Capcom’s multiplayer action RPG debut for Nintendo’s new handheld hits milestone in less than two weeks on shelves.

Capcom first announced Monster Hunter 3G for the 3DS in the same Nintendo press conference that it revealed Monster Hunter 4 was in development for the system. While announcing the fourth full game in the franchise overshadowed the series’ 3DS debut at the time, it apparently did nothing to temper Japanese gamers’ demand for the title.

Capcom knows how to hunt big game.

Capcom has announced that Monster Hunter 3G has shipped more than 1 million copies in Japan. Most of those copies have found their way into players’ hands, as the game went on sale December 10, and Media Create’s two Japanese sales charts since launch report a total of about 730,000 copies sold through to customers.

The game is a follow-up to the Wii title Monster Hunter 3, and it features different control schemes for underwater segments, reworked camera controls, 3DS StreetPass functionality, and local wireless play. New monsters in this version include Bracchidios (featured on the game’s cover) and Guran-Miraosu, while returning monsters like the Gigginox and Uragaan have new attacks so that players are forced to revamp their hunting strategies.

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New handheld adventure featuring Nintendo’s mascot easily leads sales charts, pushes 3DS to top of hardware heap.

Mario’s first handheld excursion into the third dimension has put the plumber in first place. According to the recent Media Create sales update for the week of October 31, Super Mario 3D Land for the 3DS sold 343,492 units on its debut week, easily topping the sales charts.

Koopa genocide rules in-game sales for October 31.

Although the 3DS’s launch difficulties have been well documented, Super Mario 3D Land’s Japanese debut actually outperformed its predecessors on the successful Wii console. Super Mario Galaxy for the Wii sold about 250,000 on its first week of Japanese release in 2007, and its sequel sold 339,901 in 2010.

Alongside the 3DS title, two new Western-made titles bumped former top-slot-holder Final Fantasy Type-0 to fourth place, with 122,286 units sold. They are Uncharted 3 and Battlefield 3 (PS3 version), with 124,989 and 123,379 units sold, respectively. The Xbox 360 version of the third Battlefield title was at eighth place, with 27,723 units sold.

Other new entries include the PSP version of Pro Evolution Soccer 2012, which sold 45,437 units, and the new Dragon Quest spin-off title Slime Mori Mori Dragon Quest 3, which sold 38,859 units. The spin-off for the 3DS is the sequel to Dragon Quest Heroes: Rocket Slime, which takes place on the high seas. Players control a member of the series’ iconic slime race called Shujinko and must fight off evil pirates with customisable battleships and action role-playing combat.

3DS sales increased during the week due to the appearance of a new Mario title on the platform. Nintendo sold 145,271 units of the system, a jump from 65,041 units sold in the week of October 24. Sony’s PSP sales went down to 27,952 units, but PS3 sales went up to 26,966 units. Meanwhile, Nintendo sold 11,725 units of the Wii for the week.

Japanese game sales for the week of October 31 – November 6:

Software

Rank/Title/Publisher/Platform/Unit sales

1. Super Mario 3D Land / Nintendo / 3DS / 343,492

2. Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception / Sony / PS3 / 124,989

3. Battlefield 3 / EA / PS3 / 123,379

4. Final Fantasy Type-0 / Square Enix / PSP / 122,286

5. Kirby’s Return to Dreamland / Nintendo / Wii / 55,779

6. Pro Evolution Soccer 2012 / Konami / PSP / 45,437

7. Slime Mori Mori Dragon Quest 3 / Square Enix / 3DS / 38,859

8. Battlefield 3 / EA / Xbox 360 / 27,723

9. Just Dance Wii / Nintendo / Wii / 25,665

10. Go Vacation / Namco Bandai / Wii / 16,995

Hardware

3DS – 145,271

PSP – 27,952

PS3 – 26,966

Wii – 11,725

DSi XL – 2041

Xbox 360 – 1699

PS2 – 1457

DSi – 1057

DS Lite – 33

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