LEGO City Undercover Review (Nintendo Switch Version)
Review Date: December 15, 2020
Note: A video review was not created for this game.
I can hear what many of you are thinking: Why am I just now bothering to write a review for this game, 7.5 years after its Wii U release (don't remind me) and 3.5 years after it was ported to the current generation platforms? Well, several reasons. First, I have a soft spot for this game. I largely credit LEGO City Undercover for helping put Yoshi's VGM on the map in the YouTube world of VGM uploaders. Second, I recently replayed this game while isolating after a potential COVID-19 exposure, and I felt that the time was right for me to finally share my thoughts.
To put it simply, LEGO City Undercover is a fantastic game. Considering the majority of LEGO games are based off of major film franchises (if you don't consider LEGO Star Wars to be one of your favorite childhood games, we can't be friends), this game gave TT Fusion the opportunity to creatively explore one of LEGO's most well-known brand of toys. And the result is a resounding success. LEGO City Undercover is truly creative, well-written and an all-around fun adventure. That being said, I can't help but declare that the Nintendo Switch port is a shoddy effort to bring this amazing game to a wider audience.
STORY & CHARACTERS
When I first played this game, and again when I replayed it most recently, I was amazed at how well-written the plot for this game was. Sure, it starts off like a cheesy cop comedy but it eventually evolves into a story full of surprising depth and heart.
LEGO City Undercover follows Chase McCain, who was an officer for the LEGO City Police Department prior to his exile from the city (I believe the Nintendo 3DS prequel, The Chase Begins, explains why). The mayor of the city invites Chase back to help track down and arrest Rex Fury, the city's top criminal escapee and Chase's former nemesis. After Chief Dunby begrudgingly allows him to take up the case, Chase finds himself traversing LEGO City, breaking into gangs, performing undercover jobs, and collecting clues as to what Rex is doing and why. He is aided along the way by a clumsy rookie officer Frank Honey and the department's technician, Ellie Phillips. Throughout all of this, Chase tries to win back his former lover, Natalia Kowalski. Natalia came forward as a secret witness against Rex Fury, but she has a hard time forgiving Chase after he accidentally revealed her identity, forcing her into witness protection (discussed again in the 3DS prequel).
The game is broken up into a series of chapters, and you progress to the next chapter after certain tasks around the city are completed. Interspersed in these chapters are 15 "Special Assignments," which are essentially contained levels within the city. The game does a good job laying the groundwork for the finale across the beginning chapters of the game, and it certainly feels like a traditional cop show in that you initially have no clue how it will all piece together (what do stealing a moon buggy from the space center and a T-Rex from the museum have in common?). The only qualm I have with the story is that the finale feels somewhat rushed. The final three Special Assignments are practically back to back. It's almost as if TT Fusion didn't have quite enough time to flesh out the story as they would have liked.
The characters are where this game shines the most. Every character sees a surprising amount of growth over the course of the story. Even some of the enemies and gang bosses that Chase goes undercover for are memorable. A personal favorite of mine is Vinnie Pappalardo, the Italian mob boss that also owns the city's most famous ice cream parlor. The humor exchanged between the characters is also well-written. While some of the jokes are certainly cheesy, a good number of them are genuinely funny and creative. The voice acting must also be applauded. Voice acting in video games can be hit-or-miss; thankfully, it was well-executed here.
GAMEPLAY
If you've ever played a LEGO game before, you know what to expect when it comes to the gameplay. You explore the city, collecting studs and using special abilities to access certain areas, complete specific tasks, or unlock side missions. A new addition to the game is collecting LEGO bricks after destroying an object, which can be used to build "Super Builds" throughout the city. In addition to this, Chase can also gain access to quite literally every single vehicle in the game. This is very much GTA meets LEGO.
Throughout the game, Chase unlocks various disguises that give him different abilities. You can turn into a robber, giving you a crowbar to access locked places. You can turn into an astronaut, which gives you the ability to beam items in from outer space. You can turn into a miner, which allows you to use dynamite to blow up otherwise indestructible walls. Among many more.
