Dr. Robotnik's Ring Racers

Dr. Robotnik's Ring Racers
Latest version: 2.3
Latest release date: 2024-05-21
Original release date: 2024-04-24
Engine: Doom Legacy
Credits: Kart Krew Dev
Operating system: Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, Linux

This article is a work in progress. Its content and location may change completely and frequently until this notice is removed.

This article is about a game that was recently released. It may contain SPOILERS! If you don't want to be spoiled, stop reading here.

Dr. Robotnik's Ring Racers is a fan game for Windows, Mac OS and Linux platforms. It is the sequel to Sonic Robo Blast 2 Kart, and was originally developed as version 2 of its predecessor before being branded as a sequel.

Gameplay

Much like its predecessor, Dr. Robotnik's Ring Racers's gameplay follows the standard of a typical kart racer, in that players drive around in karts with the ability to drift around corners and achieve speed boosts, as well as using items obtained from Item Boxes to help themselves or hinder others, and many other staples from the genre. Most of the gameplay is like its predecessor, however Ring Racers has a greater focus on momentum in that karts are now more affected by the terrain - going uphill will gradually reduce a kart's speed, while driving downhill will increase speed.

New to Ring Racers are Rings, which can be collected up to a maximum of 20 Rings. When collected, Rings can be used to receive boosts by holding the button which can help the kart gain speed up slopes, however Rings are also lost from being attacked, bumping into other racers or falling off the track. If a player has no Rings, they will enter a "Ring Debt" state in that they are more vulnerable to attacks. Collisions with other racers will make a player spin out from "Ring Sting", and further attacks can decrease the player's Ring count into negative values. While in Ring Debt, players can perform an Insta-Whip to defend themselves against other racers and attacks, however charging it too long will further decrease their Ring count. If a player is bumped or attacked at -20 Rings, their kart explodes.

Item Boxes function differently from SRB2Kart in that they present players with a predetermined assortment of items, and a player can stop the roulette to get the item they want. Item Boxes that have been picked up will respawn as Ring Boxes that will instead award a number of Rings depending on what symbol a player stops the reel on. Excess Rings obtained from Ring Boxes will be automatically consumed for Ring Boosts without having to press .

Another new feature to Ring Racers is for the ability for karts to perform a Spin Dash at a standstill by holding the button for a few seconds, then releasing for a burst of speed, however charging for too long will make the kart spin out. While in the air, karts are capable of fast-falling by pressing , though doing so will make the player's kart bounce upon landing. Some s will make the player perform Tricks, which are done so by holding a specific direction and pressing , launching the player in the given direction ( to launch forward, to launch upwards, or to launch in those directions). Successfully performing Tricks will award bonus Rings and Voltage, which will power up a player's drift boosts, though the player can immediately fast-fall right after a Trick to perform a "Voltage Drop" for a quick burst of speed.

Modes

Dr. Robotnik's Ring Racers has a larger variety of modes than SRB2Kart. Some of them are played by only a single player, while others can be played offline for up to four players on one computer via split-screen, or via a local area network or the Internet for up to 16 players. Split-screen may also be used for LAN/online play, with up to four players able to join on each client. A variety of add-ons can be loaded to add extra characters, skin colours and levels or change the gameplay in various ways, and if any add-ons are required to join an online game, then they will be downloaded and automatically loaded upon requesting to join, providing the server has enabled file downloading.

To play online and use add-ons, a player must complete the Ring Cup in Grand Prix mode, successfully skip the tutorial, or enter certain passwords.

