Tomb Raider: Catalyst vs Just Cause 4

• Perspective: Third-Person
• Multiplayer: Single-Player Only
• Setting: Northern India (Post-Cataclysm)
• Platforms: PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S
• Release Window: 2027
• Unique Feature: The largest world map in the franchise's history, powered by Unreal Engine 5, featuring the experienced Lara Croft in the new Unified Timeline.

• Perspective: Third-Person
• Multiplayer: Single-player Only (No official multiplayer modes)
• Setting: Solís (Fictional South American Nation)
• Platforms: PC (Windows), PlayStation 4, Xbox One
• Unique Feature: Highly customizable Grappling Hook with Air Lifters, Retractors, & Boosters; dynamic Extreme Weather System (tornadoes, blizzards, etc.); vast sandbox environment encouraging creative destruction; signature Wingsuit and Parachute traversal.

• Army of Chaos Soldiers: As Rico liberates regions and pushes the front line, AI-controlled rebel soldiers from the Army of Chaos will spawn and engage Black Hand forces. They act independently but contribute to the overall battle and can provide covering fire or draw enemy attention. Rico cannot directly command them.
  Human (AI-Controlled Rebels)
• Mission-Specific Allies (Mira, Sargento, Sheldon, etc.): During specific story missions or side quests, key characters like Mira Morales, Sargento, Tom Sheldon, Javi Huerta, or Garland King may accompany Rico or provide direct support (e.g., hacking, intel, objectives). They are not persistent companions but play roles in dedicated mission sequences.
  Human (Key NPCs)
• Supply Drop Pilots (Implied): Though not visible companions in the traditional sense, pilots from the Army of Chaos deliver requested vehicles, weapons, and gear to Rico's location via supply drops. Their efficiency and the range of available items can be improved by completing tasks for specific characters (Javi, Garland, Sargento).
  Human (AI-Controlled Rebels)

• Ancient Artifacts: Revealed by the mythical cataclysm, these are the secrets Lara must protect from exploitation.
• Specialized Gadgets: Rumored to be discovered throughout the adventure, with some possibly infused with mythical powers.

• Ancient Statues: 12 hidden Ancient Statues scattered across Solís. Finding and activating them (often by solving a grapple-based lever puzzle) for Javi Huerta rewards Retractor Mod Points and contributes to the 'Show Me the Way' trophy/achievement.
• Surveillance Airships: 24 Black Hand surveillance airships floating above various key locations. Destroying them reduces Black Hand presence and contributes to regional liberation and Chaos generation.
• Stunt Locations (Speed, Wingsuit, Vehicle): Numerous designated locations across Solís where Rico must perform specific stunts for the film director Garland King. These are categorized into Speed Stunts, Wingsuit Stunts, and Vehicle Stunts (car, bike, boat, helicopter). Completing these earns Chaos and unlocks pilot upgrades.
• Supply Drop Blueprints (Implied): While not direct collectibles, discovering and completing certain missions or activities unlocks new weapons, vehicles, and gear (their 'blueprints') that can then be requested via Supply Drops. This forms a collection aspect of available equipment.

• Adventure
• Archaeology
• Unified Timeline
• Cataclysm
• Ancient Secrets
• Rivalry
• Next-Gen

• Liberation
• Chaos & Destruction
• Extreme Weather
• Rogue Agent
• Political Instability
• Family Secrets
• South American Setting
• Physics-Based Sandbox
• Anti-Establishment
• Over-the-Top Action

