Summary
- With Traveller's Tales losing exclusive rights to LEGO, new video game studios can now explore the toy brand's potential in games.
- The originality of LEGO City Undercover set it apart, but with little expansion, fans are eager for a return to the unique adventure.
- The LEGO City universe has untapped potential for a variety of new gaming experiences, offering exciting opportunities for both fans and the brand.
While the LEGO brand may have been focused on Traveller's Tales video games for years, that approach is set to change as the studio has recently lost exclusive access to the license. Even though it will still be crafting its own LEGO adventures, even more video game studios are going to get to play around with the toy brand, with the likes of LEGO 2K Drive and LEGO Horizon Adventures coming from this new direction. That may be giving LEGO fans a ton of exciting new content to explore, but tapping into LEGO City Undercover could take that to an entirely new level.
Released in 2013, LEGO City Undercover took the tried-and-true Traveller's Tales LEGO game to a completely original IP, which made for an incredibly unique adventure. However, since its release, the studio has done little to expand upon the premise in any way, and there does not seem to be any sort of sequel on the horizon. And while that does not seem like it will be changing any time soon, this new era of LEGO games could take a trip back to this wonderful city for a whole host of new experiences, as long as there are studios willing to take some incredible risks with the IP.
LEGO City Undercover Needs a Spiritual Successor Now More Than Ever
LEGO City Undercover is one of the more underrated LEGO games, and now would be the perfect time for it to get a spiritual successor.
LEGO City Undercover Could Kick Off a New Era of LEGO Video Games
LEGO City Has the Potential to Spawn a Gaming Universe
Unlike past LEGO games, LEGO City Undercover was a purely original tale from Traveller's Tales. There was no pre-established canon, no film franchise being adapted, and everything about the game was based on LEGO's LEGO City line. Players assumed the role of undercover cop Chase McCain and were thrust into the big open-world city of LEGO City where they would engage in all the classic LEGO shenanigans they had come to expect over the years. That blend made it feel a lot like LEGO's version of Grand Theft Auto, and many fans have been calling for a return to this concept for years.
As of now, Traveller's Tales has yet to revisit LEGO City Undercover outside a re-release in 2017. Because of recent changes with the LEGO license and the rumor that Traveller's Tales is going to focus on Warner Bros. Properties from here on out, there is a strong chance the studio will never revisit it again. But that does not mean the LEGO City brand needs to die off. In fact, the world that the studio created here feels tailor-made for a plethora of exciting new experiences, the likes of which LEGO has never really seen before.
Now Would Be a Great Time to Deliver on that Potential
LEGO City Undercover's city could form the foundation of a brand-new slew of LEGO games. Players could assume control of a shopkeeper trying to make it big, they could race through the streets in a LEGO 2K Drive-type game, LEGO could take the Mario Party concept for a spin, there could be a firefighter version of LEGO City Undercover, and there could even be a city builder set within the world. Whatever type of genre the studios chose, it could find a home within LEGO City.
Not only would all of these experiences give LEGO fans so much to do, but it would also be a great way for the toy brand to advertise its LEGO City line. Those sets are all about letting builders construct their very own city, and using games to further explore that concept seems like a recipe for success. And while not all of these titles may be massive hits, the potential alone sounds like an exciting prospect.
Since the future of LEGO games will include a plethora of new studios, it feels like the perfect time for something like this to happen. As of now, it looks like players are really only getting sports games or Traveller's Tales-like adventures. Even though there is seemingly nothing wrong with that, it currently feels like a great time to experiment with something new, and one of the best ways to do that would be through this brand-new universe of LEGO City Undercover adventures.
Lego City Undercover
- Released
- March 18, 2013
WHERE TO PLAY
Join the Chase! In LEGO CITY Undercover, play as Chase McCain, a police officer who's been tasked with going undercover to hunt down the notorious — and recently escaped — criminal Rex Fury and putting an end to his city-wide crime wave.
With two player co-op, friends can explore the sprawling open-world metropolis that is LEGO City, with more than 20 unique districts to investigate, car thieves to bust, hilarious movie references to discover, vehicles to drive, and hundreds of collectibles. LEGO CITY Undercover brings together witty, original storytelling with signature LEGO humor to create a fun-filled experience for players of all ages to enjoy.
- ESRB
- E10+ For Everyone 10+ // Cartoon Violence, Crude Humor
- Developer(s)
- TT Games, TT Fusion
- Publisher(s)
- Nintendo, TT Games, Warner Bros. Interactive
- Engine
- Nu2
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Wii U, PC, PlayStation 4
- Genre(s)
- Action, Platformer, Fighting
- How Long To Beat
- 16 hours
- PS Plus Availability
- Extra & Premium
