Dream Fiction Wiki
Register
Advertisement
Dream Fiction Wiki

 

'Driller Engine Grand Prix' (Japanese: ドリラーエンジングランドプリー, Hepburn: 'Dorirā Enjin Gurando Purī'), often abbreviated as DEGP or 'DriEn GP' (Japanese: ドリエンGP, Hepburn: 'DoriEn Jī Pī'), is a series of go-kart racing games developed by Drillimation Studios and published by Namco. Starting with the first game in 1992, there are nine main series games, a feature-length film, and dozens of merchandise. The series is named after the game engine of the same name.

Gameplay[]

After a coin/token is inserted or the player swipes their game card, players choose a game mode and an engine size. Higher engine sizes make the CPU drivers more aggressive and faster. Players then choose a character from the Drillimation universe, all of which are separated into three weight groups: lightweight drivers have fast acceleration but a low top speed, middleweight drivers have equal stats, and heavyweight drivers have slow acceleration but a great top speed. After selecting characters, the player chooses a cup to compete in. Later cups are harder, but using a low engine speed can make it easier.

Players then compete in a grand prix known as the "Driller Engine Grand Prix", where the player must win with the most points. Driller Engine Grand Prix and Driller Engine Grand Prix 2 have 8 racers, while Driller Engine Grand Prix 3 and onwards have twelve racers. Players use a series of items to attack the karts in front or behind them, mushrooms provide speed boosts, shells are used as homing items, and bananas are used as hazards. Every race is timed, and the player must complete the lap without letting the timer reach zero. Whenever the player crosses a checkpoint or completes a lap, they will be awarded a time extension.

Players must get 3rd or better in Driller Engine Grand Prix and Driller Engine Grand Prix 2 or 5th or better in Driller Engine Grand Prix 3 and onwards to move on to the next course. If the player does not achieve the requirements, the game is over. However, an exception is made in the home console versions of Driller Engine Grand Prix 2x2 and onwards, where the player will just simply move on the next course with the option of quitting.

Games[]


Driller Engine Grand Prix[]

Released in 1992, Driller Engine Grand Prix started it all. Characters from Ranger Man Fantasma, Bazinger!, Star Girl Mayuko and Mr. Driller were playable. The basic mechanics were introduced with four cups (Beginner Cup, Intermediate Cup, Advanced Cup, and Expert Cup) containing five courses each.

Driller Engine Grand Prix 2[]

Released in 1996, Driller Engine Grand Prix 2 made the series transition into 3D and players can now gain short speed boosts from drifting (if they chose manual transmission). This was also the first Driller Engine Grand Prix game to have advertisement signs scattered throughout the courses, as Drillimation partnered with many companies to display their logos in the game. Characters from Otter Magician Sammy also join the grand prix as heavyweight drivers.

Driller Engine Grand Prix 3[]

Released in 2001, Driller Engine Grand Prix 3 introduced four new lightweight drivers from the Shōkan series, and the game now has the ability to play all twenty courses from the first game, and the game also adds a "Novice" cup to fit all retro courses in.

Driller Engine Grand Prix 2x2[]

Released in 2003, Driller Engine Grand Prix 2x2 features two characters per kart, with one driving and the other throwing. The game also introduces a tutorial mode for beginners, and all characters get their own karts and special items. The cups are also named after the series characters as well. This is also the first game to have crossover guest characters, characters from Redwall, Technic Heroes, Power Rangers Ninja Storm/Ninpuu Sentai Hurricaneger and Transformers appear on the home console versions.

Characters[]

Character Weight Class DEGP DEGP2 DEGP3 DEGP2x2
Susumu Hori Middle Yes Yes Yes Yes
Anna Hottenmeyer Light Yes Yes Yes Yes
Ataru Hori Heavy Yes1 Yes1 Yes1 Yes
Taizo Hori Heavy Yes1 Yes1 Yes1 Yes
Puchi Light No No No2 Yes1
Holinger-Z Heavy No No No2 Yes1
Wataru Hoshi Middle Yes Yes Yes Yes
Chuta Bigbang Heavy Yes Yes Yes Yes
Keel Sark Heavy Yes1 Yes1 Yes1 Yes
Eguri Hatakeyama Light Yes1 Yes1 Yes1 Yes
Pachee Light No No No Yes1
Usagi Light No No No Yes1
Konata Izumi Middle Yes Yes Yes Yes
Miyuki Takara Middle Yes1 Yes1 Yes1 Yes
Kagami Hiiragi Middle Yes Yes Yes Yes
Tsukasa Hiiragi Middle Yes1 Yes1 Yes1 Yes
Yutaka Kobayakawa Middle No No No Yes1
Minami Iwasaki Middle No No No Yes1
Leopold Slikk Middle Yes Yes Yes Yes
Jake Randolf Middle Yes Yes Yes Yes
Leonard Slikk Light Yes1 Yes1 Yes1 Yes
Leonidas Slikk Light Yes1 Yes1 Yes1 Yes
Harold Slikk Heavy No No No Yes1
Phegelnine Heavy No No No Yes1
James Rolfe Heavy No Yes Yes Yes
Mike Matei Heavy No Yes Yes Yes
B. S. Man Heavy No Yes1 Yes1 Yes
Kyle Justin Heavy No Yes1 Yes1 Yes
Fred Fuchs Heavy No No No Yes1
Takumi Hearthcliffe Middle No No No Yes1
Kagami Ochiai Light No No Yes Yes
Shira Katsumoto Light No No Yes Yes
Rikka Katsumoto Light No No Yes Yes
Susumu Takajima Light No No Yes1 Yes1
Kumiko Uchida Light No No No Yes
Megumi Wakui Light No No No Yes1

Notes:

  1. Unlockable.
  2. Cameo appearance only.
  3. DLC.

Other media[]

Film[]

Main Article: Driller Engine Grand Prix (film)

In 2004, Walt Disney Pictures purchased the rights to the franchise to adapt it into a feature-length film. The film was in production for over two years before being released in November 2006.

The Drillimation Series by Drillimation Studios and Bandai Namco Holdings
Franchises Chuhou Joutai · Driller Engine Grand Prix · HotShots Party[1] · Otter Magician Sammy · Mr. Driller · Patry[1] · Space Nexus · Super Smash Keyboards · Touhou Project · Shōkan
Developers Edret Games · Seymour Games · Team Shanghai Alice · Twilight Frontier
Services Drillimation Online
Former/Defunct Amusement Software · Bladesteel Games · Storer Enterprises · Tenma Games
  1. Owned by Seymour Games.
Advertisement