History Main / CatastrophicCountdown

** The first game is a bit of an interesting case. While the UsefulNotes/{{N|intendoEntertainmentSystem}}ES original completely averts the trope after defeating Mother Brain, the {{G|ameBoyAdvance}}BA remake ''VideoGame/MetroidZeroMission'' barely offers an appropriate retcon for playing it straight in the same place. However, ''Zero Mission'' does avert the trope later on in the Space Pirate mothership.

* In the UsefulNotes/SegaGenesis video game ''Franchise/XMen: [[VideoGame/XMenCloneWars Clone Wars]]'', destroying the Sentinel activates the self-destruct function of the entire Sentinel factory... and hundreds of smaller, random explosions prior to the one that actually destroys the factory.

* A countdown isn't actually seen in ''[[Videogame/RogueSquadron Rebel Strike]]'', but the trope is present in spirit in the climax where [[spoiler:Han Solo has to escape from the self-destructing Endor shield generator Bunker while fighting against Sarkli before the base completely self-destructs.]]
* In ''Videogame/MedalOfHonor: Allied Assault'', after planting the bombs, Fort Schmerzen is rocked by explosions that you have to stay ahead of as you race for the exit, although it doesn't completely explode until you get out.

* In ''Film/{{Aliens}}'', the mining facility where the action is set begins to fall apart several minutes before the 19-minute countdown given by Bishop until the reactor's failure. In this case, there is overlap with ExcessiveSteamSyndrome as well. Justified as the reactor is breaking down as it's overheating -- the countdown is simply an estimate until it goes critical.

* In ''Film/{{Aliens}}'', the mining facility where the action is set begins to fall apart several minutes before the 19-minute countdown given by Bishop until the reactor's failure. In this case, there is overlap with ExcessiveSteamSyndrome as well.

* ''VideoGame/{{Star Fox 64}}'': During the Fortuna mission, Slippy notices several enemy craft leaving the captured base. [[MissionControl ROB 64]] informs the team that the enemy planted a bomb in the base; before anyone can defuse it, they must deal with an attack by Star Wolf. If you drag out the battle, you'll notice the base starting to spark and billow forth a few small explosions.

** ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOcarinaOfTime'' features a sequence where Zelda informs you that [[CollapsingLair Ganondorf's castle is collapsing]] and they must escape within three minutes. Justified in that said castle is upheld by magic, [[LoadBearingBoss which would be fading after Ganondorf's defeat]].

!!You have two minutes to read examples of this trope

** The first game is a bit of an interesting case. While the {{N|intendoEntertainmentSystem}}ES original completely averts the trope after defeating Mother Brain, the {{G|ameBoyAdvance}}BA remake ''Metroid: Zero Mission'' barely offers an appropriate retcon for playing it straight in the same place. However, ''Zero Mission'' does avert the trope later on in the Space Pirate mothership.

The bomb is usually on a short fuse. If the bomb dooms the villain, a CatastrophicCountdown ties in naturally with a CollapsingLair. While this trope usually serves the need to make the danger a bit more visible, it is not unreasonable for a SelfDestructMechanism to destabilize before it obliterates.

->''"Thank you for activating the SelfDestructMechanism. This ship will detonate in [[TimeBomb three minutes.]] In the meantime, please enjoy some [[StuffBlowingUp random explosions]] and blasts of steam. Human Resources thought it would make things more dramatic than a red light and a klaxon."''
-->-- Spaceballs

See also: NoOSHACompliance, MadeOfExplodium. Compare GoingCritical.

->''Thank you for activating the SelfDestructMechanism. This ship will detonate in [[TimeBomb three minutes.]] In the meantime, please enjoy some [[StuffBlowingUp random explosions]] and blasts of steam. Human Resources thought it would make things more dramatic than a red light and a klaxon.''

* ''VideoGame/{{Halo 3}}'' has a variant of this. After starting up the [[DepopulationBomb Halo Ring]] the ring needs several minutes to charge and literally shakes itself apart. The last section of the game is a mad dash to find a way off. While there's no explicit timer, the structural plates fall off at a constant rate. Justified in that the thing was half-built when it was fired. (It was a replacement for the one blown up in the first game.)

