Definitive Edition Cheats, Codes, Cheat Codes, Walkthrough, Guide, FAQ, Unlockables for PlayStation 4 (PS4)
Easy XP and salvage
This trick allows you to earn 10,000 XP and 2,000 salvage or more approximately every 5 minutes. It can be done solo or with other players. At the Multiplayer menu, create a private match. Select Rescue mode, and choose the Beach map. Select the Survivor team, then customize your Loadouts. Choose the top option, and when you are at a high enough level, select «Second Wind» as your Offensive Skill. Leave the Survival Skill set to «Advanced Looting». Exit the Loadouts screen, and select «Match Options». Change the «Time Limit» to any time desired. This method usually takes 8-10 minutes to complete. Set the «Medkits To Retrieve» option to «20». Start the match. Then, retrieve the medkits scattered randomly around the map as quickly as possible. Even though the medkits spawn randomly, there are some locations the medkits will always appear. Once you appear on the map, there will be a circle near the spawn point where medkits are dropped off. A white waypoint icon will appear off in the distance showing where the medkit is located.
Simply sprint to each waypoint, and collect the medkits as they appear, then return them to the drop-off point. On the way to each of the medkits, you can stop and collect salvage. The salvage respawns pretty quickly after collecting it. Keep doing this until the match ends. You can then start a new match, and repeat the process. Note: You can quite in-between rounds and will still retain all XP and salvage you have obtained.
Secret tomb locations and solutions
Search the indicated locations to find all seven optional tombs. Solve the puzzle in each tomb using the indicated solution to get a reward for each tomb completed.
Complete all seven optional tombs to get the «Intellectually Superior» achievement.
Tomb Of The Unworthy
Location: Travel to the Mountain Village once you have obtained the Climbing Axe, and return to the Tomb Of The Unworthy camp at the base of the waterfall (right before the Climbing Axe is required to progress further). Then, use the axe to enter the tomb.
Solution: To solve the puzzle in the tomb, you must first light the torch. Use the pot to light it, or use your flint if you have acquired it. Then, burn the bodies on the mesh platform, and push off the extra weight nearby to allow the lift to raise up enough for Lara to climb to the top and reach the treasure chest.
Reward: Mountain Village Relic Map
Halls Of Ascension Tomb
Location: Travel to the Overlook camp in the Mountain Village, where Lara went to find the rescue plane’s smoke signal, once you have the rope arrows and Firestarter flint. Use a rope arrow to reach the north ledge to follow the upper route.
Use a second rope arrow to reach the tomb entrance.
Solution: To solve this puzzle, first look around the room. There is an open window on the left, and a platform hanging by ropes in the center. Start by closing the shutters on the left with the crank, then turn the crank in the center to raise the platform. The shutters on the left will slowly open. Then, quickly run onto the platform once it has been raised, and wait for the second shutter to open. Once it opens, a strong gust of wind will blow the platform right and high. On the right, a flat wooden board will appear for Lara to jump to and hang on from the ledge. Move along the ledges to reach a long hallway with the treasure chest at the end.
Reward: Mountain Village GPS Cache Map
Well Of Tears
Location: Travel to the Helicopter Hill camp in Shantytown. You will need a rope arrow to pull open the tomb entrance and drop in. Travel through the town to reach a building painted with white murals and protected with boobytraps.
Destroy the floor to drop into a cave below, which leads down a straight path to the tomb.
Solution: Inside the tomb, there is a hanging platform above. Collect the yellow canisters one by one, and throw them onto the platform to lower it. Once it is on the ground, stand on the platform, and remove the canisters. Next, step off, and use the upper ledge to jump onto the raising platform, then quickly jump onto the left ledge to reach the area with the treasure chest.
Reward: Shantytown Relic Map
Chamber Of Judgement
Location: From the Windmill camp in Shantytown, travel to the eastern caves below the gondola station in the southern part of the town, and slide down the surface to reach the ledges across the gap. Follow the right passage after climbing up the ledge, and cross the wooden beam bridge to reach a narrow entrance to the tomb.
Solution: Collect the yellow canisters around the tomb, and place them on the raised section of the seesaw to weigh it down.
Jump to one, and use a rope arrow on the other. Use the raised seesaw to jump to the rock wall. Move along the rock wall using the climbing axe to reach a ladder. Climb the ladder to reach the area with the treasure chest.
