with all things Resident Evil-ish. Dino Crisis sold over 300,000 copies in its first week of release, no small feat indeed. Saru Getchu (Ape Escape to US gamers) clocks in at number two, having been available since June 24. Super Firepro Wrestling G, that kick-ass 2D wrestling game that everyone's so curious about nails the third spot on the Weekly Famitsu chart. One of the surprises on the list is Konami's Dance Dance Revolution, which has been available since April 10 of this year. It has sold over 700,000 copies - a staggering number of copies for a game like this. Konami has the "dancing/music" game genre all to itself in Japan. Plus, it has Chris Johnston dancing in his living room, secretly, at night.

The entire Top Ten list goes something like this, with the PlayStation conversion of Grandia notching in at a disappointing 9th place. While the 9th place is certainly better than the 128th place, it shows that most Japanese gamers who wanted to play it probably bought the Saturn version a long, long time ago, where it sold over 400,000 copies in its heyday. The US release of Grandia will do considerably better since no one has played either version here (in English, at least).

1) Dino Crisis - PlayStation2) Saru Getchu - PlayStation3) Super Firepro Wrestling G - PlayStation4) Dance Dance Revolution - PlayStation5) Persona 2 - PlayStation6) Mario Golf 64 - N647) Shutokou Highway Battle - Dreamcast8) Cielgris Fantasm - PlayStation9) Grandia - PlayStation10) Metal Gear Solid Integral - PlayStation