	Tutorial
	Players: 1 (Local) How to unlock: Played when starting a new game.
	When starting the game for the first time, the player is required to play through a tutorial sequence in which Dr. Eggman and Tails will explain the various mechanics in the game across five sections of Sunbeam Paradise Zone. However, the player may attempt to skip the tutorial by entering a certain door at the beginning, which will pit them in a race against seven Eggrobos. If they place 4th or higher, they will successfully skip the tutorial, otherwise they must continue with the tutorial. After the tutorial has been completed or skipped, the player may replay it at any time via the Extras menu.
	Grand Prix
	Players: 1-4 (Local) How to unlock: Complete (or successfully skip) the tutorial.
	One or more players compete against in a series of five races against up to seven computer opponents to score the most points and win the cup. If the necessary conditions are met, the player(s) will have a chance at attempting a Sealed Star at the end of a cup. In a Sealed Star, the player(s) must chase a UFO Catcher that is carrying a Chaos Emerald, and destroy the glass barrier with items or by driving into it at high speed before it reaches the end of the stage. If the Emerald escapes, the player falls off the stage or their kart explodes, they can retry the Sealed Star as long as they have continues remaining.
	Match Race
	Players: 1-4 (Local), 1-16 (Online) How to unlock: Complete (or successfully skip) the tutorial.
	Time Attack
	Players: 1 (Local) How to unlock: Complete a race, or skip the tutorial.
	In this mode, the player drives alone at Gear 3 and aims to achieve the fastest possible time.
	Battle
	Players: 2-4 (Local), 2-16 (Online)
	Players compete in enclosed battle arenas to destroy/steal each others' bumpers in order to score points. To win, a player must reach a set score, then KO another player, however they may also win the game by collecting all seven Chaos Emeralds. When a player is attacked without any bumpers, their kart will explode and they will lose points. To get items, players must attack giant monitors. If time runs out, the game will go into Overtime, and laser beams will gradually enclose the arena, reducing the amount of space to battle in. Any players who end up outside the laser barriers will be eliminated, and the last player standing will win.
	Prison Break
	Players: 1 (Local) How to unlock: Play a bonus round for the first time in Grand Prix.
	Special
	Players: 1 (Local) How to unlock: Collect all seven Chaos Emeralds.
	In this mode, the player can replay any of the Sealed Stars from Grand Prix mode and compete for the fastest time akin to the Time Attack and Prison Break modes. However, there are no medals to earn in this mode.

Replays of races played in any mode can be saved and viewed in Egg TV, selectable from the Extras menu.

Characters

Dr. Robotnik's Ring Racers features nine characters to choose from by default. An additional 54 characters can be unlocked by completing challenges, and the number of characters available can be increased further by loading add-ons. Each character's driving ability is determined by two stats, ranging from values 1 to 9:

• Speed: The character's top speed. A higher value will allow the character to reach higher speeds, while a lower value will increase their acceleration.
• Weight: The character's weight. A higher value will allow the character to push lighter characters around, while a lower value will increase handling.

Characters are categorised by engine classes based on the combination of their stats (e.g. Tails is a Class A character). The combination will also affect how quickly a character can build up sparks while drifting. For example, a slower, heavier character (e.g. Dr. Eggman) can build drift sparks more quickly than a faster, lighter character (e.g. Sonic).

Starting characters

Character		Class	Speed	Weight	Rivals
	Sonic	C	8	2	Dr. Eggman, Metal Sonic, Knuckles
	Tails	A	2	2	Dr. Eggman, Sonic, Battle Kukku XV
	Knuckles	E	5	5	Mecha Sonic, Eggrobo, Sonic
	Dr. Eggman	G	2	8	Tails, Sonic, Knuckles
	Metal Sonic	I	8	8	Sonic, Amy, Dr. Eggman
	Amy	B	5	2	Metal Sonic, Sonic, Dr. Eggman
	Mighty	H	5	8	Ray, Sonic, Knuckles
	Fang	F	8	5	Knuckles, Bean, Bark
	Motobug	D	2	5	Sonic, Caterkiller, Cluckoid