• Grappling Hook (Customizable): Traversal, Utility, Combat Tool
  Rico's signature gadget, heavily upgraded. Can be customized with multiple loadouts featuring Air Lifter (attaches balloons), Retractor (pulls tethered objects), and Booster (miniature rockets) mods, each with their own upgradeable properties like strength, speed, and behavior.
• SW9 Assault Rifle: Primary Firearm (Automatic/Burst)
  A versatile assault rifle with good damage and rate of fire. Often features an underslung grenade launcher as its secondary fire mode, useful against infantry and light vehicles.
• AT3-X RPG: Heavy Weapon (Explosive)
  A powerful rocket-propelled grenade launcher, capable of burst-fire. Effective against vehicles and structures. Secondary fire allows for target locking.
• RG-PBA 9 Railgun: Heavy Weapon / Sniper
  A handheld railgun that fires high-velocity projectiles, dealing significant damage. Can be charged for increased power. Its secondary fire often deploys a combat drone.
• PWC V4.2 "Wind Gun": Experimental Weapon
  An experimental weapon that fires powerful blasts of wind, capable of sending enemies, vehicles, and objects flying. Its secondary fire typically unleashes a more focused and powerful gust.
• DA 9.3 "Lightning Gun": Experimental Weapon
  An experimental weapon that can call down lightning strikes or fire concentrated electrical blasts. Its secondary fire often launches storm grenades, creating localized thunderstorms.
• PBX Auto-Slug 4: Shotgun (Automatic)
  A fully automatic shotgun effective at close range. Its secondary fire often unleashes a spread of ricocheting projectiles, devastating in enclosed spaces.
• LRD-3 Sniper Rifle: Sniper Rifle
  A long-range, high-precision rifle for engaging distant targets. Often includes a secondary short-range explosive shell launcher.
• Wingsuit (Weaponized Variants): Traversal / Light Weapon Platform
  While primarily for traversal, some wingsuits (e.g., 'Skystriker' or Black Hand Prototype from DLC/Deluxe Editions) are equipped with boosters and missile weaponry.
• The Dragon (DLC Weapon): Heavy Weapon (Explosive/Incendiary)
  A unique rocket launcher shaped like a dragon's head that fires fireworks, stunning enemies before exploding. Part of a DLC pack.

• Rico's Tactical Outfit: Rico's default attire offers no specific numerical armor rating but represents his general resilience. Cosmetic variations are available through DLC, providing visual changes to his jacket, pants, and gear.
• Weaponized Wingsuits (e.g., Skystriker, Black Hand Prototype): These are not traditional armor but traversal tools with offensive capabilities. The 'Skystriker' (often part of Reloaded/Gold editions) and the Black Hand Prototype Wingsuit (Digital Deluxe) feature built-in missile launchers and boost technology, offering a form of mobile firepower rather than passive damage resistance.
• Golden Gear Pack Items (Gold/Complete Edition): Includes a golden shotgun, a golden wingsuit, and a golden parachute. These are primarily cosmetic, offering a distinct visual style for these items without significantly altering gameplay statistics beyond their base item functions.
• Other DLC Cosmetic Outfits/Skins: Various DLC packs like the 'Neon Racer Pack,' 'Deathstalker Scorpion Pack,' and 'Renegade Pack' include themed skins for Rico's wingsuit and parachute, and sometimes themed vehicle skins. These are visual customizations.

• Rico's Default Tactical Outfit: Rico's signature look, typically a leather jacket, tactical pants, and boots. The base game offers limited direct customization of this outfit.
• Wingsuit Skins (via DLC/Editions): Multiple cosmetic skins for the wingsuit are available through various DLC packs (e.g., Neon Racer Wingsuit, Deathstalker Scorpion Wingsuit, Renegade Wingsuit, Golden Gear Wingsuit) and special editions, altering its appearance.
• Parachute Skins (via DLC/Editions): Similar to wingsuits, parachute skins provide visual customization and are included in DLC packs and special editions (e.g., Neon Racer Parachute, Deathstalker Scorpion Parachute, Renegade Parachute, Golden Gear Parachute).
• Black Hand Weaponized Wingsuit (Digital Deluxe Edition): A specific wingsuit with a distinct Black Hand design, equipped with offensive capabilities. Included in the Digital Deluxe Edition and often part of higher-tier editions.
• 'Skystriker' Weaponized Wingsuit (Reloaded/Gold Editions): Another specialized wingsuit with a unique appearance and weaponry, often included in the Reloaded and Gold Editions of the game.
• Just Cause 2 & 3 Rico Skins (Free DLC): Free cosmetic DLCs were released post-launch, allowing players to equip Rico's character models from Just Cause 2 and Just Cause 3 for a nostalgic look.

Progression is based on enhancing Lara's abilities and rich, customized adventure tech. Players will likely upgrade their traversal gear (wrist-mounted grappling tool) and combat skills as they delve into lost tombs and solve intricate puzzles.