Reward: Shantytown GPS Cache Map
Stormguard Sanctum
Location: Travel to the Hunting Lodge camp in the Summit Forest, and go north beyond the bridge. There is a lamppost next to the tomb entrance.
Solution: Use two fire arrows to set off explosives and gas to solve this puzzle. Explode the gas with a fire arrow, cross it, then destroy the explosive crates on the ledge to clear the pathway. Then, climb up the rock wall to reach the treasure chest.
Reward: Summit Forest Relic Map
Temple Of The Handmaidens
Location: At Shipwreck Beach, travel to the zipline north of the Survivor’s camp to reach a barricade blocking the way to a bunker. Use the Rope Ascender to break the barricade, and follow the path.
Use rope arrows to continue into a cave leading to the tomb.
Solution: Use the crank at the entrance to raise a platform and allow the buoy to move left. Climb the ledge left to follow the buoy as it releases a turning pole. Use it to jump the gap, then use a rope arrow on the white roped beam below. Wait for the buoy to move forward, and push the beam perpendicular with Lara. Once it lines up, jump to the bar to reach a rock wall using the Climbing Axe, allowing you to reach the area with the treasure chest.
Reward: Shipwreck Beach GPS Cache Map
The Flooded Vault
Location: At Shipwreck Beach, the tomb is located on your way to the Cliffside Bunker. You will need the Climbing Axe, Prying Axe, and some rope arrows. Climb to the top of the bunker, and go through the narrow passage to reach the tomb entrance.
Solution: Press the button up the stairs, then press the button beside the door near the entrance to enter the tomb. Inside the tomb, there is electricity surging through the water and a floating platform.
Light the anchor rope on fire to release the floating platform, then shoot the wooden barrier on the right with the shotgun. Shoot a rope arrow through the new opening in the barrier at the platform to pull it closer. Pull the platform to the steps, then use rope arrows to pull the beam at the far end of the room, raising the generator and stopping the electricity in the water. Pull the generator up, jump right to the platform, pull the generator again, and continue through the water. Finally, pull up the generator, then pull the platform underneath the generator to make the water safe to cross, allowing you to reach the area containing the treasure chest.
Reward: Shipwreck Beach Relic Map
Treasure map locations
Search the indicated locations to find all 14 treasure maps. The treasure maps will reveal the location of all relics, GPS caches, and documents on the in-game world map.
You will be able to set waypoints for every collectible. Additionally, buying the «Cartography» (Tier III survival) skill will automatically unlock all treasure map locations on the world map. Note: Some of the treasure maps are a reward for completing optional tombs.
Coastal Forest
1. On the eastern area of the map, there is a dilapidated bridge near a waterfall. To reach the waterfall, look for a rock ledge with a wooden plank. Jump from the plank to the beam on the bridge to reach another wooden platform on a tree. A treasure map is on the crate. Its coordinates are 53N 712382 UTM3416116.
Mountain Temple
2. After climbing up a ladder and facing a large dilapidated building, take the left path to reach a waterfall. Jump into the water at the base of the waterfall to find a secret cave, which leads into a hidden alcove with a treasure map on a crate.
Base Exterior
3. At the Radio Tower camp, use the zipline to go east to reach the building below.
You will land near a burning trash can, and a treasure map is behind it.
Mountain Village
4. Locate and successfully complete the Tomb Of The Unworthy optional tomb to get a treasure map.
5. Locate and successfully complete the Halls Of Ascension optional tomb to get a treasure map.
Shantytown
6. Locate and successfully complete the Well Of Tears optional tomb to get a treasure map.
7. Locate and successfully complete the Chamber Of Judgement optional tomb to get a treasure map.
Shipwreck Beach
8. Locate and successfully complete the Temple Of The Handmaiden optional tomb to get a treasure map.
9. Locate and successfully complete The Flooded Vault optional tomb to get a treasure map.
Geothermal Caverns
10. At the Catacombs camp, go north to reach wooden beams and a cage. Climb the beams and bars above the cage, and keep going up to reach a hidden platform.
A treasure map is nearby.
Cliffside Bunker
11. Go to this area once you have the Rope Ascender, and return to the room with the big cannon and breakable barrier inside. Use the Rope Ascender to break through the wall. Continue through the wall to find a treasure map.
