Many will argue that Nintendo had a lackluster E3 2015 performance. Comparatively speaking, the Big N's announcements weren't all that big: fans knew about Star Fox Zero, fans knew about Yoshi's Wooly World, fans knew about Super Mario Maker — it's E3, shouldn't there be a few big surprises in there?
Sadly, Nintendo proved that not all surprises are good ones.
Metroid Prime: Federation Force was not what gamers expected to see. Sure, they were hoping for a new Metroid game – it's been five years since the last Metroid game, and nearly 10 years since the last well-received title – but a game built around space soccer and co-op arena boss fights was not what fans were clamoring for. Throughout the last few weeks, the Metroid fanbase has torn Nintendo apart, even going so far as to demand the game's cancellation.
For the first time in a long while, Nintendo is being forced to acknowledge just how upset its fanbase really is... though that might not mean much in the long run.
While speaking with Mashable, Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime admitted that fan reactions to Metroid Prime: Federation Force have been anything but positive.
"What the fan at home saw was something in the Metroid Prime universe that they weren't expecting. The reaction has been negative. There's no sugar coating it."
That's putting it lightly: the game's debut trailer is currently sitting at roughly 70,000 Dislikes, in contrast to 7,000 Likes. It may sound silly, but that sort of ratio is unheard of for a Nintendo game. Even Metroid: Other M – a notoriously divisive entry in the franchise – never saw that sort of negative reaction.
Unfortunately, Nintendo's response probably won't put any upset Metroid fans at ease:
"We're taking our great IP and transforming them and making them new again — making them fresh and appealing for the fan who feels they know the franchise. But we're giving them new things to enjoy.
"This is an example where fans who aren't able to get their hands on the game may be at a bit of a competitive disadvantage. Everyone who has played what we are showing regarding Metroid Prime, they've come across really pleased. My ask is that fans trust us."
Look, Metroid Prime: Federation Force isn't going away anytime soon. Nintendo's already invested money in the game; they're not going to throw it all away just because some of its fans are angry.
That said, it's also clear that Nintendo didn't give the game a proper introduction. If fans who have played Federation Force are the only ones who understand why it's worth playing, then the company has failed at marketing the game — plain and simple. There's a good chance that Metroid Prime: Federation Force will be fun, regardless of whether or not it's a traditional Metroid game — but Nintendo still has to prove that to its fans.
Metroid Prime: Federation Force is due out sometime in 2016.
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