Jared Carvalho

United States

Games Journalist at Game Rant

He/Him Freelance Writer @GameRant (as Jared Carvalho)/Ghostwriter/Author of Level One and other unpublished gems. YouTube: https://t.co/pk2oQHD7JH

Featured in: Favicon

gamerant.com Favicon

msn.com

Articles

Blackgaol Knight is a Showcase for Shadow of the Erdtree’s New Build Meta

Nov 4, 2024 | gamerant.com | Jared Carvalho

Even with how open the Land of Shadow is from the start, there are a few places that will likely lead to the first boss encounter for players as they begin to explore Shadow of the Erdtree. Among those early bosses that could easily be a player's introduction to Elden Ring's DLC roster is Blackgaol Knight, an NPC-type boss who quickly sets the bar for the new location's difficulty.
Dark Souls' Gwyn is a Mixed Bag Compared to His Game's Notorious Legacy

Oct 29, 2024 | gamerant.com | Jared Carvalho

While Dark Souls has made a name for itself among the gaming community as a brutal challenge, the final boss, Gwyn, has become an underwhelming diversion at the end for the FromSoftware fanbase. This isn't to say that Gwyn's moveset isn't every bit as aggressive and powerful as players would expect from the final challenge of Dark Souls, but rather that the addition of one mechanic can trivialize the boss in a way that doesn't apply to any others.
Shadow of the Erdtree’s Ancient Dragon Senessax Elevates the Difficulty of Elden Ring’s Toughest Dragons

Oct 25, 2024 | gamerant.com | Jared Carvalho

Dragons are a regular occurrence in Elden Ring, elevating the enemy archetype from previous games in the FromSoftware catalog. However, that progress clearly isn't the end of where the developer can take dragons, as Shadow of the Erdtree's Jagged Peak introduces Ancient Dragon Senessax to continue pushing the limits of the most fearsome of these boss types.
The Lamenter is Elden Ring’s Response to a Classic Dark Souls Gimmick

Oct 20, 2024 | gamerant.com | Jared Carvalho

Hidden away in a dark Gaol in Shadow of the Erdtree, the Lamenter is a deceptively difficult encounter that makes great use of a classic gimmick from previous titles. However, a unique twist on this classic style of puzzle shows that developer FromSoftware still has new ideas to introduce into older mechanics that have been a staple since the Four Kings in the original Dark Souls.
Dark Souls 2 Broke the Mold with Smelter Demon’s Over-the-Top Design

Oct 13, 2024 | gamerant.com | Jared Carvalho

Found in an initially innocuous room tucked away in the Iron Keep, the Smelter Demon is a challenge that can quickly greet Dark Souls 2 players as they arrive at one of the game's toughest areas. However, this fight is more than a simple big, armored soldier with a sword, and helps to refine an earlier Demon's Souls encounter that defined itself around an aggressive, flaming boss that acts as the backbone of a classic Soulslike fight.
Crossbreed Priscilla is Dark Souls’ Most Tragic Fight

Oct 3, 2024 | gamerant.com | Jared Carvalho

The lore of Dark Souls is often described as obtuse, dense, and ergodic, but would best be noted as being incredibly dark. While this is the case for the world of Lordran as a whole, the Grimdark notes of Dark Soulsare best expressed in the tragic motivations and fates of characters like Crossbreed Priscilla. In the case of Priscilla specifically, this tragedy is one that is almost entirely in the player's hands.
Elden Ring's Putrescent Knight is a Stark Contrast to the DLC’s Final Boss

Sep 25, 2024 | gamerant.com | Jared Carvalho

The Putrescent Knight is an odd encounter waiting at the deepest point of the Shadow Lands, guarding one of the biggest lore reveals that Shadow of the Erdtree has to offer. However, this position is only the first of many hints that the Putrescent Knight stands in stark contrast against the elevated Promised Consort Radahn, who waits at the highest point of the Shadow Lands.
Fume Knight is the Ultimate Test of Dark Souls 2 Players’ Adaptability

Sep 15, 2024 | gamerant.com | Jared Carvalho

The bosses from the Dark Souls 2 DLC content still stand as some of the most difficult encounters that FromSoftware has designed, with few offering more of a challenge than the Fume Knight. Included in the Crown of the Old Iron King DLC alongside Sir Alonne and the updated Blue Smelter Demon, Fume Knight offers a steady stream of high-damaging attacks that are rarely overwhelming, but will rather catch mistimed dodges with devastating results.
Dark Souls 2’s Sir Alonne Continues to Reward Players for Facing the Series’ Toughest Challenge

Sep 8, 2024 | gamerant.com | Jared Carvalho

Dark Souls 2 The wide build varieties and utility of weapons, spells, and other equipment in FromSoftware titles have led many players to approach the Souls series with any amount of limitations to add an extra challenge to their playthroughs. However, few have gone the distance that Dark Souls 2 has in order to fully reward fans for diving headfirst into these difficult challenges, including the Crown of the Old Iron King DLC's boss Sir Alonne. While the emphasis on adding additional...
Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree’s Jori, Elder Inquisitor is a Tough Wall Guarding the DLC’s Best Area

Sep 1, 2024 | gamerant.com | Jared Carvalho

Jori, Elder Inquisitor acts as one of the many dual-purpose bosses that Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree added to the base game's formula to shake up the path of progression throughout the Land of Shadow. Not only does the boss act as the final boss of the Darklight Catacombs but this encounter is also the entrance to one of the best locations the DLC has to offer.