Unlockable characters

Character		Class	Speed	Weight	Rivals
	Flicky	C	8	1	Big, Blaze, Honey
	Caterkiller	H	6	9	Motobug, Zipp, Charmy
	Redz	G	2	7	Zipp, Wonder Boy
	Ray	B	4	2	Mighty, Sonic, Dr. Eggman
	Cluckoid	H	5	7	Motobug, Caterkiller, Redz
	Eggrobo	G	2	8	Knuckles, Mecha Sonic, Tails Doll
	Mecha Sonic	I	9	9	Knuckles, Eggrobo, Metal Sonic
	Espio	F	8	6	Charmy, Mighty
	Charmy	B	6	1	Espio, Bomb
	Heavy	G	1	9	Bomb, Knuckles, Dr. Eggman
	Bomb	C	9	1	Heavy, Eggman, Knuckles
	Gutbuster	D	3	6	Knuckles, Espio, Bomb
	Battle Kukku XV	H	6	8	Tails, Dr. Eggman, Flicky
	Bean	A	1	3	Bark, Fang, Bomb
	Bark	G	1	7	Honey, Sonic, Dr. Eggman
	Honey	E	5	6	Azusa Miura, Bark, Bean
	Tails Doll	A	2	1	Eggrobo, Metal Knuckles, Metal Sonic
	Metal Knuckles	I	7	8	Metal Sonic, Tails Doll, Eggrobo
	Big	H	4	9	Chaos Zero, Dr. Eggman, Amy
	Chao	A	1	1	Chaos Zero
	Tikal	E	6	4	Chaos Zero, Knuckles
	Chaos Zero	G	3	8	Tikal, Chao, Sonic
	Shadow	C	9	2	Sonic, Maria, Dr. Eggman
	Rouge	E	4	4	Knuckles, Shadow
	Maria	D	1	4	Shadow, Dr. Eggman, Big
	Cream	B	4	1	Amy, Big, Chao
	Emerl	E	5	5	Sonic, Amy, Tails
	Blaze	C	7	3	Sonic, Silver, Cream
	Jet	C	7	2	Sonic, Dr. Eggman, Flicky
	Silver	A	1	2	Blaze, Sonic, Espio
	Heavy Magician	J	?	?	Fang, Bean, Bark
	Whisper	B	6	3	Surge, Heavy Magician, Shadow
	Surge	C	8	3	Sonic, Shadow, Metal Sonic
	Wonder Boy	H	4	7	Redz, Orta, Heavy Magician
	Arle	D	3	5	Dr. Eggman, Bean, Mail
	Rappy	C	9	3	Mail, Whisper, Arle
	Ecco	G	3	7	Silver, Metal Sonic, Sonic
	Pulseman	D	2	4	Vectorman, Mail, Headdy
	Headdy	A	3	2	Heavy Magician, Zipp, Tails Doll
	Zipp	E	4	5	Sonic, Eggrobo, Redz
	Vectorman	I	7	9	Motobug, Chaos Zero, Caterkiller
	NiGHTS	A	3	3	Sonic, Shadow, Chao
	Sakura Shinguji	E	5	4	Eggrobo, Wonder Boy
	ChuChu	B	5	1	Big, Blaze, Honey
	Gum	E	6	5	Shadow, Jet, Fang
	AiAi	F	7	6	Ecco, Rappy, ChuChu
	Orta	F	7	5	NiGHTS, Sakura Shinguji, Gum
	Billy Hatcher	D	3	4	Battle Kukku XV, Jet, Cluckoid
	Jack Frost	B	6	2	Aigis, Rappy, NiGHTS
	Aigis	H	6	7	Jack Frost, Metal Sonic, Metal Knuckles
	Mail	F	8	4	Sonic, Wonder Boy, Heavy Magician
	Azusa Miura	F	7	4	Honey, Sakura, Rouge
	Carol	B	4	3	Whisper, Surge, Mail
	Ring the Racer	A	1	1	Mail, Rouge, Fang

Items

Items acquired from Item Boxes are either used instantaneously, or can be equipped. Items that are normally dropped from behind can be trailed behind the user's kart, however doing so will decrease the user's speed until they drop the item.

