History Main / TimedPowerUp

** Every game since the first ''VideoGame/DiabloI'' features Shrines, stationary objects with random effects that commonly include temporary buffs to speed, defense, offense, experience gain, etc. A common strategy in ''VideoGame/DiabloIII'' is to clear out the enemies in an area without activating its shrines, then run through the area activating all of them as quickly as possible to stack several bonuses before teleporting into a challenging area such as a rift, Whimseyshire, or a boss fight.

* In ''VideoGame/WonderMomo'', Momo can transform into her HenshinHero form, Wonder Momo, when she builds up "WONDER" and touches a tornado power-up. Being in this form gives her a Wonder Hoop projectile and other extra attacks in addition to her standard melee attacks, but slowly drains her "WONDER". When it runs out, she returns to her regular form. Since the whole game is a parody of {{toku}}, it serves as a reference to the [[HourOfPower timed transformations]] of heroes from ''Series/{{Ultraman}}'' and similar series.

* ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros'': Unlike most weapons that [[BreakableWeapons wear out from use]] as opposed to over time, the Hammer causes the wielder to attack [[PowerfulButInaccurate powerfully but uncontrollably]] for a set amount of time during which the wielder (whose [[MightyGlacier mobility is decreased]]) frantically attempts to catch the other players for a possible OneHitKO. The [[InvincibilityPowerUp Starman]] also returns from the ''Franchise/SuperMarioBros'' franchise.

* ''Franchise/SuperMarioBros'' franchise:

* ''VideoGame/KirbysReturnToDreamLand'': The "super abilities", as opposed to regular abilities, will go away after about a minute. It's to balance the fact that these abilities are VERY powerful and capable of clearing through levels and dealing major damage to enemies on his way.

* ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog'': Sonic's InvincibilityPowerUp and running shoes work on a timer.

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** The Lightning Bolt is something of an inversion; rather than boosting the user directly, it [[StandardStatusEffects shrinks]] every opponent on the track, slowing them down and making them vulnerable to getting run over by the sole normal-sized player left. The effect wears off after a short time.
** Similar to the Lightning Bolt, the Blooper covers all enemies' screens in [[StandardStatusEffects blinding]] ink for a short time. In the UsefulNotes/NintendoDS versions it's [[UselessUsefulSpell pretty easy for a human player to steer by the map on the second screen]], but [[AIBreaker computer-controlled karts will veer wildly]].

** ''VideoGame/Unrealchampionship'', ''VideoGame/UnrealTournament2003'' and ''VideoGame/UnrealTournament2004'' have the [[QuadDamage Double Damage]], which lasts 30 game seconds.

* The QuadDamage PowerUp in the ''VideoGame/{{Quake}}'' games not only lasts for a limited time, it also respawns on a regular timer, allowing expert players to attempt to return precisely when it respawns in order to maximize the amount of time they spend in a buffed state.
* Timed QuadDamage {{Power Up}}s also appear in the ''VideoGame/SeriousSam'' and ''VideoGame/UnrealTournament'' games.

{{Power Up}}s usually don't last forever. One common limiting factor is to have them expire after a set amount of time. This is very common with {{Invincibility Power Up}}s, where a limiting factor is necessary to avoid a GameBreaker but other such factors like losing the PowerUp [[SingleUseShield upon taking damage]] don't make sense. Also common with QuadDamage. Nearly always accompanied by a PowerUpMotif.

* ''Franchise/{{Diablo}}'' franchise:
** Every game since the first ''VideoGame/{{Diablo}}'' features Shrines, stationary objects with random effects that commonly include temporary buffs to speed, defense, offense, experience gain, etc. A common strategy in ''VideoGame/DiabloIII'' is to clear out the enemies in an area without activating its shrines, then run through the area activating all of them as quickly as possible to stack several bonuses before teleporting into a challenging area such as a rift, Whimseyshire, or a boss fight.

* The [[PowerUpFood Bloody Rose lollipops]] and the [[InvincibilityPowerUp Yellow Moon lollipops]] from the ''{{VideoGame/Bayonetta}}'' franchise only last for a short time, with their Mega versions lasting twice as long. [[FridgeBrilliance This presumably is because they only work for as long as Bayonetta is eating them]].

* In the ''Franchise/CrashBandicoot'' series, picking an Aku Aku mask gives you a SingleUseShield. However, if you collect 3 of them, you'll become invincible for about 30 seconds before Aku Aku reverts to its normal state.

* Many of the power-ups in id Software's ''VideoGame/{{Doom}}'' series have a time limit. The berserker pack turns the environment reddish, gives the player the punch power of a double shotgun, and lasts about twenty seconds. [[InvincibilityPowerUp Invulnerability]] turns things whitish, renders the player immune to damage and lasts twenty seconds. Invisibility that makes the player tough to hit accurately lasts about thirty seconds. Radiation suits that shield the player from passive hazard damage turns things greenish and lasts about forty seconds.
** The berserker pack ''looks'' like it lasts for about twenty seconds. The punch upgrade actually lasts until the player moves to another map. This isn't even a bug: the packs are usually placed as a health item (they do restore health up to 100%) before regions (like warehouse mazes) where melee might be viable.

