LEGO City Undercover Part 1: Uncovering the Thrills of Open-World Action

Get ready for an adrenaline-fueled adventure as LEGO brings its signature brand of humor and irreverence to the world of open-world action games with Lego City Undercover. Set in a colorful, blocky rendition of modern-day city life, players take on the role of Chase McCain, an undercover cop tasked with tracking down his arch-nemesis, Rex Fury.

As part of the LEGO franchise's tradition of reimagining popular IPs into family-friendly fare suitable for all ages, Lego City Undercover takes inspiration from classic action movies like Beverly Hills Cop and Die Hard. However, instead of relying on faithful recreations or direct references (although there are plenty of Easter eggs scattered throughout), this game chooses to poke fun at these very tropes while still delivering a thrilling experience.

Players will navigate through the streets of LEGO City in their trusty police car, engaging in high-speed chases and gunfights with an array of comical foes ranging from henchmen wielding Uzis to giant mutated animals. Alongside standard shoot-'em-up action sequences are more light-hearted moments such as mini-games involving obstacle courses set within building sites or racing against time through busy shopping centers.

As you progress through each level, expect to encounter familiar faces both old and new - think Donkey Kong-esque baddies straight out of an 80s cop flick. The gameplay itself is smooth enough but nothing groundbreaking; it feels more akin to playing a well-tuned version of Grand Theft Auto IV without all the gore or profanity.

One thing worth mentioning though: there are some minor graphical issues here and there, particularly during certain cutscenes where character models may not load correctly - nothing too major mind you but still something that could've been ironed out before release. Otherwise, Lego City Undercover does its job admirably as an enjoyable family-friendly alternative to other open-world titles currently available.

Overall rating: 3/5 stars

The Verdict:

Lego City Undercode may not reinvent the wheel in terms of gameplay or graphics but it certainly knows how to have fun with established IP's. Fans of action-adventure games will find plenty here, even if seasoned players might feel a bit shortchanged by lacklustre difficulty curve and minor graphical hiccups.

Pros: Humorous take on classic cop flick tropes; enjoyable mini-games peppered throughout; suitable for all ages

Cons: Graphical issues occasionally mar otherwise solid gameplay experience; could benefit from more challenging mission objectives

Lego city undercover part 1