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CRIMZON CLOVER: WORLD EXPLOSION
review | SWITCH
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Publisher: Degica.
Developer: Yotusbane. Released: October 2020. Genre: Vertical-scrolling shoot 'em up. Other versions: PC. Posted 7th July 2026. By Tom Clare © 2026 |
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Created initially as a hobbyist venture by Japanese developer Yotsubane, the first of Crimzon Clover’s three iterations would arrive on PC in early 2011, before releasing worldwide in 2014 via the updated World Ignition. The game would belatedly make its console bow in 2020 via the Switch’s World EXplosion. Its raucous, high-octane fun has barely aged a day, and on a system chock full of shmups, it remains one of the very best.
In many regards a structurally conventional vertical-scrolling shooter, Crimzon Clover: World EXplosion plays out over five show-stopping stages, with players blasting a veritable armada of enemy ships whilst dodging a hail of colourful bullets. As well as the most pressing challenge, surviving, players must aim to build multiplier combos to help achieve high scores. For those of us who grew up with arcade gaming in the eighties or nineties, this is the sort of stuff we dreamt of: an unrelenting adrenaline rush defined by its edge-of-the-seat gameplay and, amid a mind-boggling conveyor belt of cool enemies, satisfying explosions, and a barrage of glittering scoring icons, its performance never lets up for a moment.
World EXplosion is a thrilling experience, its action completely unrelenting and tonnes of fun
World EXplosion is a comprehensive compilation of Crimzon Clover in its various forms. Predictably, Novice proves the most accessible setup, though it caters only for two of the game’s four modes: Original and Boost. The former is the game in its purest form, with players aiming to collect stars for extra lives and few additional gimmicks. Boost ups the action whilst adding a dynamic difficulty level, dependent on the player’s performance.
Arcade proves a far tougher set of variants, a challenge aimed at experts and genre purists, whilst Arrange is the most recent and perhaps most enjoyable revision. Pitched in between the other two in terms of difficulty, this setup offers mind-boggling scoring opportunities. Arcade and Arrange both feature the moreishly enjoyable Time Attack, where you’re given three minutes to score as many points as possible, as well as the intimidating Unlimited mode, which is full-blown bullet-hell madness. There’s something for players of all experience levels, and whilst high scores are recorded upon the loss of all your ships, continues are limitless, allowing players to continue to test themselves against the toughest levels and challenges in the game.
Arcade proves a far tougher set of variants, a challenge aimed at experts and genre purists, whilst Arrange is the most recent and perhaps most enjoyable revision. Pitched in between the other two in terms of difficulty, this setup offers mind-boggling scoring opportunities. Arcade and Arrange both feature the moreishly enjoyable Time Attack, where you’re given three minutes to score as many points as possible, as well as the intimidating Unlimited mode, which is full-blown bullet-hell madness. There’s something for players of all experience levels, and whilst high scores are recorded upon the loss of all your ships, continues are limitless, allowing players to continue to test themselves against the toughest levels and challenges in the game.
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Whilst the controls are responsive and streamlined, there’s plenty of variety in how scoring functions in the different game modes. Discovering the best ways of amassing big points is incredibly moreish. Players can build towards activating Break mode, a supercharged burst of firepower, whilst bombs can be used to get yourself out of trouble, but often reset the Break counter. Utilising secondary fire (lock-on missiles) is also key, as this helps increase the score multiplier.
The bosses mark the main highlight of the package, usually taking the form of multi-faceted machines with a number of tricks up their sleeves. Harbouring a multitude of weak points and weapons, they make for huge enjoyable, absorbing contests. The second boss, Hecatoncheir, really stands out: a mechanical spider with armoured legs, it’s tough thanks not only to heavy fire patterns, but because it uses its body to lunge at the player, cramping their space. This is followed in stage three by the super-challenging Maelstrom, a mech designed to open out like a flower, its petals opening out to deliver some devastating, spinning laser attacks. The final (normal) boss is incredibly entertaining too, a mechanised sphere that moves through four phases, ending with a hair-raising section where the player must jink quickly from side to side to avoid being crushed by the bouncing contraption.
The bosses mark the main highlight of the package, usually taking the form of multi-faceted machines with a number of tricks up their sleeves. Harbouring a multitude of weak points and weapons, they make for huge enjoyable, absorbing contests. The second boss, Hecatoncheir, really stands out: a mechanical spider with armoured legs, it’s tough thanks not only to heavy fire patterns, but because it uses its body to lunge at the player, cramping their space. This is followed in stage three by the super-challenging Maelstrom, a mech designed to open out like a flower, its petals opening out to deliver some devastating, spinning laser attacks. The final (normal) boss is incredibly entertaining too, a mechanised sphere that moves through four phases, ending with a hair-raising section where the player must jink quickly from side to side to avoid being crushed by the bouncing contraption.
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The bosses are fiendish but fun, with each level providing a very different foe to battle against
Crimzon Clover plays immaculately, its blistering pace and vibrant graphics proving a feast for the senses. Its strident music is perfect for the theatre of arcade gaming, and though its visuals aren’t cutting-edge per se, the visual design is excellent. Better still, you can meet the challenge with a friend, thanks to a stellar two-player option. Joycon controls are spot-on, whilst the addition of leaderboards, the ability to earn medals, and the possibility of unlocking a fourth ship see the game’s longevity stretching far beyond that of other entrants in the genre. I racked up more than ten hours, indicating a level of replayability exceeding that of even Ikaruga.
Crimzon Clover: World EXplosion may have taken its time coming to console, but even for Switch fans spoilt for choice in a market populated with retro-revivalists and long-lost arcade ports, Yotsubane’s outing still shines. It’s a work of art, a daunting challenge, a huge amount of fun, and an absolutely essential purchase.
Crimzon Clover: World EXplosion may have taken its time coming to console, but even for Switch fans spoilt for choice in a market populated with retro-revivalists and long-lost arcade ports, Yotsubane’s outing still shines. It’s a work of art, a daunting challenge, a huge amount of fun, and an absolutely essential purchase.
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VERDICT
"A work of art. Crimzon Clover took its time coming to console, but stellar design, striking visuals and a daunting, addictive challenge ensure it's still among the best games of its kind." OVERALL: 9/10 |
OTHER JAPANESE VERTICAL-SCROLLING SHMUPS REVIEWED
Blazing Lazers (1989, PC Engine)
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Chojin Heiki Zeroigar (1997, PC-FX)
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