Squishers are broadly similar to cautions and static intermissions.

Squishers hit the ground at regular intervals. If the player is underneath them, s/he will be squashed resulting in a lost life. As the penalty for touching them is so severe, players tend to be cautious around them.

Squishers can be placed near an obstacle. The squisher will induce a cautious state reducing the risk of the player unfairly colliding with the adjacent obstacle (which would happen if the player was not in a cautious state, for example, running at full speed).

The loud noise of the squisher allows the player to anticipate the device well before it is visible on the screen.

▲ The player hears the squisher.
This encourages the player to slow down, which allows the player to anticipate both the squisher and the robot enemy.