Square Enix’s Dragon Quest V for the Nintendo DS has debuted at the top of the Japanese software charts with a whopping 644 000 copies.

Namco Bandai’s Gundam Battle Universe for the PSP also entered the charts this week, storming second place with 138 000 copies. Sega’s Persona 4 for the PS2 settles into number 3 with 41 000 copies, dropping from its debut at number 1 last week with 193 000 copies.

Tears to Tiara: Kakan no Daichi for the PS3 debuts at number 4 with 34 000 copies while Nintendo’s Wii Fit drops three places to number 5 but continues to sell steadily with 27 000 copies. Nintendo’s Mario Kart Wii finishes sixth, losing two places with 24 000 copies while Daigasso! Band Brothers DX for the DS, another game published by Nintendo, drops two places to number 7 with 21 000 copies.

Now in its fourth week Enterbrain’s Derby Stallion DS loses just one place to number 8 with 16 000 copies and Capcom’s Monster Hunter Portable 2G gains one spot with 16 000 copies and finishes ninth. Nintendo’s Densetsu no Stafi: Taiketsu! Dire Kaizokudan drops from its debut at number 3 last week to number 10 with 16 000 copies.

With three new entries in the Top 10 this week, let’s take a closer look at the titles which took a bit of a tumble. It is interesting to note that all three titles that lost footing this week debuted last week. Capcom’s Resident Evil Zero dropped to number 16 while Konami’s Hanayori Danshi: Koi Seyo Onago for the DS moved down to number 18 and Namco Bandai’s Gegege no Kitarou: Youkai Daigekisen for the DS was the biggest faller at number 27 (last week’s numbers 6, 8 and 9 respectively).

Hardware sales predictions

With the above software results indicating that the DS dominated the software chart with Dragon Quest V selling 644 000 copies, many might have thought this would give DS hardware sales a push and result in the DS beating the PSP this week. However, initial reports indicate that Famitsu results show the PSP still beat the DS this week, despite both consoles experiencing a significant jump in sales. The other consoles’ sales were pretty normal.

In case you are wondering how the PSP managed to beat the DS despite the latter having a major advantage in the form of DQV, let me explain. Sony obviously had taken a look at Nintendo’s release schedule and decided to launch a new colour PSP during this week, perhaps in an attempt to counter the effect of DQV. A stunt which seems to have worked a charm. To elaborate Sony launched the PSP in Metallic Blue on the 17th of July, bundled in two new limited offer PSP packs.

Stay tuned for Media Create’s hardware figures, which will be released tomorrow. If you missed last week’s charts, you can still brush up on the software and hardware results.