That Famous Countdown...

We all know it. We all have our own opinions on it.
Yes. That's right. The countdown. No, not the T.V. show.


The fear inducing, panic erupting terrorizing sound that is known as the drowning timer. You picture your character's lungs filling with water and go into a total state of shock, and before you know it, time's up.


The countdown appears in practically every Sonic game that you can drown in.


It even appears in fan games.

Nope, there's no way to escape the horror.
So yeah, what's your favorite rendition of the theme?

I still hold that the original 2D games one was the most horrific to hear. The later versions got more... musical, and almost epic-sounding. It feels like...
'You are in trouble in this game. You'd best get moving, or Sonic is gonna drown!'
The original was more... like an alarm in a way, a warning. It was more...
'You are drowning! You are going to die! You are in serious trouble!'
It was panic-inducing, terrifying. To this day it still really gets at me, even just listening to it apart from the game.
Chemical Plant Zone... my childhood will never forgive you.

I agree, while the new 3D games made great revamps of the theme, nothing beats the old 16-bit version beating in your ears with its sharp notes, reminding you death is near.

*shudders at sound*

Nothing makes you try and rush like that horrid countdown.

I think the BTS version is the most terrifying version, if I'm honest.

I'm fan renditions don't try to make it more epic, like Sega does, but tries to make it more dire, so that is expected.

I dunno, the BTS version sounds like it did go for 'epic' in my mind. I mean, those violins make me imagine it more Phantom of the Opera than anything else. XD