Versus Series: The Survivors

In This Versus Series I'll pit 4 characters from different series. Joel from The Last of Us, Lara Croft from Tomb Raider (the newer one), Jason Brody from Far Cry 3 and Ajay Ghale from Far Cry 4.

Joel was born near Austin, Texas. After losing his daughter when the CBI (Cordycps Brain Infection) epidemic that toke out most of the worlds population. He along with his brother Tommy fought too survive. His brother would join the Fireflies and Joel would take up smuggling too make ends meet. He along with a partner Tess was tasked too smuggle a girl named Ellie who was immune too the CBI too a hospital in Colorado too help get a cure. Tess was killed in Boston after buying time for Joel and Ellie too escape. After meeting Bill (a person who helped Joel with smuggling and owed Joel some favors) and getting a car too drive the way too Colorado. The Pair however ran into trouble in Pittsburgh when Hunters attacked them. Having escaped with another pair of survivors (Sam and Henry). Both Sam and Henry were killed after escaping (Sam was bitten and 'turned'. Henry shot himself after killing his brother) Joel and Ellie eventually made their way too Wyoming and met up with Tommy at a hydro-electric plant. Ellie ran off after having a disagreement with Joel. Both brothers had too rescue her from Hunters at a abandoned farmstead. After rescuing her, Joel and Elli made it too Colorado, too the hospital but the Fireflies had already left for Salt Lake City, Utah. They were attacked and Joel seriously injured. Ellie had too forge for food and medicine too heal Joel. Ellie ran into people who gave her medicine but were also cannibals. She ran from them but they tracked her too where she and Joel were hiding out. Ellie lead them away and was captured. Joel awakened and found out Ellie was missing. The cannibals were still in town when he awakened and attacked them too find out where Ellie was. Joel found out and during that time Ellie escaped. Joel recused her and together finally made it too Salt Lake City. After killing some infected they were briefly separated and Ellie almost drowned. In the process they both found the Fireflies. Joel would later discover that the only way too get a cure would be too kill Ellie. Unwilling too accept losing Ellie Joel rescued her and killed the Fireflies leader. They both went back too Tommys place in Wyoming.

Lara Croft was born in 1992 too Richard and Amelia Croft. Her mother passed away when she was young. Her father would later die from apparent self-inflected gunshot wound too the head. Lara was later taken care of by Conrad Roth but was mostly an orphan. Lara would graduate college and follow in her fathers footsteps. Her first expedition was too the Dragons Triangle too find the last island of Yamatai. Lara found it but her ship and shipmates were stranded. On Yamtai Lara had too do things she never thought she could do (kill people mostly). Lara endured a lot of physical and metal strain while on Yamatai but left the island with only a few members of her crew. Lara dealt with survivors guilt along with other mental issues. However Lara found out her father was right about certain things. She would spent endless amounts of time searching for the mythical city of Kitezh. After finding out about it in Syria and dealing with Trinity through both Syria and Siberia. Lara would find out lost city. Lara would also find out something she too was looking for but realized how it could be used for evil. Lara destroyed the object. Lara is more determined then ever too out the secrets of the world.

Jason Brody was born in 1987 in Los Angles, CA. Jason would attend college and maintain very good grades. He was also a skilled athlete and toke part in events. Jason would take part in many dare devil things like sky diving and the like. After landing on Rook Island, Jason and his friends are captured with the intent of being sold into slavery. Jason escapes but loses his older brother Grant. Jason battles through countless foes, killing every single one of them. Even those who wanted too sell himself and his friends into slavery. Jason starts too enjoy all the killing, however at the end he has too make a choice, the island or his friends. Jason choice is his friends and leave the island. He knows he is a monster but also knows that somewhere deep inside he is more and better then that.

Ajay Ghale (or AJ Gale) was born in the US but his really home is Kyrat (near India). His mother ran away from Kyrat when AJ was a small boy. She raised him as best she could but AJ was always getting into trouble and worrying his mother too death. AJ soon fell in with the wrong crowd and got into serious trouble. But got out of it for no jail time and joined the US Army and made it first class staff Sergeant with 7 years of service. With 2 tours of Iraq and Afghanistan. Retired with a Silver Star for bravery. His mother would later die of breast cancer (which she never told her son). AJ would read her will (and remember his last conversation with this mother) was too take her ashes too Kyrat and too Lakshamna. When AJ arrived in Kyrat he was taken by the dictator Pagen Min. He escapes and is rescued by the Golden Path. He decided too help them but only too help fulfill his mothers dying wish. After a long and brutal struggle, AJ does fulfill his mothers wish and finds out the that he had a half-sister and that Pagen and his mother got together (and this father was the founder of the Golden Path and that he was loose canon and tried too kill his wife). Pagen also named him "King" of Kyrat.

