Nintendo: Fans didn't like new Metroid Prime because they hadn't played it yet

When it was revealed at E3 last month, Metroid Prime: Federation Force received an overwhelmingly negative reaction from fans, but Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime told Mashable that's because they haven't played it yet.

"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," Fils-Aime said in the E3 interview. "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."

The negative fan reaction was so strong in the United States that Nintendo president Satoru Iwata took to Twitter to discuss it with fans in Japan.

One translation, by NeoGAF user Cheesemeister has Iwata saying this:

"Thank you for watching. We take opinions of this year's Digital Event seriously and will work to better meet your expectations."

Some took those tweets as an apology, but Fils-Aime told Polygon it absolutely wasn't one. Rather, he said, it was an "I hear you message."

Make sure to check out Mashable's full interview for further insight into Nintendo's E3.