8 Worst Time Limit Sections In Video Games
2. Labyrinth Zone - Sonic The Hedgehog
Sonic the Hedgehog's Labyrinth Zone doesn't saddle players with an overall time limit, though being the first Zone in the game to go underwater, introduces a time-sensitive mechanic where players will drown if they don't either find air bubbles or reach the surface within a set time.
After around 18 seconds underwater without reaching an air bubble, a terrifying alarm sound effect will begin - you know the one - signalling to players that poor ol' Sonic's about to run out of oxygen and die. If you go 30 seconds without replenishing your air or reaching the surface, Sonic is indeed cooked.
That dread-inducing alarm jingle is burned into the mind of anyone who's ever played the original Sonic, and made an already stressful, time-poor stretch of gameplay that much worse.
Overall Labyrinth Zone isn't an especially punishing part of the game, but Sega really turned the pressure up whenever Sonic is required to get wet.