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Non-Video-Game Examples]]
[[AC: Comic Books]]
* The [[UsefulNotes/TheGoldenAgeofComicBooks Golden Age]] Creator/DCComics hero Hourman took special "Miraclo pills" that gave him super powers for exactly one hour.

[[AC: Western Animation]]
* ''WesternAnimation/BugsBunny'' short "Super-Rabbit". A scientist creates "super carrots" through the application of AppliedPhlebotinum and gives them to Bugs. Bugs gains super powers from eating them, but only for a limited time (exactly how long they last depends on RuleOfFunny).
* ''WesternAnimation/MiraculousLadybug'': When a Bearer uses their special power, it triggers a five-minute MagicCountdown, at the end of which their kwami's energy runs out and they need to detransform.

* In the various ''Franchise/DynastyWarriors'' games (From the original Dynasty Warriors to Samurai Warriors and to Gundam, Fist of the North Star and Hyrule), power-ups are available to increase your character's strength, speed and musou. The only catch is that it can last for at least a few minutes.

* {{Elsword}}: There are "aura" and "potion" items dropped in dungeons (and randomly in PVP) that give whoever take them temporary buffs, such as [[QuadDamage stronger attacks]] or increased body size.

* The [[UsefulNotes/TheGoldenAgeofComicBooks Golden Age]] DCComics hero Hourman took special "Miraclo pills" that gave him super powers for exactly one hour.

* In ''VideoGame/TheAddamsFamily'' game for SegaGenesis, Gomez can collect a timed InvincibilityPowerUp in certain sections, as well as a helicopter cap that lets him fly for a limited time.

* ''Franchise/MarioKart'':

** The [[InvincibilityPowerUp Starman]], which debuted in ''VideoGame/SuperMarioBros'', is the TropeCodifier. It makes Mario flash different colors and inverts the game's usual CollisionDamage: rather than Mario dying on contact with enemies, the reverse becomes true. It is accompanied by an iconic PowerUpMotif and when the track ends, so does the effect. It is often placed directly before a sequence of enemies clustered close enough together that, if Mario defeats them all in rapid succession with the Starman, he can rack up large amounts of points, sometimes enough to earn a OneUp.
** The Fire and Ice Flowers and the Red Star which grants flight work this way in ''VideoGame/SuperMarioGalaxy''. Notably, the Fire Flower traditionally lasts [[SingleUseShield until Mario is hit]] in most previous games in the series. Here, it is usually placed only where it can be used to solve puzzles, and respawns as soon as the timer ends so that Mario can re-collect it and try the puzzle over again.

* ''Franchise/SuperMarioKart'':
** The [[InvincibilityPowerUp Starman]] from the ''Franchise/SuperMarioBros'' platformers returns in the ''Franchise/SuperMarioKart'' games, where it not only confers invincibility and [[InvertedTrope inverts]] CollisionDamage but also increases the user's speed and acceleration for the duration.
** The Bullet Bill and Chain Chomp do all of the above, plus vastly increase the player's hitbox and put their kart on auto-pilot. The latter effect can turn this into a PowerUpLetDown when it causes the player to miss lucrative shortcuts and item boxes or otherwise take a sub-optimal route.

** Similar to the Lightning Bolt, the Blooper covers all enemies' screens in [[StandardStatusEffects blinding]] ink for a short time. In the NintendoDS versions it's [[UselessUsefulSpell pretty easy for a human player to steer by the map on the second screen]], but [[AIBreaker computer-controlled karts will veer wildly]].

* ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros'': Unlike most weapons that [[BreakableWeapons wear out from use]] as opposed to over time, the Hammer causes the wielder to attack uncontrollably for a set amount of time during which the wielder (whose [[MightyGlacier mobility is decreased]]) frantically attempts to catch the other players for a possible OneHitKO. The [[InvincibilityPowerUp Starman]] also returns from the ''Franchise/SuperMarioBros'' franchise.

* In the ''VideoGame/CrashBandicoot'' series, picking an Aku Aku mask gives you a SingleUseShield. However, if you collect 3 of them, you'll become invincible for about 30 seconds before Aku Aku reverts to its normal state.

* ''Franchise/SuperSmashBros'': Unlike most weapons that [[BreakableWeapons wear out from use]] as opposed to over time, the Hammer causes the wielder to attack uncontrollably for a set amount of time during which the wielder (whose [[MightyGlacier mobility is decreased]]) frantically attempts to catch the other players for a possible OneHitKO. The [[InvincibilityPowerUp Starman]] also returns from the ''Franchise/SuperMarioBros'' franchise.

* The [[TheGoldenAgeofComicBooks Golden Age]] DCComics hero Hourman took special "Miraclo pills" that gave him super powers for exactly one hour.