Poll: What's more survivable? Xenomorphs or Zombies?

[RJ 17]

Just an interesting question I feel like asking as I asked a friend of mine last night and apparently we're staunchly opposed to one another.

The question was simple: purely from a "it would be easier to survive" standpoint, would you rather be stuck in an on-setting Xenomorph (Aliens) infestation or an on-setting Zombie apocalypse?

I said it'd be easier to survive the Zombies, my friend believes it would be easier to survive the Xenos.

How about you, my fellow Escapists? Which horde do you believe would be easier to survive?

Edit: Since it seems the Xenos are winning out as "deadliest by far", I think I should go ahead and make a stipulation that should hopefully balance things out for the rotting ones.

As for the "class" of zombie, rather than thinking of the classic, shambling bunch of morons from the old-school zombie class, assume that the zombies in question are the "new-age zombies". That is, the super-psycho sprinting-at-full-speed zombies as seen in the remake of Dawn of the Dead and "technically" 28 Days Later, though I'd argue those are more mutant than zombie in that movie.

 

[DrRockor]

Xenomorphs are intelligent and can adapt to a situation, zombies on the other hand aren't

 

[Daystar Clarion]

Xenomorphs are clever creatures, they can can coordinate attacks, notice traps etc. They are killing machines.

Zombies are none of those things.

 

[DarkRyter]

Yeah, the Xenomorphs are deadly ferocious predators, resistant to most ways we have to kill things.

Zombies, on the other hand, can be decapitated and shot in the head. Things humanity is very, very capable of doing.

 

[Scarim Coral]

It depend on the surrounding. When I think of Xenomorph I think of that base station in Aliens 2 which that girl survive before the team arrive due to her small size allow her to slip into the vents.

Anyway I think a Zombie Apocalypse will be easier to survive as the Xenomorph are better than Zombies in term of performances (like climb onto the wall and ceiling and acid blood so no close combat against it) meaning we're screwed.

 

[senordesol]

"They cut the power man! How do they even know how to do that!?"*

*Never said in a Zombie movie. All that needs to be said in this scenario.

 

[RJ 17]

Yeah, those are pretty much all things I told my friend in my argument that Xenos were deadlier by far. But he did bring up the point that, while Xenomorphs were literally the original inspiration for the concept of a "Zerg Rush", zombies do tend to be much more numerous. Similarly, zombies are just as persistent and "curious" as Xenomorphs, by that I mean that in both cases, if there is any possible weakness in your fortifications, both xenomorphs and zombies will sniff it out and the situation can very quickly become FUBAR.

I still think Xenomorphs are deadlier by far, though.

 

[Daystar Clarion]

Yeah, those are pretty much all things I told my friend in my argument that Xenos were deadlier by far. But he did bring up the point that, while Xenomorphs were literally the original inspiration for the concept of a "Zerg Rush", zombies do tend to be much more numerous. Similarly, zombies are just as persistent and "curious" as Xenomorphs, by that I mean that in both cases, if there is any possible weakness in your fortifications, both xenomorphs and zombies will sniff it out and the situation can very quickly become FUBAR.

I still think Xenomorphs are deadlier by far, though.

Well think of it this way.

a zombie horde is like a flood. If you're smart, you'll stay on high ground and make sure that your hideout is barricaded enough to keep out the brain dead masses.

Xenomorphs, however, are like an SAS strike team.

 

[Lionsfan]

Zombies by far. They're pretty obvious about attacking, and it would be easier to notice an attack. Xeno's are intelligent creatures, so it's just like a human is attacking....a human that has acid blood and can make babies jump out of your skin

 

[Thaluikhain]

Zombies, as we tend to think of them, are utterly rubbish. Their only response to anything is to slowly shuffle towards it, moaning so the enemy knows they are coming. Also, they'd all die of exposure or starvation in a week or so.

They pose no particular threat at all.

Xenomorphs aren't particular threatening either, in the Aliens movie, the odds are always stacked in their favour to allow them to work. They are more scary than zombies, though.

 

[RJ 17]

Yeah, those are pretty much all things I told my friend in my argument that Xenos were deadlier by far. But he did bring up the point that, while Xenomorphs were literally the original inspiration for the concept of a "Zerg Rush", zombies do tend to be much more numerous. Similarly, zombies are just as persistent and "curious" as Xenomorphs, by that I mean that in both cases, if there is any possible weakness in your fortifications, both xenomorphs and zombies will sniff it out and the situation can very quickly become FUBAR.

I still think Xenomorphs are deadlier by far, though.

Well think of it this way.

a zombie horde is like a flood. If you're smart, you'll stay on high ground and make sure that your hideout is barricaded enough to keep out the brain dead masses.

Xenomorphs, however, are like an SAS strike team.

Heh again, something I mentioned to my friend, that barricading against zombies is much easier than trying to keep the Xenos out. Me-thinks I should through a wrench into the works before too many people voice their opinion...see if I can't give a handi-cap for the Zombies to try and even it out a bit. Editing OP now.