Now i will judge each in terms of Physical Abilities, Weapons Survival Skills and Mental Strength. First is Physical Abilities.

Joel: In his late 40's Joel is 5 ft 10-11ins tall. However Joel is a bear of a man. He is ruthless, very aggressive fighter and very good in hand too hand combat. He can even overwhelm people half his age rather quickly. Joel also has a high pain tolerance, shown when being impaled by a piece re-bar and still able too walk and shot a gun afterword. He also has decent speed and great stamina for someone at his age. Joel maybe toward the end of his physical prime but he doesn't show it. He is the elder statesmen out of the 4.

Lara Croft: 24 years old and stand 5ft 6ins tall. Lara is at the peak of female human condition. She is probably greater then an Olympic athlete. She can push herself for several hours at a time. She also has great finesse and agility due too her taking gymnastics when she was younger. And she is decent at hand too hand combat (has a "heavy swing") Her tolerance for physical pain and punishment is also very high. She'll take a beating and keep on going no matter what. Lara is very capable and shouldn't be underestimated. She is the youngest of the 4.

Jason Brody: 27 years old and stands 6ft 2in tall and weighs 197lbs. A skilled athlete in college, made more so during his time on Rook island. He can rival an Olympic athlete. His Tatau further improves on his strength, speed and endurance. Skilled in melee combat.

Ajay Ghale: 26 years old 5ft 10 1/2ins tall and weighs 167lbs. Served in the Army, so he has above average strength and stamina. While he is skilled in firearms and melee combat, he is far from perfect.

Verdict: What we have here is two athletes and two non-athletes but very capable physically. Jason and Lara obviously stand out but Joel isn't a slouch. Ajay is first out. Joel is next out due too his age (mostly). So it is between Jason and Lara. Jason is taller and weighs more then Lara. Lara is 3 years younger. Jason has the Tatau but is more then likely too even things out. They are both athletes and in top physical condition. I can't give even a slight edge. I declare both Lara and Jason equals in terms of physical abilities.

Weapons: Each character is skilled in the use of rifles, pistols, bows, shotguns and assault rifles. But since this will be a survival test along with combat, they will only have bare bones equipment and weapons too use. I will also count experience

Joel: Joel hunted as a hobby, so he is good with a bow or a rifle. His favorite weapon is a revolver. He has more experience with weapons then the rest of a characters. Joel will get a revolver, bow, shotgun and rifle. Joels up close weapon will be his fists

Lara Croft: Lara was trained by Conrad Roth and toke archery as a young girl. So she is capable with a gun and bow. Her first weapon she gets is a bow in both the Tomb Raider reboot and Rise of the Tomb Raider. Lara will get a bow, pistol, rifle and shotgun. Laras up close weapon will be a pair of  DTM Rebel ice axes.

Jason Brody: Jason is naturally talented firearms user. He is also a decent archer due too his brother Grant being an Army reservist. Jason had no previous training with firearms before going too Rook island. Jason will get a bow, pistol, rifle and shotgun. Jasons up close weapon will be a machete.

Ajay Ghale: Ajay was in the Army. Plus he was a street thug for a time. He has a handle on firearms. But like everyone else he'll get a bow, pistol, rifle and shotgun. Ajays up close weapon will be a Kikuri.

Verdict: This all depends on training and experience. 2 training (Lara, Ajay) 2 without (Joel, Jason). Joel has plenty of experience, as does Ajay with his Army training, Lara does as well. Jason is the only one without firearms training but makes up for it with been a natural with firearms. Jason is first out with his lack of proper training. Lara and Ajay doesn't have the experience. Joel gets the edge in terms of weapons.

Survival Skills: This will be based on hunting, savaging and use of resources and resource management. Including doing things aren't "good." Also other things will taken into account.

Joel: Has over 20 years of experience. He has done a lot of things too survive. He has killed innocent people too survive. He hunted as a hobby, so I'm sure he hinted for food. Joel is able too make things like shivs, nail bombs, smoke bombs, med kits and Molotov cocktails with stuff he finds laying around the environment. This also helps with his resource management because some things take what he has on hand is limited. Joel also has very acute hearing, being able too hear decent distances and with good accuracy too pin point the source of the sound.