The game promises the largest Tomb Raider world yet. Lara will traverse an expansive and interconnected landscape in Northern India, densely packed with secrets, tombs, and outlandish terrains. The environment is designed to reward exploration at an increasing scale.

Solís is a massive open world (approximately 1024 square kilometers) featuring four distinct biomes: Rainforest (lush, dense jungles), Grasslands (rolling plains and farmlands), Alpine (snowy mountains and icy peaks), and Desert (arid landscapes and canyons). Each biome hosts unique weather patterns and points of interest. The world is divided into numerous regions that can be liberated by advancing the Army of Chaos's front line.

• Civilian & Military Cars/Trucks: Land Vehicle (Transport / Light Combat)
  A wide variety of cars, pickup trucks, SUVs, vans, and larger trucks. Many can be found driven by civilians or Black Hand forces. Some military trucks are armored and may have mounted weapons.
• Motorcycles & ATVs: Land Vehicle (Fast Traversal)
  Includes various motorcycles, dirt bikes, and ATVs for fast and agile ground travel, especially off-road.
• Tanks & Armored Personnel Carriers (APCs): Land Vehicle (Heavy Combat)
  Heavily armored and armed vehicles like tanks (e.g., Warchief Assault Tank) and APCs, primarily used by The Black Hand. Rico can hijack and operate these.
• Helicopters (Attack & Transport): Air Vehicle (Combat / Traversal)
  Includes attack helicopters armed with missiles and machine guns (e.g., Spectre Attack Heli), as well as transport helicopters. Essential for aerial combat and rapid deployment.
• Fighter Jets & Planes: Air Vehicle (Fast Combat / Traversal)
  Fixed-wing aircraft ranging from fighter jets (e.g., Fellhawk Jet Fighter) with advanced weaponry to cargo planes and smaller prop planes. Used for high-speed travel and air-to-ground attacks.
• Boats & Naval Craft: Water Vehicle (Transport / Combat)
  Various watercraft for navigating Solís's rivers, lakes, and coastline, including small speedboats, patrol boats (often armed), and larger vessels like the Thunderbarge (a Black Hand warship).
• Industrial & Specialized Vehicles: Utility / Unique
  Includes vehicles like cranes, forklifts, airport tugs, and unique mission-specific vehicles like Stormchasers (designed to withstand extreme weather). Many can be used creatively with the grappling hook.
• DLC Vehicles (e.g., Hoverboard, Dare Devils Cars): Special / DLC Specific
  Downloadable content introduced unique vehicles, such as the agile Hoverboard (Danger Rising DLC) and various heavily modified and weaponized cars for the Dare Devils of Destruction challenges.

• Lara Croft: Playable Protagonist
  An experienced, confident, and fierce adventurer set years after the events of Tomb Raider: Underworld. Voiced by Alix Wilton Regan.
• Global Rivals: Antagonists
  Notorious treasure hunters from around the world who descend upon Northern India to exploit the ancient power unleashed by the cataclysm.

• Rico Rodriguez: Protagonist / Rogue Agent / 'The Scorpion'
  The main playable character, a highly skilled operative known for his expertise in demolition, vehicular mayhem, and use of the grappling hook, wingsuit, and parachute. He arrives in Solís to uncover his father's connection to The Black Hand and Project Illapa.
• Gabriela Morales: Main Antagonist / Leader of The Black Hand
  The ruthless and intelligent leader of The Black Hand, the most powerful private military in the world. She controls Solís and Project Illapa, and has a personal history with Rico's father. Serves as Rico's primary adversary.
• Mira Morales: Ally / Rebel Scientist / Leader in Army of Chaos
  A native Solino and brilliant scientist who opposes The Black Hand. She is Gabriela's cousin and becomes a key ally to Rico, helping him understand and fight against Project Illapa. She plays a significant role in guiding the rebellion.
• Tom Sheldon: Ally (Reluctant) / Former Agency Handler
  Rico's former handler from The Agency, who appears in Solís with his own agenda, often providing missions and information, though his allegiances can be murky. A recurring character in the Just Cause series.
• Sargento (Luis 'Che' Guerra): Ally / Rebel Commander in Army of Chaos
  A charismatic and determined commander in the Army of Chaos. He helps Rico organize rebel forces, provides tactical support, and offers missions related to training rebels and disrupting Black Hand operations.
• Oscar Espinosa: Antagonist / Dictator of Solís (Figurehead)
  The oppressive dictator of Solís, largely a puppet figure propped up by The Black Hand and Gabriela Morales. While a target, the true power lies with Gabriela and Project Illapa.
• Javi Huerta: Ally / Archaeologist
  An archaeologist obsessed with the ancient history of Solís and the mystery of the Tomba de la Esposa. He provides Rico with side missions related to finding ancient statues and uncovering lore.
• Garland King: Ally / Film Director
  A film director shooting a movie in Solís. She tasks Rico with performing various dangerous stunts (vehicle, wingsuit, speed) for her film, rewarding him for his efforts.

