Originally posted by Bob McDob
The Shivans, of course (generally accepted as a Bug\Shadow\8472 ripoff... and named after an Indian god, to boot) are VERY xenophobic, and seem to enjoy running throughout the galaxy blowing everything up (they DID detonate Vasuda Prime...and Capella...and tried to do the same to Earth).
Actually, that theory IS rather workable.
Pfft.
Shivan archetype predates all of the newcomers you listed. I think the best comparison for the Shivans is the Berserkers (big robotic battleships out to destroy all organic life in the Universe down to beyond the molecular level).
What can I say, though. The big, bad, alien race coming to conquer us all can be useful if done right. I personally feel the FS1 Shivans are about the best implementation of it that I've seen to date (otoh, I was rather disappointed with the FS2 story and its 'ending').
Comparisons between Nephilim and Shivans -
Both names are assigned and based on destructive figures in Earth religions
Both seem to be some sort of insectoid hive race (although less is known about the Shivans).
Both seem ready to kill anything that moves (although FS2 has a notable exception).
Both appeared pretty much out of nowhere to launch a genocidal attack against the locals.
Differences -
The Nephilim are a lot more talkative (combat against Shivans is silent, which only helps to reinforce their alieness, imho).