	Super Ring
	Gives the user 10 Rings. Excess Rings are automatically consumed for a Ring Boost.
	Sneaker
	Gives the user a short speed boost that can also be used to go offroad. Can also come in a bunch of three.
	Rocket Sneaker
	Allows the user to constantly boost until it runs out of fuel. Fuel will drain over time or as the user boosts, and will run out faster if the user boosts too frequently.
	Banana
	Trails behind the user's kart and can be dropped or thrown in front. Players who drive into a banana will spin out while still preserving some momentum. Can also come in bunches of three.
	Eggmark
	Trails behind the user's kart and can be dropped or thrown in front. When a player drives into this fake Item Box, they will drop their current item, and the Eggmark will make the player's kart explode after a 5-second countdown or when the Item button is pressed. Until the explosion happens, the player gets a sudden burst of speed and can pass on the Eggmark to another player by bumping into them, resetting its timer.
	Orbinaut
	One, three or four spike balls will circle around the user's kart. Can be fired forward or backwards, and will rebound off of walls until it hits a player, making them spin out and come to a stop.
	Jawz
	One or two Jawz will circle around the user's kart. Can be fired forward or backwards, and if fired forward will home in on the player in front, making them spin out and come to a stop.
	Gachabom
	Can be fired forward or backwards, or lobbed in the air by holding . If a Gachabom successfully hits a target, it will come back to the user for another use. Can also come in a bunch of three.
	Proximity Mine
	Trails behind the user's kart and can be dropped or thrown in front. Shortly after it lands, it will activate, and will detonate if a player drives too close to it. If driven into before it is activated, it will be bounced to a new spot.
	Land Mine
	Dropped behind the user's kart, the Land Mine flies into the air and then plants into the ground, and will detonate if a player makes contact with it or is hit on the head with it.
	Ball Hog
	Fires a bouncy ball that bounces until it hits a wall and make players spin out as if they were hit by a banana. Holding the Item button will fire a spreadshot of multiple balls. Typically comes in five.
	Hyudoro
	Places a Hyudoro behind the user's kart. If another player drives into it, they will have their item stolen and given to the user.
	Drop Target
	Trails behind the user's kart and can be dropped or thrown in front. If a player drives into it, they will be rebounded and the Drop Target will tumble away, changing colour with each collision from green to yellow to red before disappearing.
	Pogo Spring
	Makes the user jump while also giving them the opportunity to perform a Trick for extra speed. The spring will be left behind on the ground for a while, and will make other racers tumble uncontrollably.
	Invincibility
	Makes the user invincible, increasing their speed as well as allowing them to drive offroad. Driving into another player while invincible will send that player tumbling into the air.
	Grow
	Makes the user larger, increasing their speed and defense as well as making their items bigger, however they will still slow down from going offroad and will still be vulnerable to some hazards.
	Shrink
	Summons Poh-Bees that will swing shrink rays all around the track that will shrink other players. Shrunken players drive more slowly, have weaker items and are vulnerable to being knocked aside by larger players. The shrink rays have the opposite effect for the user, making them grow instead.
	Gardentop
	The user rides atop this item and can change direction while riding it using the Drift button. It can then be thrown by pressing the Item button.
	Lightning Shield
	Automatically forms once obtained and allows the user to make a thunderclap by pressing the Item button. This thunderclap can be used to destroy objects or make nearby players spin out, and can even destroy Self-Propelled Bombs. This item will also attract Rings, or make them scatter on the ground if the user cannot carry any more.
	Bubble Shield
	Automatically forms once obtained and allows the user to repel items and other racers by expanding the shield with the Item button. Holding the Item button long enough will drop the Bubble Shield behind the user's kart, and any players who drive into it will be trapped and have to escape by mashing and . The Bubble Shield can also be used to perform Bounce Attacks by repeatedly fastfalling in the air, but will pop if attempted in first place.
	Flame Shield
	Automatically forms once obtained and allows the user to dash forward by holding and releasing the Item button to charge. The shield disappears if it burns out completely.
	Self-Propelled Bomb
	Chases after the player in first place and explodes if it manages to catch them. When a Self-Propelled Bomb is right behind its target, the target will be unable to pick up Rings, and speed gates will be left in their wake to allow other players to catch up. To avoid a Self-Propelled Bomb, the race leader must drive well and avoid slowing down.
	Kitchen Sink
	An extremely rare item. It can be thrown in front of the user, and will instantly kill any player it touches as well as informing all players who was hit by it.

Levels

Dr. Robotnik's Ring Racers has a total of 30 cups that are gradually unlocked as the player progresses through the game. Each cup typically has 5 Race levels (with the exception of the Egg Cup, which has 4) and 2 Battle levels, and the first 14 cups have an associated Sealed Star. "Lost & Found" contains levels that do not have an associated cup, all of which are unlocked by meeting certain conditions.

