History Main / PostDefeatExplosionChain

Generally, the explosions simply occur at random positions on the entity's body, even if there is nothing at that location that seems like it should be able to explode. The explosions may not even match the mask of the structure very precisely, causing even seemingly empty air to erupt in flame.

This is an easy effect to achieve with sprite animation -- all a game has to do is spawn a series of explosion sprites at random locations. Staggering the explosions in sequence reduces the number of sprites needed on-screen at the same time, which makes it easier for older hardware to handle while still giving a satisfyingly destructive effect. Often the explosions are spawned at a constant rate, giving a characteristic rhythm to this kind of destruction.

* ''VideoGame/PowerBomberman'': One of the stages takes place atop the [[CoolAirship Armor Joe]]. Blowing up all the engines in a section will destroy it, causing it to detach with a quick succession of small explosions.

* ''VideoGame/Tyrian'' does this a lot. Sometimes the explosions continue after the enemy disappears.

* ''Frsnchise/YuGiOh'': Whenever a powerful ace monster is destroyed, it usually explodes in this type of manner.

* The bosses 2D VideoGame/WorldOfMana titles tend to go down in explosive fireworks, perhaps a sign that these beasts have overstuffed themselves with so much mana that defeating them causes them to overload and blow up.

* ''VideoGame/{{Galaxian}} 3: Project Dragoon'': If the [[WaveMotionGun Cannon Seed]] is damaged enough to get destroyed, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uHIMumv3GEM&list=PL9PErHPb5c3TBCpA7SyanJNMRc9R2i5Ou&index=6&t=651s it sill start to explode with progressively larger explosions]].

* ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaALinkToThePast'': Enemies and bosses resembling segmented worms, such as Sandworms, Lanmolas and Moldorms, tend to go down in a series of small explosions, each destroying a segment until nothing's left.
** This was carried over into ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTheWindWaker'' with Molgera, the giant SandWorm guarding the Wind Temple. After Link delivers the killing blow, Molgera flies into the air screeching; its body segments then turn to sand and promptly explode one after the other.

* Some bosses in ''VideoGame/TheLegendaryStarfy'' series explode continuously while sinking below the screen upon defeat, such as Big Squiddy in 5 and Degil in 4.

* A LighterAndSofter version occurs in ''VideoGame/McDonaldsTreasurelandAdventure''--after Ronald lands the final hit on a boss, a series of large stars appear randomly all over the screen, growing and disappearing like the explosions in other examples.

* At the end of ''Anime/MacrossDoYouRememberLove'', once Hikaru blasts [[LoadBearingBoss Bodolzaa]] to smithereens, the mobile fortress that housed Boldolzaa starts to suffer a chain reaction of explosions until the entire fortress goes up in one big fireball. However, Hikaru and the Macross are completely safe in the center of all this.

* In ''Film/WarOfTheWorlds'', Ray sticks a grenade into a tripod. The tripod then explodes repeatedly and falls over.

* When you sink a ship in ''Pinball/BlackRose'', it explodes several times before sinking for good.

* ''VideoGame/AdventureKingdom'': Bosses, with one last large explosion in the end before destruction. -- '''Note: still a ZCE'''

* ''VideoGame/{{Galaxian}} 3: Project Dragoon'': If the [[WaveMotionGun Cannon Seed]] is damaged enough to get destroyed, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uHIMumv3GEM&list=PL9PErHPb5c3TBCpA7SyanJNMRc9R2i5Ou&index=6&t=651s it sill start to explode with progressively larger explostions]].

* ''Franchise/MegaMan'':
** ''VideoGame/MegaManII'': At the end of the game, you shoot down Dr. Wily's escape pod with a giant missile. Wily then explodes repeatedly and crash-lands on Earth in a massive skull-shaped explosion.
** ''VideoGame/MegaManZero'': When bosses are defeated, they give off numerous small explosions before a big one at the end. The only bosses that do not explode in this manner are the [[EnergyBeings Baby Elves]].

* ''Franchise/PowerRangers'' MonsterOfTheWeek types tend to spark a lot before dramatically falling and then going up in a huge ball of [[MadeOfExplodium explodium]].

This is an easy effect to achieve with sprite animation - all a game has to do is spawn a series of explosion sprites at random locations. Staggering the explosions in sequence reduces the number of sprites needed on-screen at the same time, which makes it easier for older hardware to handle while still giving a satisfyingly destructive effect. Often the explosions are spawned at a constant rate, giving a characteristic rhythm to this kind of destruction.

Some games that use this effect attempt to inject more realism by having parts explode in a more logical fashion - for example, having the extremities disintegrate prior to the main body instead of the whole thing just randomly exploding all over.

Obviously, machines in RealLife don't tend to behave this way - if something blows up, it tends to do it all at once rather than in a sequential manner or randomly across the machine.

* Some bosses in ''VideoGame/CaveStory'', like Omega or Monster X, give out a few explosions here and there before vanishing in a white flash of screen-filling "+"-shaped explosion.
* ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaALinkToThePast'': Enemies and Bosses resembling segmented worms, such as Sandworms, Lanmolas and Moldorms, tend to go down in a series of small explosions.