• Main Campaign: Story
  A story-driven, potentially more linear adventure focused on preventing a global catastrophe and protecting an ancient secret in Northern India after a mythical cataclysm.
• Tomb Raiding: Puzzle
  Delving into lost tombs filled with intricate environmental puzzles, utilizing Lara's brilliance and customized tech.

• Main Story Campaign (Project Illapa & The Black Hand)
  A series of narrative missions following Rico Rodriguez as he investigates his father's past involvement with The Black Hand and their weather-manipulation weapon, Project Illapa. This involves operations against The Black Hand, disabling components of Project Illapa, and confronting Gabriela Morales.
• Region Strikes & Advancing the Front Line
  Specific missions within each region of Solís that, once completed, allow the Army of Chaos to secure that territory. This pushes back The Black Hand's control and is essential for unlocking further story missions and expanding rebel influence.
• Army of Chaos Operations (Mira, Sargento)
  Side missions provided by key rebel allies. Mira's missions often involve investigating Black Hand technology or Project Illapa. Sargento's missions focus on training rebel squads, disrupting Black Hand logistics, and bolstering the Army of Chaos's strength.
• Stunt Challenges (Garland King)
  Completing various stunt challenges for the film director Garland King. These involve performing specific actions using vehicles (cars, bikes, boats, helicopters), the wingsuit, or achieving high speeds, rewarding Chaos and unlocking pilot upgrades for supply drops.
• Ancient Mysteries (Javi Huerta)
  Finding and activating 12 hidden Ancient Statues scattered across Solís by solving environmental puzzles, often involving the grappling hook's Retractor mod. This questline delves into the ancient history of Solís and rewards Retractor Mod Points.
• Dare Devils of Destruction DLC Campaign
  Participating in various vehicle-based destruction derbies, races, and survival challenges against three rival gangs in new arenas, utilizing unique weaponized vehicles provided in the DLC.
• Los Demonios DLC Campaign
  Combating a supernatural demonic infestation that has been unleashed upon Solís. Involves fighting new parasitic enemy types, cleansing infected areas, and utilizing new gear like a demonic crossbow.
• Danger Rising DLC Campaign
  Rico confronts his former employers, The Agency, who have arrived in Solís with advanced technology and a hidden agenda. This DLC introduces the Hoverboard, new Agency enemies, powerful new weapons, and missions aboard a massive submarine.

Just Cause 4 was released in several editions: Standard Edition (base game), Digital Deluxe Edition (base game, Black Hand Stealth Microjet, Black Hand Weaponized Wingsuit), Gold Edition (Digital Deluxe content + Expansion Pass + Golden Gear Pack), and Complete Edition (Gold Edition content + all Black Market items). The 'Reloaded' version, often seen on digital stores, includes the base game and several cosmetic/gear packs.

The Expansion Pass included three major DLCs: 'Dare Devils of Destruction' (vehicle-centric challenges, races, and new weaponized vehicles), 'Los Demonios' (a supernatural horror-themed expansion with demonic enemies and a new crossbow weapon), and 'Danger Rising' (missions against The Agency, introducing a hoverboard, new Agency weapons, and missions on a submarine). Numerous smaller cosmetic and gear packs (e.g., Neon Racer, Deathstalker Scorpion, Golden Gear, The Dragon weapon) were also released.