Summit Forest
Research Base
13. This treasure map can only be reached once Lara drops the elevator. On the first level of the base, go through the holes in the wall to reach tracks leading to a striped turn-table device. Go past this circle, and look on some nearby crates to find a treasure map.
Chasm Shrine
14. Progress through this area until reaching a large room with a pendulum in the center. Climb the wooden walkways, ramps, and rungs to reach the top level. After climbing up to the wooden ledge, look to the right for a table with the final treasure map.
All challenge collectibles
Search the indicated locations in the videos below to find all collectible locations for all 13 challenges.
Each challenge requires you to find some collectibles. There are just 4-10 collectibles per challenge. After completing the story, you will enter Free Roam mode, where you can still complete all of the challenges. Every time you obtain one of the collectibles, the game will automatically save. Successfully complete all challenges to get the «Inconceivable!» achievement.
Ghost Hunter Challenge Collectibles (All Totem Locations)
Pyromaniac Challenge Collectibles (All Lantern Locations)
Egg Poacher Challenge Collectibles (All Egg Locations)
Illumination Challenge Collectibles (All Statue Locations)
Laid to Rest Challenge Collectibles (All Effigy Locations)
Silencer Challenge Collectibles (All Alarm Locations)
Firestarter Challenge Collectibles (All Sack Locations)
Red Cap Roundup Challenge Collectibles (All Mushroom Locations)
Mine Sweeper Challenge Collectibles (All Mine Locations)
Previous Inhabitants Challenge Collectibles (All Flag Locations)
Sun Killer Challenge Collectibles (All Totem Locations)
Easy «Boom Goes The Dynamite» trophy
While going through Shantytown, you will be ambushed on a rooftop. Enemies will be throwing dynamite at you. Equip the shotgun or rifle, and shoot one bundle of dynamite out of the air to get the «Boom Goes The Dynamite» trophy.
Easy «Chatterbox» trophy
During the course of the story, there are seven occasions where you can talk to your friends.
You must listen to everything they have to say. If you miss a single conversation, you will not get the «Chatterbox» trophy during that playthrough. Keep talking to each person until the «X» symbol above their head is gone. You will also see the Tomb Raider auto-save logo flashing in the bottom right corner of the screen when all conversations with one person have been completed. You need to talk to the following people:
- 1. Before searching for 50 pieces of salvage, talk to Whitman.
- 2. After finding the 50 pieces of salvage, talk to Whitman again (do not repair the Axe yet)
- 3. After helping Roth (where the wolves attack him), talk to Roth.
- 4. Shortly after getting the Rope Arrows, you will meet Roth again. Talk to him before using the zipline.
- 5. When reaching the shipwreck beach, you will meet your friends. Talk to Sam, Reyes, and Jonah.
- 6. Before going to the Endurance to help Alex and get the tools, talk to Whitman, Sam, Jonah, and Reyes at the beach camp.
Reyes is on the boat. - 7. After coming back from the Endurance, talk to Whitman, Reyes, and Jonah.
Easy «Crab Cakes» trophy
After meeting up with your friends at Shipwreck Beach, a new mission called «Gone Missing» will begin. From the camp of your friends, go down to the beach. In the sand are some crabs. Shoot one of the crabs with a pink heart on its shell to get the «Crab Cakes» trophy. If they do not spawn, go back to the camp, and return to the beach after a minute or so.
Easy «Epic Fumble» trophy
In the Shantytown area, there are a lot of enemies that will throw dynamite at you. They usually look like construction workers and have a yellow helmet on their head. When they are about the throw the dynamite, shoot them with any weapon, and they will drop it. There are usually some enemies around them — so there is a good chance it will kill two people and you will get the «Epic Fumble» trophy.
Trophies
Successfully complete one of the following tasks to get a trophy:
- True Survivor (Platinum): Unlock every Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition trophy.
- Bookworm (Bronze): Find 25% of all documents.
- Historian (Bronze): Find 75% of all documents.
- Relic Hunter (Bronze): Collect 25% of all relics.
- Archaeologist (Bronze): Collect 75% of all relics.
- Looking for Trouble (Bronze): Find 25% of GPS caches.
- Bag Full O’ Cache (Bronze): Find 75% of GPS caches.
