GameSpot may receive revenue from affiliate and advertising partnerships for sharing this content and from purchases through links.

Big in Japan June 25-July 1: Pokemon, Fatal Frame II Wii

Nintendo pocket monster role-playing game still reigns supreme; new Atelier RPG and Fatal Frame Wii remake debut in top 10.

25 Comments

It's hard to keep a monster simulator down, and the most recent sales update from Media Create proved just that. Pokemon Black 2 and Pokemon White 2 was once again the best-selling title for the week of June 25 and July 1, following its debut the week of June 18. Both versions of the DS game sold 416,850 units, bringing its total sales unit to 2,035,471.

Atelier Ayesha: almost but not quite at the top in Japan.
Atelier Ayesha: almost but not quite at the top in Japan.

Newcomer Atelier Ayesha also made a strong debut at second place with 60,548 units sold. The role-playing game is the next iteration of the Atelier series following the previous trilogy consisting of Atelier Rorona, Atelier Totori, and Atelier Meruru. The game's combat system enables players to move party members around and lets them perform team attacks depending on their positioning. Atelier Ayesha also has multiple endings and a new item synthesis mechanic like previous Atelier titles.

Other newcomers include strategy game Culdcept and visual novel adventure title Robotics; Notes for the 3DS and PlayStation 3, respectively. The former sold 55,469 units, while the latter sold 54,753. The PS3 version of Resident Evil: Chronicles HD Collection debuted at sixth place with 33,393 units sold. Apart from HD visuals, the collection features unlockable trophy achievements and PlayStation Move support.

The Wii version of Fatal Frame II made an appearance in the top 10. The adventure game was at seventh place with 25,280 units sold. The remake still retains elements of Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly for the PS2 and Xbox, but adds in a third-person camera angle and new viewfinder options and controls for the camera obscura.

Former top 10 spot holder Persona 4 The Golden was bumped down to 11th place with 15,497 units sold. Mario Party 9, too, went down a few notches to 13th place with 14,049 units sold.

Due to the release of the crystal white version of the PlayStation Vita, sales for the system went up to 22,638 units. Otherwise, each system stayed in the same spot as the previous week on the hardware charts. The 3DS was still on top with 65,267 units, while the PS3 was at third place with 16,399 units.

Top Japan Game Sales for June 25 - July 1

Software
Rank / Title / Publisher / System / Units
1. Pokemon Black 2, Pokemon White 2 / Nintendo, Pokemon Company / DS / 420,780
2. Atelier Ayesha / Gust / PS3 / 60,548
3. Culdcept / Nintendo / 3DS / 55,469
4. Robotics; Notes / 5pb / PS3 / 54,753
5. Dragon Quest Monsters: Terry's Wonderland 3D / Square Enix / 3DS / 45,207
6. Resident Evil: Chronicles HD Collection / Capcom / PS3 / 33,393
7. Fatal Frame II: Wii Edition / Nintendo / Wii / 25,280
8. Metal Gear Solid HD Collection / Konami / PS Vita / 20,139
9. .hack Hybrid Pack / Namco Bandai / PS3 / 17,446
10. The IdolMaster: Anime & G4U! Vol. 9 / Namco Bandai / PS3 / 16,139

Hardware
3DS - 65,267
PS Vita - 22,638
PS3 - 16,399
PSP - 11,461
Wii - 6,880
Xbox 360 - 861
DSi - 657
PS2 - 490

[CORRECTION]: This story originally misreported the sales figures for Persona 4: The Golden and Atelier Ayesha. Adjustments to the story have since been made to reflect the changes. GameSpot regrets the error.

Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email news@gamespot.com

Join the conversation
There are 25 comments about this story
25 Comments  RefreshSorted By 
GameSpot has a zero tolerance policy when it comes to toxic conduct in comments. Any abusive, racist, sexist, threatening, bullying, vulgar, and otherwise objectionable behavior will result in moderation and/or account termination. Please keep your discussion civil.

Avatar image for chyng85
chyng85

4387

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 62

User Lists: 1

Vita keep going ~!!

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Murder422
Murder422

97

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Robotics Notes... Really!?!... I wouldn't even buy true Anime Blu Ray... Studio Ghibli comes to mind... for 60-70 dollars... let alone a series of flat backgrounds that change color depending on the time of day set scenes take place in with characters in front who possess about 10 emotionally driven expressions/poses...oh and yeah there is voice acting like most games and animated films... I hope they don't pull a fast one on anyone else...

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Murder422
Murder422

97

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

BTW... To be exact I quickly traded in Robotic Notes for Atelier Ayesha... A much better purchase... It includes an equal if not superior amount and quality of animation and visuals in addition to actually allowing the user to actually play it...

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Murder422
Murder422

97

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Bought and sold Robotic Notes... That ish is not even a game...You'd be better off just buying an anime movie so you don't have to sit there pressing the O button after every sentence while you bolster a vein hope that they might actually let you play that which you mistook for a game...

Upvote • 
Avatar image for deactivated-593e46915fc1a
deactivated-593e46915fc1a

59

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 25

User Lists: 0

They need to bring Fatal Frame 4 that's on the wii to America, I would love to play it.

2 • 
Avatar image for Gurzociurlo
Gurzociurlo

25

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

@victoria_wolf Sounds clever, considering it's the one who sold the most in Japan... Why did Nintendo buy the series, just to re-make the second one?