Lara Croft: Lara has hunted for food, quite often when out in the field. Lara is also a very good scavenger, able too use piece of salvage too upgrade her weapons and equipment. Lara has experience in first-aid and she is able too use herbs and cloth too heal her wounds. She also able too make special ammo for her weapons. Lara also uses survival instincts too help her track animals and increase her sense of smell, sight and hearing.

Jason Brody: In order carry more weapons and items, Jason had too hunt animals and skin them. However Jason didn't have too scavenge for weapons or ammo while on Rook Island, he either toke them from his defeated enemies or bought them. Jason did have too make healing items and items that would increase his combat performance and increase his strength, senses and stamina for a limited time, making him a decent scavenger. Jason could craft some things on the fly if he needed but he needed too have the resources needed right at that moment.

Ajay Ghale: Like Jason, Ajay had too hunt animals and skin them for making his gear. Pretty much similar too Jason in basically everything. But his Army training does give him a leg up on Jason.

Verdict: Joel and Lara are experienced survivalists. They have done it long enough too make is a second nature too them. Ajay has his Army training. Jason is good at survival, as is Ajay but Lara and Joel are ahead of them. Joel has been doing it for much longer then the other 3. Joel and Lara get the edge in terms of Survival Skills.

Mental Strength: It takes a lot of mental strength too survive in a harsh environment. rule one of survival is "don't lose your head."

Joels Mental Strength: Joel has lived a hard life. Lost his daughter, lost Tess and suffered PTSD and thought of suicide. But came out of it sane enough too survive the world post-CBI. Joel has age and wisdom on his side. He has seen a lot and done a lot of things (some questionable). But he did what he had too do too survive.

Lara Crofts Mental Strength: Lara is a tough cookie. She is resistant too torture, pain and strain. Lara fought with everything she had too protect her friends while on Yamatai but she couldn't save them all. She deals with survivors guilt and had too take shrink sessions after Yamatai. She even questioned her hold on reality. The only thing that gave her comfort was researching myths about eternal life. Even being out in the field helps take her mind off of it. But in the field she can still get things done and survive. She is more sane then she gives herself credit for.

Jason Brodys Mental Strength: At first Jason is plenty sane but the more he kill while on Rook Island the more i would question his hold on reality. He even goes as far too say "Killing... it feels like winning." He is even taken drugs during his time on Rook Island (more then weed type of drugs). However he seems unaffected by them. And has enough sense too survive against people more crazy then he is. Jason does save his friends from capture at the end of the game by not going through with killing them. Even though he views himself as a monster, a monster doesn't have a heart..... Jason does.

Ajay Ghales Mental Strength: Ajay resisted psychological torture at the hands of Yuma Lue. She used drugs and other things too do it. But Ajay broke through it and broke Yuma in the process. While exposed too drugs while in Kyrat, it doesn't effect his mental prowess. His Army training and normal level headedness keep him sane and aware.

Verdict: If i had too rank them by worst too first, it would be Lara, Jason, Ajay and Joel. But it would be very subjective. Each has overcome a lot. I really don't like being nit-picky here. I declare each equals in terms of Mental Strength.

The Final Verdict: This is take place during the post CBI World of The Last of Us. With no power, running water or even basic things each character must use their survival skills too find the others and defeat each other. Each character will only have a little bit ammo too play with (like in most survival situaitons you will not have everything). Jason and Lara will have the leg up physically on Joel and Ajay. So getting too their food, water and shelter would be easier. Joel and Lara are better at Survival overall over Jason and Ajay. Joel however would use his weapons better then all the other 3 characters due too his experience. This wouldn't be a shootout but when it comes too fisticuffs, I'd expect it too be a cage match. Bloody, brutal and ruthless. Ajay will fall first, he has the mental strength and Army training but the survival skills, experience are lacking. Plus physically he doesn't match up. Joel has the experience but he is in his late 40's. He has the mental strength too survive but again his age. If he were in this 30's i wouldn't put him out. But being close too 50 years old he is past his physical prime. Now it is between Jason and Lara. Both are capable athletes, but Lara is a better survivor. What ever Jason does too her, Lara take it and then some. Lara has training while Jason doesn't. Lara has the experience, Jason doesn't. Jason will physically push her too the limit. But in the end, Lara will end up being the last one standing.

I declare, Lara Croft the Victor.

I've had this one on my mind for about a year now. And now i've put it down in cyber ink.