- No Stone Left Unturned (Gold): Find all documents, relics and GPS caches.
- Scrounger (Bronze): Collect 5000 pieces of salvage.
- Picky (Bronze): Loot 200 enemies.
- Clever Girl (Silver): Purchase all skills in one category.
- Lethal (Silver): Purchase all skills in all categories.
- Now We’re Getting Serious (Bronze): Fully mod and completely upgrade any weapon.
- The Professional (Silver): Fully mod and completely upgrade all weapons.
- Big Game Hunter (Bronze): Kill and loot 10 large animals (deer, boar, wolves).
- Tastes Like Chicken! (Bronze): Kill and loot 10 small animals (rabbits, chickens, rats).
- Feather Duster (Bronze): Kill and loot 10 flying animals (crows and gulls).
- Sharp Shooter (Bronze): Perform 50 headshot kills in the single player campaign.
- Predator (Bronze): Kill 50 enemies with the bow.
- Equalizer (Bronze): Kill 75 enemies with the rifle.
- Widowmaker (Bronze): Kill 40 enemies with the shotgun.
- Gunslinger (Bronze): Kill 35 enemies with the pistol.
- Epic Fumble (Bronze): Force an enemy to drop dynamite that kills two people when exploding.
- Get Over Here! (Bronze): Rope pull 5 enemies off edges.
- Opportunist (Bronze): Kill 25 unaware enemies.
- Down and Dirty (Bronze): Perform 15 finishers.
- Deadeye (Bronze): Shoot 10 enemies off zip lines.
- Former Adventurer (Bronze): Incapacitate 25 enemies with dodge counter.
- One Smart Cookie (Bronze): Complete one optional tomb.
- Intellectually Superior (Gold): Complete all optional tombs.
- Unfinished Business (Bronze): Complete one challenge.
- Inconceivable! (Silver): Complete all challenges.
- A Survivor Is Born (Silver): Complete the game.
- Adventurer (Bronze): Complete a match in all multiplayer modes.
- Artilleryman (Bronze): Kill 20 enemy players in multiplayer using a turret.
- Down Boy! (Bronze): Kill a zip-lining enemy player in multiplayer.
- Entrapment (Bronze): Catch a player in a snare trap in multiplayer.
- Escapist (Bronze): Survive 10 explosions in multiplayer.
- Good Samaritan (Bronze): Revive a teammate in a multiplayer match.
- I’m all that! (Silver): Win a ranked match in every multiplayer mode.
- Sole Survivor (Bronze): In multiplayer, be the only player on your team that isn’t dead or downed.
- Lights Out (Bronze): Kill 10 multiplayer enemies using your melee attack.
- Master Blaster (Bronze): Kill 2 multiplayer enemies with a single explosive.
- Monkey Around (Bronze): In multiplayer, escape death 3 times by using the rope ascender.
- Narcissistic (Bronze): Purchase a new multiplayer character.
- On My Way Up (Bronze): Reach level 10 in multiplayer.
- Shopaholic (Bronze): Buy every upgrade and character in multiplayer.
- True Commitment (Silver): Reach level 60 in multiplayer.
Additionally, there are three secret trophies:
- Boom Goes the Dynamite (Bronze): Shoot a bundle of dynamite out of the air.
- Crab Cakes (Bronze): Kill FeeFee the crab.
- Chatterbox (Bronze): Complete all conversations with the Endurance crew.
Next-Gen Face-Off: Tomb Raider Definitive Edition
Earlier this week we kicked off our Tomb Raider coverage with a look at performance on Xbox One and PlayStation 4, uncovering some interesting revelations behind the hotly discussed frame-rate situation — but this is just the beginning of the story.
There’s so much more to cover: Square Enix promises a dramatic graphical upgrade over the previous console releases with this new Definitive Edition, factoring in brand new effects, a remodelled Lara Croft, lashings of extra detail, and physics-based enhancements that supposedly puts this next-gen version of the game ahead of the spectacular PC release. But just how much of an improvement is it, and are the differences worth splashing out for?
To begin with, let’s address the differences between the two versions of the Definitive Edition on offer. PlayStation 4 users get a comfortably delivered 1080p presentation backed up with a post-process FXAA solution that has minimal impact on texture quality, sporting decent coverage across the scene, bar some shimmer around more finely detailed objects. Meanwhile the situation is more interesting on the Xbox One: the anti-aliasing solution remains unchanged, but we see the inclusion of what looks like a variable resolution framebuffer in some scenes, while some cut-scenes are rendered at a locked 900p, explaining the additional blur in some of our Xbox One screenshots.
