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LEGO City Undercover (PS4) Review
Developer: TT Fusion / TT Games
Publisher: Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
Genre: Action-Adventure / Open-World
Release: 2017
LEGO City Undercover is one of the more distinctive entries in the LEGO videogame series. Rather than adapting a major film or established franchise, it creates its own world around police officer Chase McCain, sending him undercover to track down escaped criminal Rex Fury.
Originally released on Wii U, the PS4 version brings the game to a wider audience while adding two-player local co-op. Its combination of open-world exploration, platforming, vehicle driving, disguises, collectibles and genuinely funny writing makes it one of the more enjoyable LEGO adventures.
It isn't particularly challenging, and some aspects of the LEGO formula were already beginning to feel familiar, but LEGO City Undercover remains a charming and surprisingly substantial open-world adventure.
Gameplay & Mechanics
The basic gameplay follows the familiar LEGO formula: smash objects, collect studs, solve simple puzzles, fight enemies and build objects from LEGO pieces.
What makes Undercover different is the emphasis on police work and disguises.
Chase can acquire different disguises, each providing a particular ability. These include police officers, robbers, astronauts, miners, construction workers and farmers. Each disguise opens up different areas and puzzle solutions.
For example, the Robber can break into certain locations, the Miner can use dynamite, while the Astronaut can access areas that would otherwise be unreachable.
This creates a satisfying sense of progression because returning to previously visited locations with new disguises often reveals additional secrets.
Strengths
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Fun combination of platforming, combat and exploration.
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Excellent disguise system.
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Large open world.
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Plenty of vehicles to drive.
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Simple but enjoyable puzzles.
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Accessible controls.
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Lots of collectibles and secrets.
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Humorous police-themed gameplay.
Weaknesses
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Combat remains extremely simple.
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Puzzles rarely provide much difficulty.
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Some missions become repetitive.
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Controls can occasionally feel imprecise.
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The LEGO formula is beginning to show its age.
The gameplay isn't particularly deep, but it is consistently entertaining.
Exploration & World Design
LEGO City itself is arguably the game's greatest achievement.
The city is divided into numerous districts with different visual themes and environments. There are urban areas, suburbs, industrial locations, countryside, farms, beaches and other unusual locations to discover.
The open world encourages exploration rather than simply acting as a backdrop for missions.
You can stealor, more accurately, "borrow"vehicles, drive around the city, search for collectibles, complete side activities and discover hidden areas.
There are hundreds of collectibles, including the familiar LEGO Gold Bricks, as well as vehicles and other unlockable content.
The world also has plenty of humour hidden within it. Citizens, signs, buildings and environmental objects frequently contain visual jokes and references.
It isn't as technically impressive as the open worlds of Grand Theft Auto V or other AAA games, but the LEGO City environment is designed around fun rather than realism.
Story & Themes
The story follows Chase McCain, a police officer returning to LEGO City after being away for some time.
His main objective is to capture the escaped criminal Rex Fury, but Chase eventually goes undercover and infiltrates the criminal world to get closer to him.
The plot deliberately parodies classic police and crime movies.
It includes references to:
The writing is one of the game's biggest strengths.
The humour works for both younger players and adults, with plenty of visual jokes and references that younger players might miss.
Chase is an entertaining protagonist, but Frank Honey is arguably the standout character. His incompetence and absurd behaviour provide some of the game's funniest moments.
The story isn't particularly sophisticated, but it doesn't need to be. Its primary purpose is to keep the player moving from one ridiculous situation to another.
Final Verdict
LEGO City Undercover is one of the most entertaining original LEGO videogames. Its biggest advantage is that TT Games wasn't restricted by an existing movie or television licence, allowing the developers to create their own characters, locations and story.
The result is a charming open-world adventure that feels like a family-friendly version of a crime-action game. The disguise system provides a clever progression mechanic, while the huge LEGO City gives players plenty of opportunities to explore, collect and simply mess around.
The story isn't particularly complex, but the humour is consistently strong. Chase McCain is enjoyable, while characters such as Frank Honey provide some genuinely funny moments. The large number of movie references also gives the game additional appeal for older players.
The biggest weaknesses are the lack of challenge and the familiar LEGO gameplay formula. Players looking for sophisticated combat or difficult puzzles won't find them here. The PS4 version also doesn't completely eliminate the technical limitations of the original.
Nevertheless, LEGO City Undercover remains an excellent choice for anyone who enjoys LEGO games, open-world adventures or light-hearted action games. It has personality, humour and a surprisingly large amount of content.
Score: 8.5/10