 

[MammothBlade]

28 Days Later zombies, possibly the most lethal and scariest incarnation, have a few things going for them against humans. High speed, numbers, and the ability to "recruit" humans to their kind very quickly and suddenly. One of their victims showed signs of zombification in less than a minute simply from getting zombie blood in their eye. Yet they do not possess any sort of intelligence, just base instinct and savagery. Whereas Xenomorphs - as well as using humans to create more of their kin in a matter of hours - have extremely acidic blood, and are shown to be intelligent, durable, fast, agile, and able to learn very quickly. Steel blast doors won't stop a determined Xenomorph from finding some way in.

 

[CODE-D]

Necromorph, hazzah! a new contender.

 

[Hollyday]

But oh so greater is the threat that they will one day cross-breed (ew, zombie/alien sex) to create an ultra-deadly force of zombomorphs who have hyper-intelligence, acid blood and ridiculously large numbers who can only die by lopping their heads off. Of course, their efficiency as a killing force will be dampened by the fact that they have to spend all day hanging round shopping centres to serve as a not-so-subtle dig at consumerism.

captcha - heads up. how does it know?

Edit:

Necromorph, hazzah! a new contender.

damn you. didn't see this until I'd clicked 'post'. That'll teach me for being lazy.

 

[DoPo]

Hmm, voted before I saw the edit in the OP. I still wouldn't change my vote though. The zombies are a very broad spectrum, when you say "zombie apocalypse" I'm thinking shamblers. But even if you use runners one thing remains - they are mostly mindless dead bodies. You'll have to add a lot of specifications to make the zombies really dangerous, like them having some limited intelligence, them being runners, being better than humans in some ways (like, being faster or more resilient) and so on. Incidentally, all those definitions and more are included in one word: xenomorph. It is a killing machine. Wait, that's not the propper term - it is a fucking killing machine. They are a hivemind of fast learning and adapting efficient murderers. To top it off, they steal your DNA to be even more effective against you.

Zombies: humans but maybe better in some ways. Not much different than facing an angry mob of people and humanity has survived them.

Xenomorphs: born killers who are human enough to kill us even more.

I'm sorry, there is no way you can convince me that Zombies are more dangerous. Especially since zombies should just rot off and die in a while.

 

[senordesol]

I know I posted earlier, but I think this thing is worth a side-by-side given the OP's edit.

Durability: Zombies do not feel pain, but they are every bit as 'durable' as a regular human. Xenomorphs have a hardened exoskeleton.

Natural Defenses: Zombies do not have any defenses to speak of and the only drawback for getting in close to them are their teeth, nails, and infectious blood. Take them methodically in a thick Hazmat suit, and you won't run into anything you can't handle. Xenos, on the other hand, actively avoid damage (if necessary), have a razor sharp stinger that can reach further than their body, a second projecting mouth that can break through glass, and a virulent acid for blood which (unlike Zombie blood) is deadly no matter where it touches you.

Attack Strategy: Zombies are not subtle, they will proceed forward until they get to their target, die, or until the target is out of reach heedless of all threats and circumstances in the mean time. Xenos know to 'mostly' come out at night, to sneak around armed targets, and to remain motionless and patient until the proper time to strike. If the attack goes south, xenos are smart enough to know when to quit and try again later.

 

[RJ 17]

Necromorph, hazzah! a new contender.

I intend to make a "series" out of this topic that'll go until I run out of ideas or I get bored with it. I actually was considering making this thread Xeno or Necro, but as I mentioned in the OP: this concept came from a conversation I actually had with a buddy of mine, so I just wanted to go ahead and get the original idea answered before starting into various pairings.

 

[IamQ]

How do you survive a Xenomorph apocalypse? One is hard enough. They bleed acid, their intelligent enough to learn from your movements and invent their own tactics, and they are fast. Fast as all freaking hell.

 

[Daffy F]

Xenomorphs are intelligent and can adapt to a situation, zombies on the other hand aren't

What about land of the dead? Or do we not speak of that travesty in these hallowed halls?

 

[M0rp43vs]

I'm voting Zombies being more survivable. Cracked has a full article on why zombie apocalypses wouldn't work but to add another reason: I know people who have plans for a fullscale zombie invasion and yet not have a plan for what they'll be doing with their lives in the next half decade.
That and as soon as we hear the first moan come from a shambling smelly humanoid, it'll be a race to see who'll be the first to smash it's head in with the nearest blunt instrument before we can determine if it was a resurrected corpse or a drunk hobo. Nipping the zombie menace in the bud.

Also,xenomorphs bleed acid, have tougher skin, are actually halfway intelligent(Well compared horror movie protagonists but they hover at around zombie intelligence themselves).

Now to make it more interesting though, Why not both?
What could be worse than a

Spoiler: X-com operatives, hold onto your hats

Chrysallid apocalypse