Chart Attack: RE 5 Eats The Opposition Feature

A lower critical reception than Resident Evil 4 and a tirade over the game's premium DLC wasn't enough to prevent Resident Evil 5 from topping this week's UK charts, becoming the fastest selling title in the series history and Capcom's biggest ever launch in the process.  Sales between the two formats were split between 55% on the Xbox 360 and 45% on the PlayStation3, amounting to the biggest All Formats No.1 since Call of Duty: World at War back in 2008, with total sales surpassing the combined sales of all the remaining All Formats Top 10.

Elsewhere, Wii Fit continued its dominance of the UK charts, rising to the No.2 position, despite sales falling by 14% compared to last week.  Equally, Tom Clancy's H.A.W.X moved up a place to No.3, again, despite a 19% decrease in sales week-on-week.

Professor Layton and the Curious Village continues to keep DS owners intrigued by gaining the No.4 spot, whilst a 53% reduction in sales from last week saw Sony's Killzone 2 drop to No.5.

FIFA 09 and Call of Duty: World at War continue to prove that all UK gamers really want is a bit of footie and violence, both gaining places in the chart to No.6 and No.7 respectively from last week's No.8 and No.9.

Understandably the biggest drop came from last week's chart topper, Empire: Total War.  A 70% decrease in sales and a plunge to No.8 highlights the fact that very few PC titles manage to have staying power in the charts, but we're sure SEGA and The Creative Assembly are happy enough with its performance.

Finally Halo Wars clings onto the Top 10 in No.9 following a 60% decrease in sales form last week, while Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games hurdles back into the charts to No.10 - where in the finishing line on this one?

Although last week's other releases were largely restricted - perhaps something to do with a nasty virus going about - with SOCOM's PS3 debut falling just outside the Top 10 at No.11, Sonic and the Black Knight languishing in No.30, and Persona 4 just about scraping a place at No.38.

Sales By Format

Looking at the titles featured in the Top 40 according to format reveals an even stronger convergence of sales amongst the top hitters (360, PS3, Wii, DS), whilst the PC, PlayStation2 and PSP continue to find it tough.

Sony's handheld has yet to see a single title breach the Top 40 this year, although this week's release of Resistance: Retribution could finally change that with next week's charts.  Make sure to check out Chart Attack to find out.