There are a total of 152 Race levels, 60 Battle levels, and 14 Sealed Stars, plus Adventure Example. Levels with a link are based on other levels and games (including non-Sonic games).

Ring Cup	Sneaker Cup	Spring Cup	Barrier Cup	Invincible Cup	Emerald Cup	Extra Cup
R1: Robotnik Coaster Zone R2: Northern District Zone R3: Panic City Zone R4: Sonic Speedway Zone R5: Green Hills Zone	R1: Emerald Coast R2: Storm Rig Zone R3: Lucid Pass Zone R4: Autumn Ring Zone R5: Withering Chateau Zone	R1: Popcorn Workshop Zone R2: Sundae Drive Zone R3: Cadillac Cascade Zone R4: Rumble Ridge Zone R5: Opulence Zone	R1: Angel Island Zone R2: Roasted Ruins Zone R3: Obsidian Oasis Zone R4: Mirage Saloon Zone R5: Regal Ruin	R1: Isolated Island Zone R2: Gigapolis Zone R3: Darkvile Castle Zone 1 R4: Bronze Lake Zone R5: Collision Chaos Zone	R1: Emerald Hill Zone R2: Azure City Zone R3: Gust Planet Zone R4: Mystic Cave Zone R5: Joypolis Zone	R1: Hill Top Zone R2: Marble Garden Zone R3: SilverCloud Island R4: Sub-Zero Peak Zone R5: Launch Base Zone
B1: Municipal Meadow Zone B2: CD Special Stage 1	B1: Tinkerer's Arena Zone B2: Tricircle Marina Zone	B1: Mystery Gate Zone B2: Rusty Rig Zone	B1: Marble Foyer Zone B2: Rock World Zone	B1: World 1 Map B2: CD Special Stage 8	B1: SEGA Saturn B2: Electra Clacker Zone	B1: Thunder Top Zone B2: Tree Ring Zone
SS: Balconies	SS: Church	SS: Courtyard	SS: Villa	SS: Venice	SS: Spikes	SS: Fountain
S.P.B. Cup	Rocket Cup	Aqua Cup	Lightning Cup	Flame Cup	Super Cup	Egg Cup
R1: Azure Lake Zone R2: Balloon Park Zone R3: Chrome Gadget Zone R4: Desert Palace Zone R5: Endless Mine Zone 1	R1: Hard-Boiled Stadium Zone R2: Hardhat Havoc Zone R3: Press Garden Zone R4: Pico Park Zone R5: City Escape	R1: Palmtree Panic Zone R2: Darkvile Castle Zone 2 R3: Scarlet Gardens Zone R4: Motobug Motorway Zone R5: Star Light Zone	R1: Metropolis Zone R2: Frozen Production Zone R3: Aqueduct Crystal Zone R4: Nova Shore Zone R5: Hydro City Zone	R1: Trap Tower R2: Diamond Dust Zone R3: Blue Mountain Zone 1 R4: Blue Mountain Zone 2 R5: Speed Highway	R1: Carnival Night Zone R2: Virtual Highway Zone R3: Dark Fortress Zone R4: Spring Yard Zone R5: Labyrinth Zone	R1: Hot Shelter R2: Sky Sanctuary Zone R3: Lost Colony R4: Death Egg Zone
B1: Frigid Cove Zone B2: Gizmo Bastion Zone	B1: Carbon Crucible Zone B2: Security Hall	B1: Gems Museum Zone B2: Media Studio	B1: Honeycomb Hollow Zone B2: Wood Zone	B1: Brawl Fort Zone B2: Crystal Island Zone	B1: Cyber Arena Zone B2: Neon Resort Zone	B1: Meteor Herd B2: Death Egg's Eye
SS: Gallery	SS: Alley	SS: Steeple	SS: Rooftops	SS: Roulette	SS: Towers	SS: Atlantis
Goggles Cup	Timer Cup	Grow Cup	Chao Cup	Wing Cup	Mega Cup	Phantom Cup