Curiously, the drop in resolution doesn’t seem to occur during gameplay — it’s only reserved for select cinematics — suggesting that keeping performance consistent during these sequences was a priority for Xbox One developer United Front Games.
For the most part the main graphical bells and whistles are lavished equally across both consoles, although intriguingly there are a few areas that do see Xbox One cutbacks. As demonstrated in our head-to-head video below (and in our vast Tomb Raider comparison gallery), alpha-based effects in certain areas give the appearance of rendering at half resolution — though other examples do look much cleaner. We also see a lower-quality depth of field in cut-scenes, and reduced levels of anisotropic filtering on artwork during gameplay. Curiously, there are also a few lower-resolution textures in places on Xbox One, but this seems to be down to a bug (perhaps on level of detail transitions) as opposed to a conscious downgrade.
Tomb Raider Definitive Edition compared on Xbox One and PlayStation 4.
Not quite definitive on either with the PC version to contend with, and one console pulls ahead — effectively a touch more definitive than the other.
Alternative comparisons:
- Tomb Raider Definitive Edition: PlayStation 4 vs. PlayStation 3
The areas that appear compromised on Xbox One suggest that the transition to developing on the new console isn’t going as smoothly as Microsoft would like. Overall though, the visual differences between the two next-gen platforms are fairly minimal and we should stress that the Definitive Edition of Tomb Raider is really quite stunning to behold on both consoles, with the familiar island of Yamatai — and indeed Lara Croft herself — getting a significant graphical upgrade over the 360 and PS3 versions, extending far beyond a simple increase in resolution and frame-rate.
The first things that stand out are the changes made to Lara’s head and face, which have been completely remodelled, including reworked animation that displays a wider range of emotions than before.
The use of TressFX — in a new 2.0 implementation, no less — sees Lara’s hair reacting to the direction of the wind, and the force of impact as she interacts with the environment — a first for consoles. Meanwhile, new material shaders and use of sub-surface scattering dynamically change the look of her skin and clothing in different lighting and weather conditions, with the texture of the skin itself changing as she gets wet, or covered in dirt and blood.
The world itself is also significantly enhanced due to the inclusion of additional foliage and objects spread across the island. Trees and plants feature physics-based properties that react to Lara as she brushes past, and sway according to the direction of the wind. Areas have also been remodelled with added geometry on some objects, while fire effects appear fuller, with more in the way of smoke and particles being rendered. Curiously, there’s not really any clear indication of the proposed new lighting model — it appears that the gamma, contrast, and saturation levels have been tinkered with, but we’re not seeing a dramatic change in the way that light sources are handled in the new game.
Xbox One
PlayStation 4
PC
PlayStation 3During gameplay both PS4 and Xbox One feature native 1080p visuals using a similar FXAA solution, but in some cut-scenes we see a drop to 900p on Microsoft’s system, resulting in these scenes looking softer, with texture detail becoming blurred. In other scenes, other sub-native resolutions are employed, perhaps suggesting a dynamic framebuffer.
Xbox One
PlayStation 4
PC
PlayStation 3AMD’s TressFX technology appears on the PS4 and Xbox One in a new 2.0 implementation. The physics-based properties are dialled back on the next-gen consoles, though Lara’s hair behaves more realistically than in the PC game.
Xbox One
PlayStation 4
PC
PlayStation 3Depth of field is absent from some scenes on the Xbox One, while in others a lower quality effect seems to be in place.
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PlayStation 4
PC
PlayStation 3Some scenes show a texture resolution advantage to the PS4. However, the appearance of lower-quality assets on the Xbox One seems to be caused by a level of detail bug, where higher-res assets briefly fail to load.
Xbox One
PlayStation 4
PC
PlayStation 3The use of sub-surface scattering in combination with refined shader effects help to give Lara’s skin a more realistic look. Notice the increase in depth and detail the technique adds over the character’s previous model.
