Second week at the top for Final Fantasy XII
Final Fantasy XII has held on to the top spot in the UK software charts for a second week, with the hugely anticipated RPG title continuing to hold off the challenge from Real Time Worlds' Microsoft-published action title Crackdown, which remains at number two.
Despite the immense success of the franchise internationally, Final Fantasy titles have traditionally not held on to top positions in the UK chart for long - in fact, only PSone title Final Fantasy IX managed a run longer than Final Fantasy XII's fortnight, staying at number one for three weeks back in February 2001.
The chances of Final Fantasy XII repeating this feat, despite its huge popularity, seem slim - with both Ubisoft's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 2 and Rockstar's Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories mounting a challenge for the top spot this Friday.
Turning back to this week's chart, two new entries make their way into the top ten - with EA's latest Sims expansion pack, The Sims 2: Seasons coming in at number three, while SEGA's Wii-exclusive title Sonic and the Secret Rings arrives at number five (and tops the Wii chart).
The only other new release in the chart is Take 2's movie tie-in Ghost Rider, which debuts at number 24 in its second week on the shelves, having failed to chart at all in the first week.
Sonic's entry to the top ten is the icing on the cake for Nintendo, which is having a spectacular run in the UK charts with both the Wii and the DS. The company has more games in the UK top 40 than any other firm by a significant margin, and the long tail effect seen on DS games in the Far East is clearly taking hold in the UK as well - with Dr Kawashima's Brain Training (DS) back in the top ten at number eight, while New Super Mario Bros (DS) is at number ten.
Other DS software still in the chart includes Animal Crossing: Wild World (No.32), Nintendogs (two versions at No. 31 and No.33), Big Brain Academy (No.38) and Mario Kart DS (No.40), while the Wii is represented by titles such as Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess (No.14), Excite Truck (No.19), Rayman Raving Rabbids (No.26) and Wario Ware: Smooth Moves (No.29).