Metroid Prime Reinvention Necessary to Keeping Series Healthy, Says Nintendo Exec

Nintendo of America exec Reggie Fils-Aime, has discussed the backlash against Metroid Prime: Federation Force, saying the company needs to reinvent franchises to propel them forward.

Speaking to Mashable, Fils-Aime admitted the reaction to the the Metroid Prime spin-off's reveal at E3 2015 was undoubtedly negative.

"What the fan at home saw was something in the Metroid Prime universe that they weren't expecting," he said. "The reaction has been negative. There's no sugar coating it."

Fils-Aime added, however, this may have been different if people got to play the game instead of just seeing it in a video.

"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," he said.

"Everyone who has played what we are showing regarding [Freedom Force], they've come across really pleased. My ask is that fans trust us."

Continuing, Fils-Aime indicated that reinventing games in the way Nintendo has with Metroid Prime: Freedom Force and The Legend of Zelda: Triforce Heroes--another take on a classic franchise revealed at E3 2015--is necessary in maintaining the health of the franchise.

"We believe that in order to propel the franchises forward, we have to be the ones to constanty challenge the paradigms, challenge the conventional wisdom, challenge what we thought was the essence of the particular franchise, and a particular form of gameplay."

"The reaction has been negative. There's no sugar coating it."

Metroid Prime: Federation Force is being developed by Next Level Games, creator of Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon, with Metroid Prime series producer Kensuke Tanabe overseeing the project. Unlike previous entries in the series, which focus on isolation and exploration, the game is a co-operative shooter with a chibi visual style.

Federation Force will also feature Blast Ball, a 3v3 competitive game where teams compete to shoot a large ball into a goal. Both games are reminiscent of Metroid Prime Hunters, the first-person Nintendo DS game from 2006.

Fils-Aime also previously said Nintendo knows what Metroid fans want, but "will also push the envelope in developing something that we know is high-quality and that we know will deliver in the marketplace."

He went on to draw a comparison to The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker, which also received backlash from fans complaining about its cel-shaded visual style.

"Remember when that art style was first shown. The uproar from the Zelda community was intensely negative. If there had been social media then, there probably would have been a petition to make that game go away."

Finally, Fils-Aime indicated that Nintendo was just waiting for the right time to announce the traditional Metroid experience fans have been yearning for. That time may be 2016, when Nintendo plans to discuss its next console, codenamed the NX, further.

The game is scheduled for release in 2016. Nintendo has not clarified whether there's a single-player component, or if Federation Force and Blast Ball are multiplayer experiences only.

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