Mario parties in Japan

Mario Party DS has danced its way to the top of the Japanese charts by flogging more than 116,000 copies, GamesIndustry.biz reports.

Sales numbers from Media Create pitched its closest competitor as Resident Evil: Umbrella Chronicles, which managed an esteemed 83,000.

Below that was Dynasty Warriors 6 in third, while new entries Pro Baseball Family Stadium DS and Game Center CX: Arino's Challenge for fourth and fifth respectively.

One surprise, however, was that much-hyped first-party romp Heavenly Sword - only released on 15th November - sold just 15,000 copies. This landed it in seventh, a mere two places and 2000 sales ahead of old-timer Wii Sports in ninth.

The top ten for Japan is as follows:

1. Mario Party DS (DS)
2. Resident Evil: Umbrella Chronicles (Wii)
3. Shin Sangoku Musou 5 (PS3)
4. Pro Baseball Family Stadium DS (DS)
5. Game Center CX: Arino's Challenge (DS)
6. Super Mario Galaxy (Wii)
7. Heavenly Sword (PS3)
8. Final Fantasy Tactics A2 (DS)
9. Wii Sports (Wii)
10. Armored Soldiers: Votoms (PS2)