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Mayleene
Mayleene

44

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Thrilled the Vita sales are holding strong. Not a Vita owner/fan but I know there are those of you out there that embrace this device. Congrats!

Upvote • 
Avatar image for abHS4L88
abHS4L88

272

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 40

User Lists: 0

@Mayleene

Indeed, even though I'm not an adopter, the industry needs competition, as much as I love my 3DS.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for robertwarnes91
robertwarnes91

310

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: -22

User Lists: 0

I love how there's three comments about Project Zero 2 on the Wii not getting an international release. Hello, it was released in Australia and New Zealand on the same day as Japan, with Europe getting the it following day. Heck, even South Africa recieved it the other day. That sounds pretty international to me or is this another case of the whole world revolves around America and only they count as international?

Anyway, racial rankings aside, I finished the Wii edition of Project Zero 2 last weekend (since I live in Australia) and it was an amazing remake. I recommend that anyone who lives in the PAL territories to buy this game and send Nintendo this message. We want IPs outside Mario and Zelda. There's a reason why Nintendo has stuck to Mario and casual games. Because they're the only things that sell and make money. So buy these games (like Project Zero 2) and encourage new things and maturity in Nintendo's labs.

4 • 
Avatar image for Yalaa1
Yalaa1

26

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 3

User Lists: 0

@robertwarnes91 Nintendo does seem to listen to their fans. I live in Europe and own thanks to Operation Rainfall: Xenoblade,The Last Story and Pandora's Tower and these games are so damn great! I still hope for Pandora's Tower to make it to the Americas, since this is a beautifull game that higly needs and deserves better sales just like the other two.

Project Zero 2 looks cool, you're doing good Nintendo!

Upvote • 
Avatar image for TCMOREIRA
TCMOREIRA

25

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 0

They should make a pokemon game on the Wii U.....

4 • 
Avatar image for SirNormanislost
SirNormanislost

658

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Oh nintendo when will you learn that Pokemon is a huge system seller and make one for the 3DS..... That's 2 games now that could of been for the 3DS but instead were made for the DS I would of had one day one for a pokemon game

Upvote • 
Avatar image for robertwarnes91
robertwarnes91

310

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: -22

User Lists: 0

@SirNormanislost In many countries the 3DS is already the fastest selling game system of all time and it's even outsold the Vita, 10 to 1. So there is no need to bring out a Pokemon on the 3DS just yet, when they have so many killer titles in the pipeline. You've got to save your trump cards for when you need them, i.e Pokemon.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for exedeath
exedeath

408

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Culdcept, Fatal Frame, and .//Hack is all I want, but they probably will not get released in the states.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Brokazaki
Brokazaki

30

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 2

User Lists: 0

So excited for Robotics;Notes although i'll have to wait a long time for a translation.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Rovelius
Rovelius

3252

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 13

User Lists: 0

I have only one thing to say... Atelier Iris : Eternal Mana.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for zzamaro
zzamaro

1646

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 2

User Lists: 0

I was also surprised when I found out yesterday that a FF2 remake exists.

3 • 
Avatar image for AngelCage-2
AngelCage-2

976

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Fatal Frame II and no news about a international release.... i guess i will have to... you know... "Get" the game by other means other than buying it.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for robertwarnes91
robertwarnes91

310

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: -22

User Lists: 0

@AngelCage-2 No news about an international release? It was released in Australia and New Zealand on the same day as Japan and in Europe on the following day. Plus South Africa recieved a release of it, yesterday. How can you say there is no news on an international release, when half the globe is playing it?

Upvote • 
Avatar image for bluedeathking
bluedeathking

493

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 2

User Lists: 0

Wow we miss Fatal Frame 4 now were missing the remake of Fatal Frame 2. Damn you NoA

2 • 
Avatar image for Stonecutters908
Stonecutters908

670

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 10

User Lists: 0

I think Reggie should be replaced with whoever is running Nintendo of Europe because that guy seems to get the fact that gamers want some f-ing games to play. Europe has gotten Xenoblade, the Last Story, and Pandora's Tower all WAY before we will/did here in NA and we literally had to BEG for them to get released in NA with an online campaign. Now they are getting the Fatal Frame 2 remake and nothing announced for NA. Nope Reggie we all aren't still playing Kirby and Wii-Fit. IMO Fils-Aime thinks his job is all about marketing and he is short changing Nintendo fans in NA.

7 • 
Avatar image for Mayleene
Mayleene

44

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

I totally agree Stonecutters908. I am in the middle of Xenoblade on Mechonis and just can not fathom *why* anyone in their right mind would not think the game would not be a hit here in NA. Just watching him doing those Direct segments I feel like he's talking down to me as if I'm some kind of elementary school kid. C'mon Fis-Aime, what's up with your hold-back?

Upvote • 
Avatar image for FireVixen
FireVixen

60

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 3

User Lists: 0

I would love to see a Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly re release state side! :D

3 • 
Avatar image for NeoIostars
NeoIostars

232

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

I had no idea the fatal frame 2 remake was already released! I seriously hope it will get an international release this time.

2 • 
Avatar image for franzito
franzito

1771

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 16

User Lists: 0

Wow, Fatal Frame II remake..?

Upvote •