Another important thing to note is that the city is open world. You are free to travel between the various sectors of the city without facing any of the dreaded loading screens (more on this later). Not to mention that the city is literally full of collectibles and things to do. If you ignore all the side things there are to do around the city and just complete the story, you would only progress through just over 20% of everything the game has to offer. There is a lot to do here, and it provides pretty substantial replay value.
Much like other LEGO games, though, the gameplay is extremely repetitive, nor is it overly challenging. While the various disguises are unique and help you gain access to previously unreachable areas, they don't do much to dramatically alter the gameplay. The hand-to-hand combat can be a slog sometimes and is only somewhat challenging when you're surrounded by enemies. The many car chases throughout the course of the game get tedious. So while TT Fusion was bold in writing its own story and creating memorable characters, it could have done more to distinguish the gameplay from literally every other LEGO game.
GRAPHICS & SOUND
As with most LEGO games, the graphics are nothing to gawk at. Edges are rough and textures are simple. Sometimes, other people wandering the city won't render until you're practically on top of them. You won't get the sense of awe we all got once Link first emerged from the Shrine of Resurrection and we saw the vast expanse of Hyrule for the first time. That being said though, this game is filled to the brim with small details. The developers went all-out by giving each sector of the city its own distinctive look. It truly feels like a city, and that is commendable. For the most part, the game hits 720p in docked mode and sub-HD in handheld mode. It attempts to run at a steady 30fps, but unfortunately it struggles heavily here - more on that in the next section.
The soundtrack gets a worthy nod in this game. Again, since most LEGO games are based off of major franchises, the soundtracks are usually comprised of themes directly from the bespoke franchise. Since TT Fusion built this world from the ground up, composers Simon Withenshaw and Suddi Raval did the same with the soundtrack. The music is quite phenomenal and it fits the overall theme of the game well, ultimately culminating in an awe-inspiring musical climax. As I mentioned earlier, I have a soft spot for this soundtrack, as it really helped bring awareness to Yoshi's VGM. I was also very fortunate to get in contact with Simon Withenshaw, who most graciously allowed me to upload the original files for the tracks he composed to the channel.
NINTENDO SWITCH PORT
Okay, up to this point I've mostly been singing praises for this game. This is where the critic comes in. The Nintendo Switch port is lazy, to put it simply. When I initially played the game on Wii U, there were definitely moments where the framerate stuttered. It seemed to happen most frequently in the busier spots of the city. Regrettably, on the Switch, the framerate is downright awful in many spots, especially in handheld mode. The framerate stutter was one of the first things I noticed right off the bat. It really detracts from the experience. Thankfully, the framerate stays stable at 30fps while doing Special Assignments. The same cannot be said while exploring the city, unfortunately.
Secondly, the controls seem much buggier on the Switch than they did on Wii U. The controls are mapped smartly, but sometimes they are just so buggy that Chase does something that you definitely did not tell him to do (and no, it is not a case of Joy-Con drift in this instance).
And finally, anyone who has played this game on Wii U will remember how horribly long the loading screens were. You'd think that the developers would make an effort to shorten those loading screens. You'd be wrong. In fact, in some cases the loading screens seem to last longer on the Switch than they did on Wii U. As if to add insult to injury, they removed the progress bar and replaced it with a spinning diorama of various locales across the city. At least they retained the same, catchy loading theme. As much as I love this game, the Nintendo Switch port is an unfortunately lazy effort that the developers obviously just threw together to try and squeeze some more cash out of the game.
CONCLUSION
In the end, LEGO City Undercover is a fun game. It's not overly challenging but it's an enjoyable adventure. It boasts a clever story, witty humor, memorable characters, and a phenomenal soundtrack. Even if the gameplay is repetitive, it doesn't detract from the fact that, if you're a fan of LEGO games, this is a must-own. It's truly unfortunate that the transition to the Switch did not go as smoothly as we would have liked. A port to a newer console should enhance the game's experience, not detract from it. The game on its own is an easy 8.5/10, however the shoddiness of the port is such that I, regrettably, must lower that score.
