Dr. Robotnik's Ring Racers

Title Screen

Dr. Robotnik's Ring Racers (shortened to DRRR) is a source code modification of Version 2.2 made by Kart Krew. While originally intended as a major v2.0 update of SRB2Kart, the project evolved into a sequel. Like its predecessor, it is a kart racing game with Sonic and other characters. It features over 200 maps in total for the Race mode and Battle mode.

Current release information

• Current version: v2.2 (May 6th, 2024)
• Available at: Kart Krew Website
• Source code: GitHub GitLab

Gameplay and content

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Dr. Robotnik's Ring Racers' core gameplay is similar to that of a typical kart racer, including the ability to drift and use items obtained from boxes placed on the track. More unusually for its genre, there is a heavy focus on momentum and skill-based gameplay. New mechanics introduced include rings that can be collected and give a speed boost when used, a trick system that launches the player in a specific direction based on a QTE input, and a Spin Dash that works similarly to its incarnation in classic Sonic platformers. The game opens with a tutorial narrated by Dr. Robotnik and Tails which introduces the player to many mechanics.

See also: Dr. Robotnik's Ring Racers/Mechanics

Ring Racers features a Grand Prix mode with 30 cups where the player races against AI players and destroys Prison Eggs in intermittent Prison Break stages. It also features Special Stages (referred to as Sealed Stars) that can be accessed by achieving an A-rank in a cup on Normal or higher, or by winning a cup on Master. In these stages, the player chases down and shatters a UFO Catcher racing through a track to retrieve the Chaos Emerald inside. The game also features a plethora of unlockable content, such as characters, music, online multiplayer, addons, and followers: cosmetics that float alongside the player during gameplay.

Battle mode also got an update. There are Blue Spheres that increase the player's acceleration and top speed, though decay if more aren't picked up over time. In addition to being the last one standing or being the first to score enough points to win, a new winning condition was added: If a player picks up all seven Chaos Emeralds that appear from large Item Monitors, they instantly win the round.

Items

Items are stored in Item Boxes across the stages. They contain items that can enhance your racing or hinder players. There are 22 items that can be collected:

Item
Sneakers		Grants the user a boost of speed that allows them to cross offroad, pass tripwires, or quickly recover from a crash. Comes in single, double, and triple varieties. In Battle Mode, hitting another player with a Sneaker charge will steal a bumper from them.
Rocket Sneakers		A reusable version of the Sneakers that grants an additional speed boost with each press of the button, stacking on itself if used in rapid succession. The meter depletes both gradually over time and with each use, so care is needed to get the most out of this item. Race Mode only.
Banana		A staple of any kart racer, these can be laid out on the track or thrown ahead to slip up other racers. Comes in single and triple varieties.
Orbinaut		Spiraling spike balls for protection, which can be fired ahead or behind to hit other players, and can bounce off of walls. Functions as a trap when fired behind and spins in a circle. Comes in single, triple and quadruple varieties.
Jawz		A shark-like missile that locks on to the nearest player and chases them. Functions as a slow homing missile that follows the original owner when thrown behind. Comes in single and double varieties.
Invincibility		When used, the user becomes invulnerable to most sources of damage and is given a boost in speed for a period of time. They can also ram into other players, drive on offroad and cross tripwires regardless of speed.
Hyudoro		When used, Hyudoros remain in their spot to steal items from the other players, after which they will fly toward the user holding said item. A player that is stolen from will turn invisible, allowing them to ignore offroad and tripwires.
Grow		Makes the user grow twice their size and allows them to knock aside any players they run into. It also allows them to pass tripwires and go offroad without slowing down.
Shrink		When activated, several Poh-Bees fly to specific sections of the track to fire red beams that shrink the other players, but blue beams to make the user Grow. Shrunken players who are hit will be knocked aside. Race Mode only.
Ballhog		Fires a ball that bounces around and damages players that touch it. If the Item button is held, it will charge up, allowing multiple balls to be thrown out in a shotgun spread.
Pogo Spring		Causes the user to jump high into the air and perform a Trick, making it a great tool to quickly get out of danger. If the user lands on another player, they will steal a bumper from them. Battle Mode only.
Kitchen Sink		When thrown, it will instantly kill whoever it touches and display a message saying who was hit by it. This item has a very slim chance of appearing in the item roulette.
Eggmark		It's a fake! Picking it up after it has been placed will cause the user to drop their current item and activate a 5-second countdown leading to an explosion as well as temporarily increasing their speed. Pressing the Item button will trigger the explosion early, and other players can be caught in the blast. Bumping another player before you explode passes the bomb to them.
Proximity Mine		When thrown, it will become active once it touches the ground. Any players that get close to it while active will cause it to explode, and it can be kicked around before it activates.
Self-Propelled Bomb		Also known as SPBs, these bombs target the player in first place and leave behind a trail of boosters to help other players catch up. A player being chased by the SPB cannot pick up any Rings except from item capsules and ring boxes. The SPB's pursuit only ends when the player slows down enough to get hit, destroys it with a Thunder Shield, or finishes the race. Race mode only.
Thunder Shield		A shield that sends out a thunderclap when activated. Any players caught in the blast will be spun out, and it can also be used to destroy a Self-Propelled Bomb. Additionally, the Thunder Shield can draw in Rings if the player has less than 20. Race Mode only.
Super Ring		Grants 20 rings.
Drop Target		A green bumper that turns from yellow to red when players run into it, pushing them back. On the third bump, it disappears. Can be used forwards or backwards.
Land Mine		When used, a Land Mine jumps up and lands on the ground. If a player runs into it, they will be sent tumbling. Only appears for players in first place. Can be used forwards or backwards.
Gardentop		A spinning top that the player rides. You have to set the top's trajectory and then hold and release the drift button for it to stop and go in the direction you want, as it otherwise can't turn. While player rides the top, they can also press the Item button to fire it in the direction its facing, in which the top will spin around and attack unsuspecting players. This item is difficult to use, and will not appear when Auto Roulette is enabled.
Bubble Shield		When the item button is pressed, players enlarge the Bubble Shield to attack anyone within range and must wait a few moments to enlarge it again. If the item button is held, the player will release the Bubble Shield and it will act as a trap item- holding down on the stick/D-Pad while doing this gives you a boost after you release it, while holding forward will instead shoot the Bubble Shield forward. Players that get caught by the Bubble Shield must move left and right to get free. Also allows the player to repeatedly bounce at high speed after a fastfall, provided they aren't in first place.
Flame Shield		A shield which provides an incredible speed boost at the cost of control, but is destroyed if overcharged or the player reaches first place. The Flame Shield's overload meter will increase in size depending on how far behind first place the player is. The boost also allows crossing tripwires regardless of speed.
Gachabom		A bomb that returns to the user upon successfully striking a target. Depending on the player's input it may be thrown backwards, forwards, or lobbed in an arc. Comes in single and triple variants. This is the only item available in Prison Egg mode, meaning gameplay revolves around skilled usage of it. Also appears in Battle Mode.

Items are either obtained from Gold Item Boxes, which causes a roulette to spin with various items, or from Red Item Containers, which grant a specific item in question - although in the case of the SPB, it automatically triggers when broken free from a Red Item Container.

Characters

Dr. Robotnik's Ring Racers features 9 base characters and 54 unlockable characters. Each character has "speed" and "weight" stats, which range between 1 and 9. Speed affects top speed and acceleration; a higher speed stat means a higher top speed and lower acceleration, and vice-versa for a lower speed stat. Weight affects handling and how the character responds to collisions; a higher weight stat means the character will be pushed around less but has looser handling and wider drift arcs. Lower weight means a character has tighter drift arcs and handling but is pushed around more easily.

Base characters

Character	Icon	Speed	Weight
Sonic		8	2
Miles "Tails" Prower		2	2
Knuckles		5	5
Dr. Robotnik/Eggman		2	8
Metal Sonic		8	8
Amy Rose		5	2
Fang		8	5
Mighty		5	8
Motobug		2	5

Unlockable Characters

See also: Dr. Robotnik's Ring Racers/Challenges#Drivers

Levels

There are 233 maps in the game, consisting of 30 cups with 7 maps per cup (barring the Egg Cup which only has 6) for a total of 149 Race tracks, 60 Battle arenas, 5 sections of the Tutorial, 14 Sealed Stars, the Podium Evaluation map, Test Run, Test Track, an Adventure Example map and the Titlemap.

Spoilers end here.