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Nevertheless, the range of improvements dotted across the Definitive Edition certainly bring the treacherous island of Yamatai to life to a degree we haven’t seen before in the standard game — this is a richer, more immersive environment. The question is, are we looking at genuinely new features here that represent an improvement over the significantly cheaper PC game, or are we faced with a set of compromises stemming from the dramatic makeover that has taken place?
A direct comparison with the PC version set to the ultimate quality preset reveals some large discrepancies between the Definitive Editions compared with the full-fat PC experience. Aspects such as tessellation are missing on the characters and environments, with some of these elements appearing more blocky on the PS4 and Xbox One as a result.
Meanwhile, motion blur is used much more sparingly, while texture resolution is noticeably lower in some cases. On the flip side, all the Definitive Edition graphical extras — such as the dynamic foliage and the impressive sub-surface scattering — are absent from the PC, which represents another (albeit smaller) compromise.
The differences here are interesting, because they suggest that the developers of both PS4 and Xbox One versions of Tomb Raider have made some sacrifices to allow for the key range of upgrades on offer in the Definitive Edition. We feel that TressFX may be the main culprit here, given how much impact the older iteration of the tech has on the PC game, where frame-rate can be halved by its inclusion in certain scenarios. Looking at the cut-scene performance analysis on PS4, we can see frame-rates drop significantly when Lara is on-screen, particularly in close-up. Another indication that TressFX sucks up considerable console GPU time concerns the sub-native cut-scene resolution downgrade we occasionally see on Xbox One.
Again, we suspect that it’s the close-ups on the TressFX-enabled Lara that incur the hit.
«The Definitive Edition includes effects not found on the PC game, but lacks key high-end rendering effects only computer users get to enjoy.»
Does the much cheaper PC version of the game feature all the non-Lara based enhancements found in the Definitive Edition? Well, no. However, some seriously impressive effects found in the PC game — like tessellation, for example — are nowhere to be found on next-gen console.
Alternative comparisons:
- Tomb Raider Definitive Edition: Xbox One vs. PC
- Tomb Raider Definitive Edition: PlayStation 3 vs. PC
Even with these compromises, the next-generation versions of Tomb Raider still deliver a massive jump in quality over the 360 and PS3 editions, and in many respects the brand new effects definitely help to further immerse us into the world Crystal Dynamics has created — even if the net result is not a truly definitive visual upgrade in all areas.
Despite some odd pouting moments and a frequent haunting look from Lara’s new eyes, her face arguably looks more human, and the optimised TressFX 2.0 implementation creates fewer bizarre physics incidents than the PC original.
That said, the extra crispness and clarity available on the PC game due to higher-resolution assets and better filtering are a big draw for the platform — those with top-spec dual GPU configurations can dial up the settings to the ‘ultimate’ preset and still enjoy extras such as SSAA (super-sampling anti-aliasing) for vastly superior image quality, or even ramp up the resolution to 4K — though beware TressFX bugs if you push resolution that high.
Tomb Raider is also one of the most scalable PC games we’ve played — producing great results in our GPU tests across the spectrum, and at its very lowest presets, we even managed to play it quite successfully on a Surface Pro.
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PlayStation 4
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PlayStation 3Tessellation helps to create smooth curves on Lara’s model and improves the appearance of various rocks and trees in the environment.
Disappointingly, the effect is visibly absent on the PS4 and Xbox, where Lara’s body features noticeably fewer polygons.
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PlayStation 3The Definitive Edition benefits from more foliage dotted about the environments compared to the PC and last-gen console versions. Trees dynamically sway in the wind on the PS4 and Xbox, but remain resolutely static on the other formats.
Xbox One
PlayStation 4
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PlayStation 3Environments feature reworked geometry and normal maps in the Definitive Edition, along with more foliage. However, texture resolution and polygon counts are higher on the PC, giving trees, rocks, and other objects a fuller look.
Xbox One
PlayStation 4
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PlayStation 3The volume of smoke and particle effects is increased on the Definitive Edition over the PC and last-gen versions of the game. Some of these effects are rendered at half-resolution on the Xbox One, leading to some blurrier looking scenes when these effects overlap with the characters and environment details.
However, this does appear to be limited to certain scenes — other areas look fine, even under intense eyeballing.
