Do you remember the most joyous moment in your life? That overall feeling of pure happiness and perfection melding slowly together to create a euphoria you never wanted to end? Your heart literally smiles and you find yourself living in the moment; void of any distractions. This is the exact feeling I had when I played Lego CITY Undercover, a remastered version of the 2013 Wii U game.
Undercover is a kiss of energy that taps into the soul and awakens your inner childhood. I am an adult but I was swept away by the simplicity, lightheartedness — and at times — corniness of a game marketed towards children. However, like most LEGO games, Undercover feels and looks like an interactive movie bringing together both clever cutscenes and gameplay. The colors pop off the screen with each crisp and clear frame. Now coming to current-gen consoles for the first time, details have been added to character’s faces, and expressions. Even the once blurry backgrounds comes to life.
In one of the most expansive LEGO video games, players become Chase McCain, a police officer who goes undercover to hunt down the notorious – and recently escaped – criminal, Rex Fury, to put an end to his city-wide crime wave. This open-world adventure allows fans and newcomers to explore the sprawling metropolis of LEGO CITY with more than 20 unique districts to investigate. Each is filled with car thieves to bust, vehicles to navigate, mischievous aliens to capture, hilarious movie references to discover, lost pigs to rescue, and collectibles to find.
Undercover is clever and steeped in humor — a LEGO trademark. Inspired by cop shows of the past, the game feels like an homage to the 70’s — complete with bad hair cuts, stereotypical cop uniforms/diets and dialogue that will humor both adults and children. The addition of two player Co-Op allows friends and family to fight crime together for the first time.
While there’s a strong and rather fun storyline, exploring the open-world is a must. Much like Grand Theft Auto, there’s pleasure in hopping into any car (non-violently) and exploring the massive landscapes inspired by American cities like San Francisco and New York. Once you’re ready to rejoin a mission, the game is designed with easy driving directions (this also comes in handy during police chases).
As a now bankrupted fan of the LEGO CITY sets, it was a trip down memory lane to see actual set pieces included in the game. With fifteen special assignments to conquer, LEGO CITY Undercover allowed for my imagination to run wild. LEGO CITY Undercover is a fun-filled experience for everyone looking for an escape or just a reason to be a kid again.
The game will release for PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and PC on April 4th.
