Published Oct 26, 2026, 9:06 PM EDT

Giovanni Colantonio is a video game journalist who has covered the industry for two decades. He was formerly a senior editor at Digital Trends and has contributed to publications like Inverse, Fanbyte, and Hard Drive. His specialty is criticism, as he’s focused on a modern approach to video game reviews that’s focused on the nuances of how interactivity communicates to players. He is currently a member of the New York Video Game Critics Circle.

A Fludd of memories

Image: Nintendo

I can’t remember what I had for lunch yesterday, but I still remember the day Super Mario Sunshine launched in 2002. It was a summer's day and I couldn’t wait to line up at the GameStop in the Natick Mall to pick up my pre-ordered copy. It was getting rave reviews — a 9.4 from IGN, a 9.75 from Game Informer, perfect marks from Nintendo Power! — so it felt like an instant classic.…