The bomb is usually on a short fuse. If the bomb dooms the villain, a CatastrophicCountdown ties in naturally with a CollapsingLair. While this trope usually serves the need to make the danger [[ViewersAreMorons a bit more visible]], it is not unreasonable for a SelfDestructMechanism to destabilize before it obliterates.

* In the UsefulNotes/SegaGenesis video game ''{{Franchise/X-Men}}: [[VideoGame/XMenCloneWars Clone Wars]]'', destroying the Sentinel activates the self-destruct function of the entire Sentinel factory... and hundreds of smaller, random explosions prior to the one that actually destroys the factory.

* In the SegaGenesis video game ''{{Franchise/X-Men}}: [[VideoGame/XMenCloneWars Clone Wars]]'', destroying the Sentinel activates the self-destruct function of the entire Sentinel factory... and hundreds of smaller, random explosions prior to the one that actually destroys the factory.

The bomb is usually on a short fuse. If the bomb dooms the villain, a CatastrophicCountdown ties in naturally with a CollapsingLair. While usually this trope is serves the need to make danger [[ViewersAreMorons a bit more visible]], it is not unreasonable for a SelfDestructMechanism to destabilize before it obliterates.

The bomb is usually on a short fuse. If the bomb dooms the villain, a CatastrophicCountdown ties in naturally with a CollapsingLair. While usually this trope is serves the need to [[ShowDontTell make danger visible]], it is not unreasonable for a SelfDestructMechanism to destabilize before it obliterates.

** This may be justified, in that the big boom is an engineering failure in progress, rather than a set of bombs programmed to go off at a precise time.

** In ''VideoGame/MetroidPrime'' Hunters, the single player campaign has every single planet you visit blowing up for little more reason than "the Alimbics don't want you here, get out before you die". The countdown itself is rarely problematic, but the enemies and Hunters between you and your ship are a different story.

* ''VideoGame/Dino Crisis'':

** ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOcarinaOfTime'' features a sequence where Zelda informs you that Ganondorf's castle is collapsing and they must escape. You are given a countdown of three minutes to reach the exit.
** ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaMajorasMask'' displays one when only six hours remain before the moon crashes onto Termina. The countdown replaces the clock.

* Dino Crisis 2 plays it straight with facility at the end. There is a large tremor just as the self destruct countdown begins, and then in the final FMV everything begins to blow towards the end of the countdown.
** Dino Crisis 3 does it twice. The first time is justified, as the Ozymandias's primary power core has gone into critical overload and everything is shaking apart as a result, though this part strangely lacks a countdown. The second time however plays it straight, as soon as the self-destruct countdown begins, the ship starts shaking violently every few seconds, and on your way to the escape shuttle there are explosions and falling debris. The following FMV shows the interior of the ship collapsing spectacularly as the ship's computer counts down the last 10 seconds.

** ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOcarinaOfTime'' features a sequence where Zelda informs you that Ganondorf's castle is collapsing and they must escape. You are given a countdown where one would normally not exist, but more to the trope, large pieces of debris are unexplainably ON FIRE.

** ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOcarinaOfTime'': During the endgame, Zelda announces that Ganondorf's tower is collapsing and they must escape.
** ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaMajorasMask'' displays one when only six hours remain before the moon crashes onto Termina. The countdown replaces the clock.

* ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOcarinaOfTime''. During the endgame, Zelda announces that Ganondorf's tower is collapsing and they must escape.
* ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaMajorasMask'' displays one when only six hours remain before the moon crashes onto Termina. The countdown replaces the clock.
* Turok: Evolution has a huge city suspended above a canyon with giant tethers. At one point, you must destroy the city by releasing the tethers, sending it crashing down to the canyon floor. Once the tether release consoles are activated, the countdown begins, and the city begins to collapse around you, along with lots of tremors. All of this WOULD make perfect sense, if it weren't for the fact that only when you finally DO escape, do the tethers actually detach from the canyon walls.

* The laboratory self destruct mechanisms in the ''Franchise/ResidentEvil'' series do this.
** While some of them do, others actually averted it. The self destruct sequence in the original the first one in Code Veronica had no destruction or tremors until the countdown expired or you finished the escape.