Zombie

First appearance: Resident Evil 1

Information

Zombies were once human, but were infected with and consequently resurrected with the T-Virus. The virus was most likely transmitted to them through either an infected water source or contact with virus-carrying rodents. Once they come in contact with the virus, they suddenly mutate and begin to decay. Because of their grotesque appearance, they are referred to as the living dead or zombies. Their intelligence severely deteriorates and is accompanied by decay of their muscle tissue. Blood also congeals all over the skin. All functions outside of the autonomic nervous system are completely shut down, resulting in an inability to feel pain. A zombie’s abnormally high vitality stems from its incredible metabolism (this is also the cause of the itching sensation reportedly experience before death). An extreme hunger seems to drive them to wander in search of human flesh, which provides them with the tremendous amount of energy necessary to sustain their high metabolism. In order to absorb the consumed human flesh efficiently, the stomach stores high acidic digestive juices. There have been cases documented of zombies vomiting this acidic substance at human victims.

A zombie is not deterred by inconsequential damage, and will continue its search for food even with severed limbs or when missing the lower half of its body. However, the head is an exception. The zombie will die if its head is destroyed. Additionally, without an appropriate food source (human flesh), it becomes unable to act. It will resort to feeding on other zombies. In other words, zombies finally resort to “cannibalism” and fall prey to each other.

Originally, the only zombies in existence were the byproduct of research experiments, but due to a biological disaster at the research facility below Raccoon City, the number of infected rose astronomically. The worst case scenario became reality as the citizens of Raccoon City were transformed into the living dead. These strange “life” forms became the focus of the investigation conducted by the secret UBCS surveillance force.

Zombies retain many of the physical features of the human beings they once were. It’s easy to imagine the type of person a zombie was before it became infected, especially with those that worked at a uniform occupation (police officers, factory workers, etc).

ZOMBIE VARIATIONS

Police Zombie

These uniformed zombies were once officers in the Raccoon City Police Department. Their numbers are plentiful because even off-duty officers were mobilized to quell the riots caused by the cannibalistic disease. It’s believed that they’re wearing summer uniforms. (BIOHAZARD 2 / BIOHAZARD 3)

Female Zombie

As the name implies, this is a general term for all female zombies. Due to the revealing clothing worn in the summer, the many bite wounds over their body stand out. (BIOHAZARD 2 / BIOHAZARD 3)

Graveyard Zombie

Declared dead after being infected by the T-Virus, these zombies have mutated after being buried. (BIOHAZARD 1 / BIOHAZARD: CODE VERONICA)

Prisoner Zombie

These zombies were once prisoners confined on Rockfort Island. A shaved head is their distinguishing characteristic. (BIOHAZARD: CODE VERONICA)

Personnel (Researcher) Zombie

These zombies were infected with the T-Virus while working in the mansion and research facility. There are a lot of these zombies, indicating how many people were in these facilities. (BIOHAZARD 1)

Town Zombie

The citizens of Raccoon City were infected with the T-Virus by transmission through the rodent population. This zombie type includes many from outside Raccoon City as well, since many of them were in town to attend a football game at the time of the Outbreak. (BIOHAZARD 2 / BIOHAZARD 3)

Edward Zombie

A member of the Bravo Team sent to investigate the Raccoon Forest zone. Edward Dewey was attacked and turned into a zombie. (BIOHAZARD 0)

Forest Zombie

STARS Bravo Team’s equipment manager, Forest Speyer, was killed and mutated into a zombie during the mansion incident. (BIOHAZARD 1)

Bomb Zombie

These are essentially the same as the Forest Zombies. However, they carry many hand grenades. (BIOHAZARD 1)

Naked Zombie

Found in the Arklay research facility, it’s thought that these zombies were subjects for the T-Virus experiments. (BIOHAZARD 1)

Improved Zombie

These can be found mainly wandering the Raccoon City underground research facility. They’re the product of weapons development testing, and thus are much stronger than other zombies. (BIOHAZARD 2 / BIOHAZARD 3)

Trainee Zombie

Before being turned into zombies, these people were trainees in Umbrella’s special forces. As a result of the training, their muscle tissue hasn’t degraded as fast as other zombie types, and they deal more damage. Some of them drop weapons. (BIOHAZARD: CODE VERONICA)

Worker Zombie

Zombies of this type are commonly found on Rockfort Island and in the Antarctic Base. They’re believed to have been workers charged with sorting and storing cargo. Depending on their location, the color of their uniforms will vary. (BIOHAZARD: CODE VERONICA)

Guard Zombie

These zombies are encountered in the Rockfort Island training facility and the Antarctic Base. They wear holsters on their hips, but are incapable of using firearms. (BIOHAZARD: CODE VERONICA)

Wesker Subordinate Zombie

These Zombies were members of a mysterious special forces unit spearheaded by Wesker. Some of them have dynamite strapped to them, and are thus classified separately as Bomb Zombies. (BIOHAZARD: CODE VERONICA)

Parasite Zombie

These zombies wander around with parasitic larvae laid by moths attached to their abdomens. Their appearance is identical to that of the Worker Zombies found in the Antarctic research facility, but the larvae will detach when approached by a human. (BIOHAZARD: CODE VERONICA)

Doctor Zombie

This zombie formerly worked in the medical room in the prison, performing autopsies. It’s considerably faster than most other zombie types, and it’s so durable that its limbs cannot be severed. (BIOHAZARD: CODE VERONICA)

Burnside Zombie

This creature is the result of a failed experiment to fuse Steve Burnside’s father with the T-Veronica virus. Just like any other zombie, it has little intelligence and will even attack its own son. (BIOHAZARD: CODE VERONICA)