Turtles Leads Ubisoft Chart Surge

Cheap PC games help Ubisoft shotgun UK retail.

Nintendo's Pokémon franchise has been running strong for nearly a decade. Though it may not have the mainstream visibility it once had, don't think that means it has been forgotten.

Series offshoot Pokémon Ranger barely missed the top of the UK charts this week, being nosed out by movie tie-in TMNT: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. That was just the first of Ubisoft's many games to land in the Top 40.

Spurred on by a retailer push of its low-priced PC games, Ubisoft took not only the No. 1 position but another five in the Top 20 too. Apart from TMNT, all Ubisoft's charters were older games, going as far back as the 2001 shooter Ghost Recon.

Also back in the Top 10 this week is Dr Kawashima's Brain Training. According to Chart Track, which follows video game sales, Nintendo's grey matter tester has been in the Top 10 for more than half of the 45 weeks since it came out last June.

The Top 20 games for the week ending 14 April, as determined by Chart Track, are below:

1. TMNT: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (Ubisoft)
2. Pokémon Ranger (Nintendo)
3. Rayman 2: The Great Escape (Ubisoft)
4. Tiger Woods PGA Tour 07 (EA)
5. Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars (EA)
6. Brothers in Arms: Road to Hill 30 (Ubisoft)
7. Brian Lara International Cricket 2007 (Codemasters)
8. Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories (Rockstar)
9. Dr Kawashima's Brain Training (Nintendo)
10. Prince of Persia: Sands of Time (Ubisoft)
11. UEFA Champions League 2006-2007 (EA)
12. Guitar Hero II (Activision)
13. Virtua Tennis 3 (Sega)
14. The Sims 2 (EA)
15. Medal of Honor: Vanguard (EA)
16. Ghost Recon (Ubisoft)
17. The Sims 2: Pets (EA)
18. Heroes of Might & Magic IV (Ubisoft)
19. The Sims 2: Celebration Stuff (EA)
20. Need For Speed: Carbon (EA)

Alex Wollenschlaeger
Editor, Kikizo