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Tomb Raider Definitive Edition: performance analysis
Our early look at performance revealed a startling gap between the next-gen platforms, with PS4 commanding a massive frame-rate advantage, while Xbox One even managed to drop below the 30fps mark under load. For the most part, on the PS4 we see frame-rates regularly fluctuating between 40-50fps depending on the complexity of the scene, with exploration in highly detailed areas with lots of effects responsible for the drop in performance. On the flipside, the game manages to hit 60fps pretty solidly in locations that have fewer effects at work, and in the more scripted action sequences where the rendering load is more predictable.
But despite the inconsistency in the PS4 experience, we still feel it’s the preferable buy. During combat — a key element in the game — we see the Xbox One drop down to the mid 20s, with the PS4’s higher frame-rate offering a clear advantage in both smoothness and response, despite the fluctuations — the bottom line is that the differences between 40-50fps on the PS4 are far less of an issue than, say, the 24-30fps drops incurred by the Xbox One.
That said, when exploring more complex locations filled with heavier effects work, the more consistent frame-rate provided by Xbox One has some advantages — motion has less judder during fast camera pans and more hectic moments, while the controls feel more stable. This is most obvious when the PS4 hovers between the 40-45fps mark, but once we reach metrics closer to 60fps, the inconsistent frame-rate is no longer a problem, and we get a smooth and fluid gameplay experience that the Xbox One simply cannot match. When PS4 operates at the full 60fps, it’s a superb experience — but its performance drops are in no way as damaging to the experience as they are on the Microsoft platform.
«Despite the inconsistency in its update, Tomb Raider on PS4 always hands in frame-rates well north of 30fps — useful during combat, where Xbox One can sometimes struggle.»
An enhanced version of our previous Tomb Raider Definitive Edition gameplay performance analysis.
Here, frame time in milliseconds is added in a separate graph, highlighting areas that could cause on-screen judder or dulled controller response.
To give a little more insight into what’s going on here, our new frame-time graph shows what is happening in more detail from a rendering perspective. Here we can see just how quickly frames are rendered and what impact this has on the level of smoothness on-screen — those dips and spikes in the graph now allow us to visualise the judder caused by fluctuating frame-rates.
From the outset it is clear that the Xbox One delivers the most consistency across a general run of play, with the game mostly adhering to a solid 30fps as Lara explores her surroundings. However, on the PS4 we see frequent dips and spikes in the render time between frames, translating into on-screen judder and a variance in controller response that does feel a little odd during fast-moving action. However, with Xbox One dipping under 30fps — often in scenes where sustained visual feedback and consistent controls are really a must, the Microsoft platform clearly comes up short in comparison to its unlocked rival.
Tomb Raider Definitive Edition: the Digital Foundry verdict
Last year’s reboot of Tomb Raider remains an excellent game well worth playing for those looking for new content on their next-generation consoles, with the Definitive Edition delivering a number of key graphical and performance upgrades that go some way to enhancing the look and feel of the game. You also get all of the DLC and extras from the previous versions included on day one (bar Xbox 360 exclusive multiplayer character «Zac») — another nice bonus. On top of that, the Definitive Edition also takes advantage of each console’s unique features in a limited fashion, such as being able to select weapons using Kinect gestures on Xbox One, while on PS4 the light bar on the Dual Shock 4 changes colour when Lara fires her pistol.
Overall, PlayStation 4 takes the lead where the next-gen consoles are concerned, with the higher quality effects work and higher frame-rates providing a preferable experience overall, particularly during heated combat, where the drops in performance are both felt and seen more heavily on the Xbox One.
That said, as we pointed out in the performance analysis earlier this week, we would have liked an optional 30fps cap in the display settings to eliminate the judder during the frame-rate fluctuations and keep absolute consistency with controller response throughout.
Cut-scene performance allows us to check out how each console deals with rendering the same content, though here the Xbox One game caps at 30fps, whereas the PS4 version runs unlocked, limited only by the 60fps limit that v-sync incurs.
For those wondering how it fares in comparison to the PC version, the choice isn’t quite so clear-cut. The open nature of the platform means that hardware upgrades and customisable graphics settings allow the user to dictate the resolution and frame-rate based around the compromises that are most important to them — so if you want a rock-solid 60fps and you’re prepared to trade TressFX to achieve it, that’s no problem at all.
Running with the ultimate preset enabled and the original TressFX in action, it’s clear that the Definitive Edition delivers an upgrade in select areas, but fails to trump the PC game in all respects.
