History Main / SmashingSurvival

Smashing Survival is where in order to break free of an enemy's grip or shake loose from a trap you fell into, you have to either smash the buttons, frantically spin the analog stick, or a combo of both. This element can be OK when used sparingly, but if used for every enemy or simply used too much, say hello to broken controller buttons/sticks and finger cramps. Wrist cramps can occur as well if this trope is used for the waggling effect on the UsefulNotes/{{Wii}} or [=PS3=] controllers.

* ''VideoGame/FatalFrame'' has it that if you smash the Confirm button X for UsefulNotes/{{PS2}} and A for UsefulNotes/{{Xbox}} on II, hit R1 for III, and [[{{Waggle}} waggle]] the Wii-mote on IV at the right moment, you can shake off the attacking ghost without taking damage. However, all three games require the Evade function equipped to do so. The first game? Good luck with those shots!

* If the cat runs afoul of a Zurk latching onto them in ''VideoGame/{{Stray}}'', a prompt appears to mash the [[HollerButton meow button]] to shake it off. Fail to do so quickly enough (and/or get dogpiled by more Zurks) and they'll eat the poor kitty alive.

%%* ''VideoGame/{{Bayonetta}}'' has this with some mooks and bosses.

[[folder:MMORPG]]
* In ''VideoGame/ChampionsOnline'', this is how you break out of hold and immobilize effects: hit Z until the hold or your keyboard breaks, whichever comes first.

* Players in ''VideoGame/{{Bomberman}} 64'' could "pump up bombs" by tapping a button. Hudson sold their own controller with autofire, advertised in Japan as especially well suited for the game.

* After getting [[StatusEffects frozen/put to sleep]] in ''VideoGame/SuperPaperMario'', you must shake the Wii remote to unfreeze yourself/wake up. You will also stop sleeping if you take damage, but shaking is the only way to become unfrozen.
* ''VideoGame/SuperMarioBros3'' had Micro Goombas that could cling to Mario and make his jumps extremely short. The only way to shake them off was to keep jumping until they fell off.
* ''VideoGame/SuperMario64'' lets you escape Chuckya by shaking the Control Stick and spamming A. ''WebVideo/Pannenkoek2012'' explains the mechanics of how to do so [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_R8c70zuJSw here.]]
* The Plasma Wisp power in ''VideoGame/KirbySuperStar'' builds up power this way.
* The fight with Crystal Snail in ''VideoGame/MegaManX2'' uses this; you have to button mash to escape his Crystal Hunter. Likewise, if you get caught by Crush Crawfish's crushing pincers in ''VideoGame/MegaManX3'', you have to do this if you want to minimize your damage.
** Also used to escape from the vacuum fish present in X and X5, and to escape from Web Spider's webs and the eyes in Cyber Peacock's level in X4.
* In ''VideoGame/KirbysEpicYarn'', one of [[MagiciansAreWizards Squashini's]] attacks leaves you tied up on stage with a nearby bomb's fuse burning away. Downplayed in that button mashing to wriggle free is easy; the real point is doing so quickly enough so you can ring a bell and collect all the beads that come out before the bomb explodes.

* In ''VideoGame/DragonsDogma'' getting grabbed by an enemy requires this in order to escape, unless one of your party members intervenes by attacking whatever caught you. It overlaps with PressXToNotDie during certain sequences, particularly the fight with the titular dragon.

* ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid'' and ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid2SonsOfLiberty'' both have their torture sequences wherein you must smash a button to keep from dying if you refuse to submit to it, which affects your ending. Auto-fire is [[BreakingTheFourthWall explicitly]] not allowed during them.
* ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid4'' has the Microwave Corridor, though you'll be very aware that it's coming. It also has the "Scarabs." Waggle analog stick to break free.
* In ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolidPeaceWalker'' and ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolidVThePhantomPain'', if you get stunned you need to waggle the analogue stick to wake up.

* ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid'' and ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid2'' both have their torture sequences wherein you must smash a button to keep from dying if you refuse to submit to it, which affects your ending. Auto-fire is [[BreakingTheFourthWall explicitly]] not allowed during them.

* Several of the big monsters from ''VideoGame/MonsterHunter'' have attacks that pin the player if they connect. Players who are pinned lie helpless on the ground as the monster attempts to eat them, which not only deals damage to them but also restores the monster's stamina in the process. The player can mash buttons to escape, or alternatively throw a dung bomb, which stuns the monster and lets the player escape.