Note: A video review was not created for this game.
I can hear what many of you are thinking: Why am I just now bothering to write a review for this game, 7.5 years after its Wii U release (don't remind me) and 3.5 years after it was ported to the current generation platforms? Well, several reasons. First, I have a soft spot for this game. I largely credit LEGO City Undercover for helping put Yoshi's VGM on the map in the YouTube world of VGM uploaders. Second, I recently replayed this game while isolating after a potential COVID-19 exposure, and I felt that the time was right for me to finally share my thoughts.
To put it simply, LEGO City Undercover is a fantastic game. Considering the majority of LEGO games are based off of major film franchises (if you don't consider LEGO Star Wars to be one of your favorite childhood games, we can't be friends), this game gave TT Fusion the opportunity to creatively explore one of LEGO's most well-known brand of toys. And the result is a resounding success. LEGO City Undercover is truly creative, well-written and an all-around fun adventure. That being said, I can't help but declare that the Nintendo Switch port is a shoddy effort to bring this amazing game to a wider audience.
STORY & CHARACTERS
When I first played this game, and again when I replayed it most recently, I was amazed at how well-written the plot for this game was. Sure, it starts off like a cheesy cop comedy but it eventually evolves into a story full of surprising depth and heart.
LEGO City Undercover follows Chase McCain, who was an officer for the LEGO City Police Department prior to his exile from the city (I believe the Nintendo 3DS prequel, The Chase Begins, explains why). The mayor of the city invites Chase back to help track down and arrest Rex Fury, the city's top criminal escapee and Chase's former nemesis. After Chief Dunby begrudgingly allows him to take up the case, Chase finds himself traversing LEGO City, breaking into gangs, performing undercover jobs, and collecting clues as to what Rex is doing and why. He is aided along the way by a clumsy rookie officer Frank Honey and the department's technician, Ellie Phillips. Throughout all of this, Chase tries to win back his former lover, Natalia Kowalski. Natalia came forward as a secret witness against Rex Fury, but she has a hard time forgiving Chase after he accidentally revealed her identity, forcing her into witness protection (discussed again in the 3DS prequel).
The game is broken up into a series of chapters, and you progress to the next chapter after certain tasks around the city are completed. Interspersed in these chapters are 15 "Special Assignments," which are essentially contained levels within the city. The game does a good job laying the groundwork for the finale across the beginning chapters of the game, and it certainly feels like a traditional cop show in that you initially have no clue how it will all piece together (what do stealing a moon buggy from the space center and a T-Rex from the museum have in common?). The only qualm I have with the story is that the finale feels somewhat rushed. The final three Special Assignments are practically back to back. It's almost as if TT Fusion didn't have quite enough time to flesh out the story as they would have liked.
The characters are where this game shines the most. Every character sees a surprising amount of growth over the course of the story. Even some of the enemies and gang bosses that Chase goes undercover for are memorable. A personal favorite of mine is Vinnie Pappalardo, the Italian mob boss that also owns the city's most famous ice cream parlor. The humor exchanged between the characters is also well-written. While some of the jokes are certainly cheesy, a good number of them are genuinely funny and creative. The voice acting must also be applauded. Voice acting in video games can be hit-or-miss; thankfully, it was well-executed here.
GAMEPLAY
If you've ever played a LEGO game before, you know what to expect when it comes to the gameplay. You explore the city, collecting studs and using special abilities to access certain areas, complete specific tasks, or unlock side missions. A new addition to the game is collecting LEGO bricks after destroying an object, which can be used to build "Super Builds" throughout the city. In addition to this, Chase can also gain access to quite literally every single vehicle in the game. This is very much GTA meets LEGO.
Throughout the game, Chase unlocks various disguises that give him different abilities. You can turn into a robber, giving you a crowbar to access locked places. You can turn into an astronaut, which gives you the ability to beam items in from outer space. You can turn into a miner, which allows you to use dynamite to blow up otherwise indestructible walls. Among many more.
