Joining the New Nintendo 3DS as notable releases on 13th February - in North America and Europe - were The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask 3D and Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate, both very different titles seeking to deliver big sales for their respective franchises. The UK chart results - as a small example - were certainly positive, and Nintendo's now issued early sales data to show impressive numbers and, perhaps more importantly, stronger performance than their immediate predecessors.
Helped along by the buzz around new hardware and bundles, the graph below shows how these titles performed in their launch weekend in comparison to The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds and Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate. Though US figures for Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate aren't formally available, Capcom has stated that it's selling "more than three times as fast as Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate in quick estimation".
In a point that amused us a little here at Nintendo Life, Satoru Iwata once again referenced his "Same-Generation Hypothesis between the users of Super Smash Bros. and Pokémon Ruby/Sapphire" as likely playing a role in Majora's Mask 3D selling so well. The theory is sound - gamers that played the original entries as children are now working adults with disposable income, and will be drawn to the games as result - but the slightly exaggerated language of "Same-Generation Hypothesis" is one of our favourite phrases from Satoru Iwata in the last 12 months.
Are you surprised to see these new entries out-performing their predecessors, and how much of that do you think is down to bundles and buzz from the New Nintendo 3DS? Share your thoughts on that and the Same-Generation Hypothesis below.
[source nintendo.co.jp]
Comments 21
Nice to see MH4U doing decent numbers. It's a cracking title, and just based on the first 25 hours or so I'm willing to say it easily sits in my Top 10 games ever. More people should experience it! Of course, Capcom could certainly do a better job of making it more user-friendly to newer players!
I'd be quite surprised if they didn't, especially for Monster Hunter, with 3U coming out before sales exploded in 2013, so the install base is much, much higher now. It's Majora that I'm happiest about. Finally getting the recognition it deserves.
Received MM3D and MH4U last Thursday, haven't been able to put down MH4U yet, clocked 40 hours and MM3D is just sitting in my drawer for now xD
It will have to wait until I get bored of MH4U which won't be for another few months considering I clocked over 300 hours on MH3U....
Wow, those Majora's Mask numbers are something else. It has a shot of even outselling the original. That almost never happens for remakes.
I got Majora's Mask 3D at launch via Nintendo UK Online Store preorder though I haven't got around to even starting it due to still having a significant amount of things to do in Alpha Sapphire (currently at the 8th Gym). Oh well, it'll prepare me for the inevitable spring 2015 game drought!
"Majora's Mask already approaching 0.5 million in U.S and Europe"
Err, it seems to be well over 0.5 million there already, with sales over 0.3 million in the US and the European numbers being over 0.2 million.
It makes me really glad that Majora's Mask 3D is doing well, but at the same time seeing those figures is sad because I then realize A Link Between Worlds didn't have such a strong start despite totally deserving it.
Those are fantastic numbers, especially for a game that is still growing in fan base and one that was perceived not extremely popular upon it's original release.
I think it's clear, with these numbers and the New 3DS, that domination on the sales charts will be had by Nintendo!
And this is why they make remakes
not really, many people I feel missed out on MM on the N64 and MH4U is picking up steam to be a big selling series on the 3ds.
I am thoroughly enjoying Majoras Mask right now. I hope this doesn't effect the possibility of another Link between worlds style game.
Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate is amazing. It definitely deserves to outsell MH3U considering all the new stuff it brings to the table. Vertical combat, 2 new weapons, revisions to monsters, faster gameplay and snappier graphics. The only downside is the slow loading rate on the original 3DS.
In the first 25 hours I am definitely impressed and ready for more. Yet to go online though. Considering I have clocked 700 hours in MH3U (and more later on - I am not done with it yet!), MH4U could easily last me the whole year.
Obviously I am still excited for future Wii U releases but for now Monster Hunter is enough for me
I don't think the Link Between Worlds is a fair comparison necessarily. It came out at a time that if it was going to be gifted it didn't need to be picked up on launch weekend. Also, 3d Zelda > 2d any day of the week.
Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate stands as my favorite game of all time. Until now that is. I can safely say that Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate has it topped. What a fantastic game. Well done Capcom... and Nintendo too for securing such an excellent exclusive. Well done.
I think Link Between Worlds is one of the best Zelda games, wasn't overly drawn out, was well suited for the 3DS. We all have our preferences, but LBW hasn't had the success it deserves.
@RoomB31 According to Wikipedia
"It was released to critical acclaim, and sold 2.18 million copies by the end of 2013, despite being released just 40 days before the end of the year."
So, it wasn't THAT bad, it's just that MM 3D is selling better
That cool news for both games.
I'm a bit weird out that Majora's Mask have that much stronger of an initial sale being off rush season and a remake compared to A Link Between Worlds which was release during the holiday season and is a sequel to another old yet popular Zelda title. I guess the New 3ds helped out but still...
Awww, no U.S sales for 4U? :c
My son's MH4 N3DS bundle, my MM N3DS, and my daughter's and I MM collector's figurine bundles are all coming this week starting tonight! We're so excited! I can't wait to do all those unboxing videos and start playing MM!
@LasermasterA At least the loading times aren't as bad as Smash...Anyway, I've just clocked 45 hours into MH4U, and I just can't stop playing. I've completed the main story (I assume Shagaru Magala was the 'final boss' right?), but their is so much more. After the main story, you get to do High and later G-rank quests, which provide at least another 500 hours...
@seb5049
Definitely. The game just starts after the boss because the main fun starts at High Rank as you get to fight many more monsters, more elder dragons, etc. The most part of the game is in G rank though definitely with Low Rank and High rank just as steps to reach G.
Although one complaint is that low rank is too easy but I guess High rank will make up for it. You know it is too easy when the storyline main boss falls in 10 minutes and other monsters in 7-8 minutes. Atleast the Advanced Quests are tough.
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