Things are looking up for the PlayStation 3 in Japan this week, as stellar Sega bruiser installment Virtua Fighter 5 blasts up the charts to snatch the console's first ever number one.

The fighter beat off Nintendo titles Wii Sports, Wii Play, Brain Age and New Super Mario Brothers for the top slot, selling 48,000 copies since it was released in the country almost two weeks ago.

Despite blitzing the competition in the sales charts though, the Wii continues to dominate Sony's console on the hardware front with 78,550 units shifted this week, compared to the PS3's 32,175 and the Xbox 360's paltry 4,811.

The fifth fighting installment hit US shelves just yesterday, and is currently pencilled in for a European debut alongside the PS3 next month. If you're still wondering what all the fuss is about, click on over to our VF5 hub for screens, movies, and more.

Above: Virtua Fighter 5 lifts Sony to the top of the heap in Japan

February 21, 2007