Another important thing to note is that the city is open world. You are free to travel between the various sectors of the city without facing any of the dreaded loading screens (more on this later). Not to mention that the city is literally full of collectibles and things to do. If you ignore all the side things there are to do around the city and just complete the story, you would only progress through just over 20% of everything the game has to offer. There is a lot to do here, and it provides pretty substantial replay value.
Much like other LEGO games, though, the gameplay is extremely repetitive, nor is it overly challenging. While the various disguises are unique and help you gain access to previously unreachable areas, they don't do much to dramatically alter the gameplay. The hand-to-hand combat can be a slog sometimes and is only somewhat challenging when you're surrounded by enemies. The many car chases throughout the course of the game get tedious. So while TT Fusion was bold in writing its own story and creating memorable characters, it could have done more to distinguish the gameplay from literally every other LEGO game.
GRAPHICS & SOUND
As with most LEGO games, the graphics are nothing to gawk at. Edges are rough and textures are simple. Sometimes, other people wandering the city won't render until you're practically on top of them. You won't get the sense of awe we all got once Link first emerged from the Shrine of Resurrection and we saw the vast expanse of Hyrule for the first time. That being said though, this game is filled to the brim with small details. The developers went all-out by giving each sector of the city its own distinctive look. It truly feels like a city, and that is commendable. For the most part, the game hits 720p in docked mode and sub-HD in handheld mode. It attempts to run at a steady 30fps, but unfortunately it struggles heavily here - more on that in the next section.
The soundtrack gets a worthy nod in this game. Again, since most LEGO games are based off of major franchises, the soundtracks are usually comprised of themes directly from the bespoke franchise. Since TT Fusion built this world from the ground up, composers Simon Withenshaw and Suddi Raval did the same with the soundtrack. The music is quite phenomenal and it fits the overall theme of the game well, ultimately culminating in an awe-inspiring musical climax. As I mentioned earlier, I have a soft spot for this soundtrack, as it really helped bring awareness to Yoshi's VGM. I was also very fortunate to get in contact with Simon Withenshaw, who most graciously allowed me to upload the original files for the tracks he composed to the channel.
NINTENDO SWITCH PORT
Okay, up to this point I've mostly been singing praises for this game. This is where the critic comes in. The Nintendo Switch port is lazy, to put it simply. When I initially played the game on Wii U, there were definitely moments where the framerate stuttered. It seemed to happen most frequently in the busier spots of the city. Regrettably, on the Switch, the framerate is downright awful in many spots, especially in handheld mode. The framerate stutter was one of the first things I noticed right off the bat. It really detracts from the experience. Thankfully, the framerate stays stable at 30fps while doing Special Assignments. The same cannot be said while exploring the city, unfortunately.
Secondly, the controls seem much buggier on the Switch than they did on Wii U. The controls are mapped smartly, but sometimes they are just so buggy that Chase does something that you definitely did not tell him to do (and no, it is not a case of Joy-Con drift in this instance).
And finally, anyone who has played this game on Wii U will remember how horribly long the loading screens were. You'd think that the developers would make an effort to shorten those loading screens. You'd be wrong. In fact, in some cases the loading screens seem to last longer on the Switch than they did on Wii U. As if to add insult to injury, they removed the progress bar and replaced it with a spinning diorama of various locales across the city. At least they retained the same, catchy loading theme. As much as I love this game, the Nintendo Switch port is an unfortunately lazy effort that the developers obviously just threw together to try and squeeze some more cash out of the game.
CONCLUSION
In the end, LEGO City Undercover is a fun game. It's not overly challenging but it's an enjoyable adventure. It boasts a clever story, witty humor, memorable characters, and a phenomenal soundtrack. Even if the gameplay is repetitive, it doesn't detract from the fact that, if you're a fan of LEGO games, this is a must-own. It's truly unfortunate that the transition to the Switch did not go as smoothly as we would have liked. A port to a newer console should enhance the game's experience, not detract from it. The game on its own is an easy 8.5/10, however the shoddiness of the port is such that I, regrettably, must lower that score.
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CONS:
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