Level-5's latest RPG, White Knight Chronicles, has generated massive amounts of hype over the last few months.  Widely seen as the PS3's first exclusive 'traditional' Japanese-style RPG, many expect that the title may be the one to finally ignite the interest of Japanese gamers in the PS3.

Despite a rather unflattering 29/40 review from Japanese gaming magazine Famitsu, the first shipment of the title to stores was met extremely well.  It's being reported that the first shipment was essentially sold out, all 100,000 or so copies.  An emergency shipment has been ordered, and may hit Japanese retailers this weekend.  Retailers were reminded, however, that shipments are slow this time of year, as it's the end of the year.

Obviously, in the short term, the title's great reception indicates a spike in console sales.  Whether or not it will have any long term ramifications is anyone’s guess.  However, with Yakuza 3, Demon's Souls, Noby Noby Boy, and other PS3 exclusives due out in Japan over the next month and a half, this is, at the very least, a solid way for Sony to enter the new year.

White Knight Chronicles currently has no set release date for western shores.

UPDATE: Seems our original source was a bit off.  The final numbers are in - the original shipment was 250,000 copies of the game, and it sold a tad more than half at 132,000 copies.