Sonic shoots to top of charts

Official ELSPA Top 20 Software Chart (all prices) - week ending 7 February

1 (NE)
(PS2, Xbox, Gamecube)
2 (1)
(PS2, Xbox, Gamecube, PC)
3 (6)
(PS2, PC)
4 (2)
(PC)
5 (NE)
(PS2, Xbox)
6 (4)
(PS2, Xbox, Gamecube, PC)
7 (3)
(PS2, Xbox, Gamecube, PC, PSone, GBA)
8 (5)
(PS2, Xbox, Gamecube, PC, GBA)
9 (8)
(PS2, Xbox, Gamecube, GBA)
10 (7)
(PS2)
11 (NE)
(PS2, Xbox, PC)
12 (9)
(PS2, Xbox)
13 (10)
(PS2, Xbox, Gamecube)
14 (14)
(PS2, PC)
15 (NE)
(PS2, Gamecube, GBA)
16 (11)
(PC)
17 (NE)
(PS2, Xbox)
18 (NE)
(PC)
19 (12)
(PS2, Xbox, Gamecube, PC, GBA)
20 (13)
(PS2, Xbox, Gamecube)

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You have to tip your hat to the speedy blue hedgehog as Sonic Heroes zooms straight to number one. The fact that it's available across all next-gen formats during an incredibly stagnant period helps but that takes nothing away from the guy that first made his mark on the games industry way back in the days of the MegaDrive. He's finally loosened EA's grip on the charts, which is no small feat when you consider that the last time a non-EA title was at number one was over 15 weeks ago.

On a wider note, this is the first week of the new year that has seen a number of strong games released at the same time and, unsurprisingly, the five week decline in software sales has now been reversed.

Six new entries pepper the charts in total, with Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance II also making it into the top ten, while Legacy of Kain: Defiance hovers just outside at number 11.

Finally, the gloom has lifted and fresh titles will come along relatively thick and fast with Easter approaching. In the coming weeks expect such beauties as Final Fantasy X-2 and Deus Ex: Invisible War to be spinning in your disc tray.