R1: 765 Stadium Zone R2: Skyscraper Leaps Zone R3: Green Triangle Zone R4: Zoned City R5: Sunset Hill Zone	R1: Savannah Citadel R2: Umbrella Rushwinds Zone R3: Avant Garden Zone R4: Bigtime Breakdown Zone R5: Vantablack Violet Zone	R1: Chaos Chute Zone R2: Dimension Disaster Zone R3: Aurora Atoll Zone R4: Daytona Speedway Zone R5: Turquoise Hill Zone	R1: Weiss Waterway Zone R2: Ice Paradise Zone R3: Sunsplashed Getaway Zone R4: Fae Falls Zone R5: Azure Axiom Zone	R1: Hanagumi Hall Zone R2: Aerial Highlands Zone R3: Crispy Canyon Zone R4: Technology Tundra R5: Operator's Overspace	R1: Mega Green Hill Zone R2: Mega Bridge Zone R3: Mega Lava Reef Zone R4: Mega Ice Cap Zone R5: Mega Scrap Brain Zone	R1: Wavecrash Dimension 1 R2: Nightfall Dimension 2 R3: Voiddance Dimension 3 R4: Cloudtop Dimension 4 R5: Gravtech Dimension 5
B1: Tails' Lab B2: Power Plant	B1: City Skyline Zone B2: Vantablack Atrium Zone	B1: Dead Simple B2: Martian Matrix Zone	B1: Dark Chao Garden B2: Hero Chao Garden	B1: Whirl Waters Zone B2: Deluged Metroplex Zone	B1: Mega Emerald Beach B2: Mega Labyrinth Zone	B1: Fungal Dimension B2: Astral Dimension
Flash Cup	Swap Cup	Shrink Cup	Bomb Cup	Power Cup	Genesis Cup	Skate Cup
R1: Espresso Lane Zone R2: Melty Manor Zone R3: Leaf Storm Zone R4: Lake Margorite Zone R5: Endless Mine Zone 2	R1: Cyan Belltower Zone R2: Quartz Quadrant Zone R3: Aqua Tunnel R4: Water Palace Zone R5: Final Fall Zone	R1: Haunted Ship R2: Robotnik Winter Zone R3: Dragonspire Sewer Zone 1 R4: Abyss Garden Zone R5: Blizzard Peaks Zone	R1: Vermilion Vessel Zone R2: Dragonspire Sewer Zone 2 R3: Chemical Facility Zone R4: Coastal Temple Zone R5: Monkey Mall	R1: Ramp Park Zone R2: Advent Angel Zone R3: Pestilence Zone R4: Crimson Core Zone R5: Las Vegas	R1: Mega Collision Chaos Zone R2: Mega Star Light Zone R3: Mega Sandopolis Zone R4: Mega Aqua Lake Zone R5: Mega Flying Battery Zone	R1: Sky Babylon Zone R2: Kodachrome Void Zone R3: Lavender Shrine Zone R4: Thunder Piston Zone R5: Dead Line Zone
B1: Chaos Seraph Zone B2: Toy Kingdom Zone	B1: Aquatic Cathedral Zone 1 B2: Aquatic Cathedral Zone 2	B1: Frosty Courtyard Zone B2: Abyss Gate Zone	B1: Sonic's Schoolhouse B2: Record Attack Zone	B1: Peanut Palace Zone B2: Hydro Plant Zone	B1: Mega Metropolis Zone B2: Mega Marble Zone	B1: Thunder Lab Zone B2: Malign Eggshrine Zone
Recycle A Cup	Recycle B Cup	Lost & Found
R1: SRB2 Frozen Night R2: Barren Badlands Zone R3: Shuffle Square Zone R4: Blue Mountain Classic R5: Angel Arrow Classic	R1: Cadillac Canyon Classic R2: Diamond Dust Classic R3: Blizzard Peaks Classic R4: Launch Base Classic R5: Lavender Shrine Classic	Test Run Zone Test Track Zone Hidden Palace Zone
B1: SRB2 Meadow Match B2: Armored Armadillo	B1: Clucky Farms Zone B2: Dried Battledune Zone	Adventure Example

External links

• Official website
• Online manual
• GitHub releases page
• Addons page
• Server Browser