• Q: What is Tomb Raider: Catalyst?
  A: It is the next major, single-player action-adventure game in the Tomb Raider franchise, developed by Crystal Dynamics and published by Amazon Games.
• Q: Which game engine does it use?
  A: The game is built entirely on Unreal Engine 5, allowing the developers to deliver the largest and most expansive adventure in the series' history.
• Q: When does it take place?
  A: It is set 'years after the events of Tomb Raider: Underworld' (2008). The reboot trilogy (2013-2018) is officially canonized as Lara's origin story.
• Q: What new gear does Lara have?
  A: Lara has her iconic dual pistols and a new wrist-mounted grappling tool for enhanced traversal and combat.

• Q: When was Just Cause 4 released?
  A: Just Cause 4 was released on December 4, 2018, for PC (Windows), PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.
• Q: Who is the main character in Just Cause 4?
  A: The protagonist is Rico Rodriguez, the series' recurring hero, known for his expertise with the grappling hook, wingsuit, parachute, and causing widespread destruction.
• Q: What is the setting of Just Cause 4?
  A: The game is set in the fictional South American nation of Solís, which features diverse biomes like rainforests, deserts, grasslands, and alpine mountains, and is plagued by extreme weather conditions controlled by Project Illapa.
• Q: What are the new features in Just Cause 4's grappling hook?
  A: The grappling hook is highly customizable with new mods: Air Lifters (attach inflatable balloons to objects), Retractors (pull tethered objects together forcefully), and Boosters (attach small rocket engines). Players can use and customize multiple tethers simultaneously.
• Q: What are the Extreme Weather events in Just Cause 4?
  A: Just Cause 4 introduces dynamic extreme weather like massive tornadoes, blizzards in alpine regions, sandstorms in deserts, and tropical lightning storms. These phenomena physically interact with the game world and can be both a threat and a tool.
• Q: Does Just Cause 4 have multiplayer?
  A: No, Just Cause 4 is a single-player only experience. There are no official co-op or competitive multiplayer modes.
• Q: What major DLCs are available for Just Cause 4?
  A: The Expansion Pass included three major DLCs: 'Dare Devils of Destruction' (vehicle combat focused), 'Los Demonios' (supernatural demonic invasion), and 'Danger Rising' (missions against The Agency, introducing a hoverboard).
• Q: How does liberation work in Just Cause 4?
  A: Liberation involves completing 'Region Strike' missions to secure territories for the Army of Chaos. This advances a 'front line' across the map, rather than liberating individual settlements as in Just Cause 3. Causing general chaos also contributes to earning squad reserves to deploy more rebels.

Powered by the Apex Engine, Just Cause 4 showcases large-scale environments with diverse biomes and impressive draw distances. The visuals focus on physics-based destruction and spectacular extreme weather effects like tornadoes and lightning storms. While graphical fidelity on release was met with mixed reception by some for certain aspects (e.g., water, character models), the overall spectacle and scale are significant.

The game features an orchestral and electronic hybrid score that adapts to the on-screen action, composed by Zach Abramson. Sound design emphasizes explosions, vehicle engines, weapon effects, and the powerful sounds of the extreme weather phenomena. Features a dynamic music system that escalates with the level of chaos.

The UI is generally minimalist, focusing on Rico's actions. Key elements include a map for navigation and mission tracking, objective markers, a grappling hook mod selection interface (quick-switch via D-pad), weapon wheel, ammo/health indicators, and contextual prompts. The 'AR Scan' feature highlights interactive objects and mission objectives.

Just Cause 4 includes options for subtitles (on/off, size not typically detailed), remappable controls for keyboard/mouse (though UI keys often cannot be changed), controller remapping support, separate volume controls (Sound Effects, Voice, Music, Car Radio), and mouse Y-axis inversion. Specific features like colorblind modes or extensive UI customization are generally not prominent.