* In ''VideoGame/CallOfDuty 3'', there are certain sections in which the player is required to do this to defeat a Nazi trying to grab your rifle.
** In a CallBack to this, ''VideoGame/CallOfDutyBlackOps'' has one section where an NVA soldier jumps on you and attempts to kill you; you have to mash the Use button to knock him away, at which point your character [[PineappleSurprise pulls the pins off one of the guy's grenades]]. There's also trying to push a door open before a tank runs you down and [[spoiler:drowning the BigBad at the very end of the game]].

"Nah. He's gonna be fine."]]

** ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOcarinaOfTime'' and ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaMajorasMask'' on the N64 and Gamecube had [=ReDeads=] that would freeze Link in place if they saw him and if they got to him, they would cling and bite multiple times. Both cases had you mashing buttons and wiggling the stick to break free.
** During the final fight against Ganondorf in ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTwilightPrincess'', you can lock blades with him for a button mashing minigame.

** There's a [[ThatCameOutWrong lot of rubbing to get released]] in ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaSpiritTracks Spirit Tracks]]'', [[ManEatingPlant Fire Babas]] eating you, [[ExtremeOmnivore Like Likes]] eating you, basically everything trying to eat you. [[spoiler: Plus driving your sword into the main villain's '''skull'''.]]
** When Moldarach of ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaSkywardSword'' grabs you, you have to shake the Wiimote and Nunchuck up and down to simulate Link smashing his sword and shield against the giant claw.

IF THE CAMERA KEEPS JERKING I’M GONNA BE SICK!!!\\

IF THE CAMERA KEEPS JERKING I’M GONNA BE SICK!!!\\

** ''VideoGame/SilentHill2'': In the first Pyramid Head boss fight, if the player is close enough to him, rarely he will catch James in a NeckLift, analogue sticks to break free, much like the nurses in the first game. If the player can't break free fast enough, Pyramid Head will be revealed to have an OverlyLongTongue (or maybe it's a tentacle?).

[[folder:Minigame Games]]
* While you're supposed to use your fingers for this sort of thing, the temptation to spin a control stick for this with the palm of your hand is so strong that Nintendo was forced to give special gloves to the litigious parents of ''VideoGame/MarioParty'' players. Ditto for [[{{Waggle}} Wii-mote waving]] and wrist straps later on.
* ''VideoGame/IncredibleCrisis'' features this frequently. A compilation of minigames from the PSX era, the first mission suckered people in with a simple DDR timed button entry clone. The second level was just a simple [[PressXToNotDie Quick Time Event]] level. The third level is where many players would destroy their tendons, as it required mashing the circle button, building up a gauge to slow a falling elevator. However, you'd also have to stop sometimes to avoid falling objects (don't ask), which made the level of the gauge decrease and you'd have to mash more. And once the elevator is stopped, [[spoiler: you'd have to do it again in the same level, within the remaining distance. Good luck if you stopped it at 100 feet...]]
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* Enemies in ''VideoGame/SilentHillOrigins'' can latch onto you, requiring you to either use Action Commands, or this, depending on the enemy, to break free.

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** ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil5'' is equally guilty with the executioner majini among others. The executioner majini even does ''both'' smashing survival and PressXToNotDie within the same attack sequence! During the final boss you get a [[UpToEleven Press X Then Mash X Then Shake L Stick Then Mash O Then Mash X Then Press L + R Then Mash X Then Press O]] sequence just to move ''a frigging rock''.

* In ''VideoGame/SuperMarioKart'', moles would jump out of holes onto to front of your kart, slowing you down and blocking your vision. You had to hop quickly and repeatedly to shake them off.

* In ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolidPeaceWalker'', if you get stunned you need to waggle the analogue stick to wake up.

* Capcom's ''VideoGame/StreetFighter'' games have several grab moves which use this trope. For example, if you get caught in Zangief's command grabs or Blanka's head bite, you can mash the buttons to escape faster. Interestingly, the attacker can also mash the buttons to increase the damage done by his grab, so this is kind of a double trope. A bystander passing an arcade Street Fighter machine would often see both players frantically whaling on the buttons at the same time.

* Capcom's ''VideoGame/StreetFighter'' games have several grab moves which use this trope. For example, if you get caught in Zangief's head bite, you can mash the buttons to escape faster. Interestingly, the attacker can also mash the buttons to increase the damage done by his grab, so this is kind of a double trope. A bystander passing an arcade Street Fighter machine would often see both players frantically whaling on the buttons at the same time.

"Nah. He's fine."]]