• SPECULATIVE PC SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS. Official hardware details have not been released, but the game is built entirely on Unreal Engine 5, requiring next-generation console capabilities.
• Laptop Performance Note: Laptop performance will be heavily reliant on the mobile GPU's TGP and the CPU's ability to handle asset streaming and rendering in an expansive UE5 environment.
• Laptop Consideration: G P U T G P: Maximum TGP for the laptop's GPU is essential to handle the advanced rendering features of UE5 and the promised 'largest world yet.'
• Laptop Consideration: Cooling Thermals: The game's scope and use of UE5 will require a premium cooling solution to prevent thermal throttling.
• Laptop Consideration: C P U Power Limits: A powerful multi-core mobile CPU (e.g., i7/R7 equivalent) will be critical for handling asset streaming and physics in the expansive, interconnected environments.
• Laptop Consideration: M U X Switch Optimus: A MUX switch or NVIDIA Advanced Optimus is recommended for minimizing latency in action-adventure gameplay.
• Game Name: Tomb Raider: Catalyst

• Official PC system requirements for 'Just Cause 4' (released in 2018). An SSD is recommended for better loading times. These requirements reflect the hardware capabilities of that era.
• Laptop Performance Note: Just Cause 4, with its large open world and physics-based destruction, can be demanding. For a good laptop experience, a gaming laptop with a dedicated GPU from the mid-range of its release era or newer is advised. Laptop GPUs and CPUs perform differently than desktop equivalents due to power (TGP) and thermal constraints. **Performance can vary based on the specific laptop model's TGP, cooling, and overall system configuration.**
• Laptop Consideration: G P U T G P Impact: Total Graphics Power (TGP) is a key factor for laptop GPU performance. Higher TGP variants will generally perform better.
• Laptop Consideration: Advanced Cooling Thermals: Effective cooling is important to prevent thermal throttling during sustained gameplay, especially with the game's emphasis on large-scale destruction and physics.
• Laptop Consideration: C P U Performance Sustain: A capable mobile CPU that can handle open-world streaming and physics calculations without significant bottlenecks is necessary.
• Laptop Consideration: R A M Configuration Speed: 8GB is the minimum, but 16GB in dual-channel configuration is recommended for a smoother experience, especially with many physics objects and explosions.
• Laptop Consideration: Display Panel G P U Pairing: Most laptops aiming for these specs will target 1080p. The GPU should be sufficient for this resolution at desired settings.
• Laptop Consideration: Driver Updates O S Optimization: Using up-to-date GPU drivers and maintaining an optimized OS is beneficial for stability and performance.
• Optimization Detail: A P I Choice: The game primarily uses DirectX 11.
• Optimization Detail: Key Settings Impact: Resolution, Texture Quality, Shadow Quality, LOD Detail, Water Quality, Anti-Aliasing (FXAA, TAA), and Effects Quality significantly impact performance, especially during chaotic sequences with extreme weather.
• Game Name: Just Cause 4

• A P I Choice: The game primarily uses DirectX 11.
• Key Settings Impact: Resolution, Texture Quality, Shadow Quality, LOD Detail, Water Quality, Anti-Aliasing (FXAA, TAA), and Effects Quality significantly impact performance, especially during chaotic sequences with extreme weather.

• G P U T G P: Maximum TGP for the laptop's GPU is essential to handle the advanced rendering features of UE5 and the promised 'largest world yet.'
• Cooling Thermals: The game's scope and use of UE5 will require a premium cooling solution to prevent thermal throttling.
• C P U Power Limits: A powerful multi-core mobile CPU (e.g., i7/R7 equivalent) will be critical for handling asset streaming and physics in the expansive, interconnected environments.
• M U X Switch Optimus: A MUX switch or NVIDIA Advanced Optimus is recommended for minimizing latency in action-adventure gameplay.

• G P U T G P Impact: Total Graphics Power (TGP) is a key factor for laptop GPU performance. Higher TGP variants will generally perform better.
• Advanced Cooling Thermals: Effective cooling is important to prevent thermal throttling during sustained gameplay, especially with the game's emphasis on large-scale destruction and physics.
• C P U Performance Sustain: A capable mobile CPU that can handle open-world streaming and physics calculations without significant bottlenecks is necessary.
• R A M Configuration Speed: 8GB is the minimum, but 16GB in dual-channel configuration is recommended for a smoother experience, especially with many physics objects and explosions.
• Display Panel G P U Pairing: Most laptops aiming for these specs will target 1080p. The GPU should be sufficient for this resolution at desired settings.
• Driver Updates O S Optimization: Using up-to-date GPU drivers and maintaining an optimized OS is beneficial for stability and performance.